Clinical Study

A Clinical Study of Matra Basti & Kati Basti In The

Manegement of Gridhrasi [Link] Sciatica
*Dr. Cyan Prakash Sharma **Dr. O. P. Sharma ***Dr. R. S. Sharma

ABSTRACT:

Gridhrasi (Sciatica) is Vataj Nanaatmaj vyadhi. Gridhrasi, also presents with a clear picture of shifting
pain in lower limbs radiating from sphik, kati, prishtha and affecting uru, janu, jangha and pada in order.
'sakthiutkshepanigraha' is mentioned as a cardinal sign by Sushrut and Vagbhat. But certain other symptoms
such as stambha, toda, sphurana, ruk etc. are also found in some other disease. Diseases like urustambha,
khalli kalaykhanja, vatakantaka can make confusion with Gridhrasi.

Inspity of the spine's excellent form and function, back pain is a national, personal and clinical
problem: national because it is experienced by most of the population at some time and is a drain on the
nation's resources, personal because it can remain a major unresolved dilemma. Group A (Matra Basti) &
GroupB (Kati Basti) with Dashmool Oil was decided to manage the Gridhrasi. The Result was excellent in
both Group. Haematological values were also improved.

Keywords: Naanatmaj vyadhi, Sakthikshepnigrah, Kati basti, SLR, Dashvidha Pareeksha

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*M.D. Scholar, P. G. Deptt. of Panchkarma, N. I. A. Jaipur, **Asst. Prof. P. G. Deptt. of Panchkarma, N. 1. A.,
Jaipur, ***Asso. Prof. P. G. Deptt. of Panchkarma. N. 1. A. Jaipu

55
 Clinical Stud

A Clinical Study of Matra Basti& Kati Basti In The

Manegement of Gridhrasi [Link] Sciatica
Dr. Cyan Prakash Sharma, Dr. O. P. Sharma, Dr. R. S. Sharma

INTRODUCTION : riding on fast moving, jerky vehicles, unwholesome

Ayurveda is a science with ageless concrete dietary habits etc. All these factors are so easily
fundamentals and with a holistic approach. Some accessible to today's man that almost everybody is
centuries ago, Ayurveda was the main stream pathy sized in their flow, leading to increasing incidence of
in the society diseases like Gridhrasi. The pitta and kapha are
considered as chief factors responsible for health and
Modern science describes 'Sciatica' as a disease. Vata dosha has the chief dominance among
benign syndrome characterized especially by pain these three vital factors of the particular order in
beginning in the lumber region and spreading down which pain starts from sphik and then radiates to
the back of one lower limb to the ankle and pada along with stambha, toda etc.
sometimes the foot. The disorder apparently seems
to be non-serious but it cripples the patient and Aims and objectives:
results in apprehension of social responsibilities of 1) To study aetiopathogenesis, symptomatology
the patient. It has been mentioned that 'Though and progress of Gridhrasi with special reference
Sciatica and lumbago carry little threat to life , they to 'Sciatica'.
interfere greatly with living'.
2) To assess the efficacy of MATRA BASTI & [Link]
Our ancient acharyas had identified this BASTI in the management of Gridhrasi.
problem long back and named it 'Gridhrasi'.The word
'Gridhrasi' itself suggests the gait of the patient which 3) To compare the effects of both therapies
is similar to Gridhra (vulture) due to pain. All the clinically.
Ayurvedic classics including those written in
4) The find out quick, cheap, effective and safe
medieval period have described the remedy for this disease
aetiopathogenesis and symptomatology of Gridhrasi
in concise form. Surprisingly, the description Materials and Method:
narrated in these classics exactly coincides to the
The present study was carried out in two
description of 'Sciatica' including the important
parts: Literary and clinical. For literary part, Text
diagnostic test SLR which IS described as
books of both fraternities of medicine were
'Sakthinkshepanigraha' by our acharyas.
employed. The disease was visualized on the basis of
The science of Ayurveda is based on the Ayurvedic authentic texts and for modern aspect
fundamental of tridosha. Vata, cause of Gridhrasi is various textbooks on Neurology, back pain,
the vitiated vata. Hence it is included in vata reference books and various journals were
nanatmaja vyadhi. Sometimes kapha may be referrered. For the clinical part of the present study,
associated with vitiated vata. Various aetiological 30 patients suffering from Gridhrasi were randomly
factors for the derangement of vata have been selected from OPD and IPD of N.I.A. HOSPITAL.
mentioned such as excessive walking, exercise, These 30 patients were divided into two groups and
sleeping on an uncomfortable bed, withholding of were subjected to following therapeutic regimen.
natural urges, trauma to vital organs, excessive

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[Link] No.3 Jul-Sep 2008 Journal of Ayurveda

