1. HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT OF PAIN THROUGH AYURVEDA
1st ASEAN CONFERENCE on Health Ageing 2017
HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT OF PAIN THROUGH AYURVEDA
Presented by
VAIDYA C D SIBY
Chief Ayurvedic Physician,
AYUR CENTRE, Petaling Jaya

2. Ayurveda defines pain management
The Avurvedic model of care is holistic:
Patient-centred
Encourages healthful lifestyle changes
All appropriate therapeutic approaches
The pain treatment is guided by …
Pain history
Pain intensity
Pain duration
Aggravating and relieving conditions
Structures involved
A specific structure in the body with nerves of sensation that is pain-generating.
The pain management identifies the precise source of the problem and isolates the optimal treatment.

3. Ayurveda defines pain management
Types of pain
Radicular pain: 
The pain that stems from irritation of the nerve roots.
E.g.: Disc herniation
Somatic pain: 
Limited to the back or thighs.
E.g. Back pain — It is localized.
Three frequent causes of back pain:
facet joints
discs
sacroiliac joint
Ayurveda defines pain management

4. Other causes of pain Headaches Facial pain Peripheral nerve pain
Coccydynia
Compression fractures
Post-herpetic neuralgia
Myofasciitis
Torticollis
Plantar fasciitis
Lateral epicondylitis
Cancer pain
Can arise from many different causes
Many techniques to assist treatment
Advantage: Chronic pain control with decreased side effects.

5. Other considerations of pain
Some painful conditions (such as rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, cancer and idiopathic pain) may persist for years.
Long-lasting pain is called chronic, and pain that resolves quickly is called acute.
Commonly used markers:
3 months and 6 months (traditionally)
12 months
Others attribute acute to pain that lasts less than 30 days; sub-acute to pain that lasts from 1-6 months; chronic to pain of more than 6 months duration
A popular alternative definition of chronic pain (w/ no arbitrarily fixed durations): "pain that extends beyond the expected period of healing."
Chronic pain may be classified as "malignant" (caused by cancer) or "benign" (non-malignant).

6. Ayurvedic management of pain
Origin of pain is due to a vitiated Vata dosha, once the Vata dosha is treated efficiently the pain subsides automatically.

7. Ayurvedic management of pain
Internal oleation is one of the best way to control the Vata dosha.
Snehana and Swedana:
Procedure: Application of medicated oil — selected according to the type of pain, followed by Sudation therapy (steam, dry heat, patra pottali, pinda sweda, etc.).
Usually for sprain, back ache, muscular injury (sports injury).
Vasti:
This treatment works wonders for Lumbar pain and some cases of abdominal pain.
Kati Vasti, Janu Vasti, Manya Vasti, Hrid Vasti, Netra Vasti: organ-related procedures used to manage and strengthen pain.

8. Ayurvedic management of pain
 Blood letting (common methods):
a) Jalaukavcharan (Leech therapy) 
For headache, some skin diseases, swelling in various tissues or joints, pain due to contused wound.
When the impure blood is sucked out the pain disappears.
b) Blood letting
Used on scalp wherein blood is removed by puncturing the vein.
Efficient for those with high blood pressure and no definite symptoms.
c) Viddha karma
Miniature blood letting; a very small puncture is done with a needle.
Usually for headache, eye ache, tonsillitis, nasal blockage, renal colic, nerve defects, joint pain, radiated pain, etc.
*Miraculous results in fraction of a second!

9. Ayurvedic management of pain
Agnikarma: 
Indirect heat (clinic)
A small gold rod with a blunt end is placed on the affected area. Heat is transferred through the other end using a candle.
Usually for joint pain, pain due to cervical or lumbar spondylosis, spasmodic pain due to calculi, sciatica, frozen shoulder.
Direct heat
For heel pain, which is done by Mruttika shalaka (earthen rod).
For jaundice, where root of turmeric is used.
Lepam:
Application of herbal paste (left to dry). For swelling, injury, sprain.
Internal Herbal Combinations:
Depending on the conditions and stages of disease

10. Ayurvedic management of pain
more comprehensive & less side effects
herbal combinations & specific diet
oil treatments
leech , Agnikarma, poultice
specific exercise
stress management

11. Thank You