Efficacy of Chinchapinda sweda in comparison to Patrapinda sweda in Gridhrasi - Sciatica -A Randomized Clinical Trail

Low back pain is one of the common conditions of musculoskeletal disorder, affects people during their productive life. About 40% cases of Low back pain are of radicular in origin and considered under the Sciatic syndrome. Gridhrasi is one of the most common disorders of Vata, which closely resembles with Sciatica, which is characterized by pain or discomfort associated with Sciatic nerve. The prevalence of Sciatica varies considerably ranging from 13% to 40%, the corresponding annual incidence of an episode of Sciatica ranges from 1% to 5%. Contemporary medicine has limitations giving short-term relief in pain or surgical intervention with less desired effect.

Sciatica is a debilitating condition characterized by pain and paresthesia with in the sciatic nerve distribution or associated lumbosacral nerve root that occurs most often due to herniation of a disc or an overgrowth of bone that puts pressure on part of the nerve which leads to low back pain that begins with the lumbosacral region and radiates along with the posterio-lateral aspects of the thigh.

Gridhrasi is one among the vataja nanatmaja vyadhi which can manifest as either Vataja type or Vatakaphaja typeand it can be correlated to the disease Sciatica in contemporary science. The common symptoms are seen as Kramatah shoola from Sphik, Kati, Prista, Uru, Janu, Jangha & Pada associated with Stambha, Toda, Muhur spandana & Sakthikshepa nigraha in Vataja type whereas in Kaphanubandhítype it is associated with Tandra, Gourava & Aruchi .

Snehana, Swedana and Mrudu Shodhana described as treatment principle of Vatavyadhi . Pinda Sweda like Patrapinda or Chinchapindaare types of Swedanawhich are beneficial in treating Vataja and Vata-kaphaja vyadhi. Patrapinda Sweda which contains drugs like Patras of Eranda, Nirgundi etc used in the form of Pottali and acts as Vatahara, Shoolahara, Stambhahara. Chincha (Ripened fruit pulp) is considered to be vatahara and kaphaharawhich can be used in the form of Pinda sweda may have beneficial effect on vatavyadhi in relieving the symptoms. Both these therapies are having their own significant actions based upon the selection of drugs and also mode of usage of therapy.