A cross-sectional study of anatomical involvement and changes in lumbo-sacral spine in patients of vata-kaphajagridhrasi using lumbo-sacral MRI-scan(Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

The term ’Gridhrasi’ is derived from word ’Gridhra’ which means ‘Vulture’.

Here, the word Gridhrasi is suggestive of typical character of pain and also the gait of the patient (slightly tilted towards the affected side, affected leg in flexed position and other leg is extended).

Gridhrasi is included in Vataja Nanatmajavyadhi and also considered as a Maharoga by acharya Charaka.

According to aacharya Charak,

स्फिक पुर्वाकटि पृष्ठोरुजानुजन्घा पदं क्रमात् |

गृध्रसी : गौस्तंभ रुक तोदैर् गुह्नति स्पन्दते मुहु :|

वाताद्वात कफात् तन्द्रा रवारोचकान्विता:||

-च .चि .2853,54

The pain starts at sfika(gluteal region) and then radiates to kati(lumbar region), prushtha(posterior of thigh),uru(thigh),janu(knee), jangha(calf) and pada(foot) respectively .

According to acharya Sushruta and ashtang Hridaya,

In Gridhrasi vata invades the kandaras of the ankle and toes and produces kshepan in the thighs.

Acharya Charaka and Bhavaprakasha has described 2 types of Gridhrasi-

1.Vataja

2.Vata-kaphaja

The above mentioned lakshanas of Gridhrasi are mainly seen and starts from Lumbo-sacral region and the structures which are involved in this region can be studied with the help of Lumbo-sacral MRI-scan.