Group A: In this group, course of MATRA in which several factors take active part for
BAST! of Dashmool oil (soml)with the selected completing the action of basti.
combination was given to the patients for 6 weeks.
Instead of pinpointing to one type of
Group B: In this group KAT! BAST! of mechanism it is presumed that various factors work
dashmool oil was given. The total duration of course in collaboration with each other to produce the
was 6 weeks. beneficial effect of basti therapy. Here an attempt has
been made to explain the probable mode of action
Diet : Patients of both groups were advised
of basti in the samprapti vighatana of Gridhrasi.
to stick to the dietary regimen of vata.
CRITERIA FOR DIAGNOSIS
Dashmoola
Patients were diagnosed on the basis of
Gana : Ch Shwayathuhara, Asthapanopaga,
classical signs and symptoms of the disease as per
Anuvasanopaga
Ayurvedic classics.
Su: Dashmoola
According to modern texts necessary tests
Rasa : Tikta, Katu, Kashaya, Madhur
such as SLR, politeal compression etc. were done
Vipaka : Madhur along with neurological examination. Before
administration of the therapy, a detailed proforma,
Virya : Ushna
where in complete history, signs and symptoms,
Guna : Guru, Snigdha, Tikshna, Ushna Dashavidha pariksha, Ashtavidha pariksha, Nidan
Doshaghnata : Tridoshaghna Panchak [Link] compiled together, was filled for
each patient. Vitals like Blood pressure,
Karma: Shoolaghna, Shothaghna, Pachan
Pulse,Respiratory rate, Temperature etc were also
Rogaghnata : Jvara, Shwasa, Tandra, Aruchi, Kasa, monitored to assess the general condition of the
Parshwashoola patient.

Action and uses In addition to these routine investigations

such as Hb%, Total leucocytes count, Differential
Dashmoola is having well known anti-
leucocytes count, E.S.R .. Were carried out prior to
inflammatory and analgesic action. It is used for
and post therapy periods to assess the efficacy of the
inflammations and for its calming effect on the mind
regimen with multi fold parameters. Radiological
and nervous system. It is Considered as one of the
assessment of the lumber spine was carried out in
primary Ayurvedic herbs for positive health. It is
patients where necessary (and possible) to ascertain
Traditionally used as detoxifier of the entire body,
the diagnosis as well as for differential diagnosis.
as a tonic for the liver and kidneys, a hormone
balancer for gynecological problems. Dashmoola is CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT
the most highly prized Ayurvedic formula for fatigue. Severity of pain (Ruk): On the basis of severity,
It aids cellular regeneration to hasten removal of score of each site having the pain was noted and
dead or weak cells and replace them with fresh ones. mean was calculated.
OIL has also vatasamak guna.
No pain 0
PROBABLE MODE OF ACTION OF BASTI Mild pain 1

Basti is a purificatory process by which all Moderate pain 2

the three vitiated doshas are expelled from The anal Severe pain 3
canal and especially vata is pacified. As a result of
excretion of vitiated dosha the physiological Stiffness (stambha) No stiffness or stiffness
equilibrium in three doshas is maintained and lasting lasting for 5 Min. 0
results are produced after the therapy in the form 5 min. to one hour 1
of sound health. Basti therapy is a complex process One hour to two hours 2

57
Journal of Ayurveda VoLlI No.3 Jul-Sep 2008

Two hour to four hours 3 parameters, the total effect of therapy was assessed
More than four hours 4 in terms of cured, markedly improved, improved and
unchanged.
Pricking pain (Toda)
Cured : The patients , showing complete
Absent 0
relief in the main symptoms like no pain along the
Mild occasional 1 sciatic nerve distribution with negative SLR test and
Moderate after movement ability to raise the leg completely without pain were
Frequent but not persistent 2 recorded as cured.

severe persistent 3 Markedly Improved : More than 75

% relief in signs and symptoms were recorded as
S.L.R. (Sakthikshepanigrah)
markedly improved.
More than 90° 0
Moderate Improvement : Improvement
71° - 90° 1
between 50 to 75 % was recorded as moderate.

Mild improvement: Improvement

between 25 to 50 % was taken as mild improvement.
Up to 30° 4
Unchanged If no change or less than
Tenderness (Spars asahta) 25% improvement was seen, it was recorded as
No Tenderness 0 unchanged.
Subjective Experience of tenderness 1 Overall results of the Therapies
Wincing of face on pressure 2
The overall effect of each therapy was
CRITERIA OF INCLUSION: assessed at the end of completion of 6 weeks of
Age limit: 18-50Years therapy. In Group. A (Matra Basti) moderate
improved. In severity of pain relief was 66.6%,in
Sex : no restriction
stiffness relief was 80%,in pricking pain relief was
EXCLUSION CRITERIA: also 80%,in SLR test relief was 73.3%,&70% relief was
in Tenderness. In Group B(Kati Basti ) improvement
Severe Accidental cases
was [Link]% relief in severity of
CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT OF TOTAL [Link] in instiffness.66.6% relief in pricking
EFFECT OF THERAPY. pain,86.6% relief in SLR. & in Tenderness relief was
62.5%. Haematological &Radiological images Values
Considering the overall improvement shown were also improved.
by the patients in signs and symptoms and clinical

OBSERVATIONS

GROUP A (MATRA BASTI) TABLE 1

Symptoms No of patients Grade No of patients Grade Benefit %

B.T. A.T.

