REVIEW ARTICLE ON ROLE OF SIRAVEDHAN IN GRIDHASI W.S.R. TO SCIATICA - A CONCEPTUAL STUDY

Katishool, low back ache (lumbago) is the most common problem in middle and old age people hampering the normal activity. There are several reasons associated with the pain such as – neurological, metabolic, degenerative, traumatic, bad posture, restless lifestyle, etc. Gridhasi is one of the Nanatmaja Vata Vyadhi, characterised by Katishool where the site of pain starts from the Sphika (back region) and then radiates to Kati, Pristha, Uru, Janu, Jangha, Pada in order. The signs and symptoms mentioned in ayurvedic texts resembles the medical condition named sciatica. Sciatica describes leg pain that is localised in the distribu-tion of one or more lumbosacral nerve roots, typically L4-S2, with or without neurological deficit. This causes abnormality in the gait of the patient. Gridhasi being a dominant lifestyle disorder needs a proper management and Siravedhan is one of the propitious managements of Gridhasi described in Ayurveda classics. Acharya Sushruta explained the importance of Siravedhan by accepting it as Ardha Chikitsa (half of the therapeutic measure) in Shalya tantra like Basti in Kayachikitsa. Acharya Sushruta also mentioned that the diseases which are not relieved so quickly by Snehana, Lepanadi measure, in this Siravedhan do wonders by acting as an emergency management to achieve good results.