Ruk 15 2 10 0 10 66.6%

Satambha 10 2 8 0 8 80%

Tod 15 3 12 0 12 80%

S.L.R. 15 3 11 1 11 73·3%
Spars asahata 10 1 7 0 7 70%

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Vol. II 0.3 Jul-Sep 2008 Journal of Ayurveda

GROUP B (KATI BASTI) TABLE 2

Symptoms No of patients Grade No of patients Grade Benefit %

(B.T.) (A.T.)

Ruk 15 2 15 0 15 100%

Stambh 12 2 10 0 10 80·3%

Tod 15 3 10 0 10 66.6%

S.L.R. 15 3 13 0 13 86.6%

Spars asahta 8 1 5 0 5 62·5%

TABLE 3 GROUP A(MATRA BASTI)

Haematological value B.T. Average A.T .Average

Hb% 11.2% 13·2%

FBR 20 07

L4-L5IVD Moderate Bulge Mild Bulge

TABLE 4 GROUP B (KATI BASTI)

Haematological Value B.T. Average A.T. Average

Hb% 11% 12%

FBR 19 15

L4-L5IVD Moderate Bulge Mild Bulge

CONCLUSION
as the common causes along with trauma. Also
Both groups get benefit in the management symptoms aggravated in Shishir and Varsha ritu.
of sciatica .Kati Basti & Matra Basti with Dashmool Some patients also showed exaggeration of pain
Oil has special potency to cure Gridhrasi . at night. During these periods, there is
Haematological (Hb%, TLC, ESR.) value was physiological aggravation of vata dosha.
significant & Radiological images of lumber region • Majority of the patients had dwandwaj prakruti
was also improved. Prevention is better than cure. i.e. vatapitta or vatakapha. Also majority of
DISCUSSION patients had vishamagni and krura koshtha. All
these finding support the dominance of vata
Following discussions can be drawn on the
dosha.
basis of observations made, results achieved and
thorough discussions in the present context. • On the basis of Ayurvedic fundamentals we can
explain it as dhatukshaya leading to vataprakopa
• Our classics have described vat a dosha as the
and Gridhrasi.
main culprit in the disease Gridhrasi. Sometimes
kapha is the anubandhi dosha. This is supported • In the present study both the therapies were
clinically as maximum no. of the patients showed effective in combating the disease. Major
vataprakopaka hetus as the cause. improvement was observed on all signs and
symptoms as well as on SLR in both the groups.
Physical as well as mental stress were observed
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Journal of Ayurveda [Link] No.3 Jul-Sep 2008

• The results were assessed according to the type • Caraka

Dridhabala,
Samhita ;- Agnivesh
Vidyotini Hindi
Revised
commentary
by Caraka
by pt.
and
of Gridhrasi. Matra Basti therapy showed equally
Kashinath shastri and Dr. Gorakh Nath Chaturvedi-
good results on both the types of Gridhrasi while
13th edition 1986, Chaukhambha Sanskrit series
Kati Basti therapy proved to be more effective on Varanasi.
vatakaphaj Gridhrasi & vataj Gridhrasi.
• No major adverse or side effects were
• Caraka
translation
Samhita Charaka
of Chakrapani
Samhita
commentary.
with English
By Bhagwan
encountered during this treatment period. Dash, Chhaukhambha Sanskrit series, Varanasi.

• Preventive aspect and patient's education play an • Dalh ana i-

Susruta
Nibandha
Samhita edited
samgraha commentary
by Y. T. Acaraya.
on
4th
important role in the management of Gridhrasi.
edition Chaukhambha oriental, Varanasi.
Proper guidelines about posture etc along with
exercises strengthening the spine are helpful for • Arun data Sarvanga
Krishnadas
sundar commentary
Academy Varanasi.
on
Astang Hirdaya,
effective management.
• B. D. Chaurasia
(19901, )Published
;- Human Anatomy,
by Satish kumar
Eighth Edition
Jain for CBS
REFERENCES
publishers and Distributors shahdra, Delhi - 110032
• Cakrapani : Ayurveda Dipika commentary on (India)
Caraka Samhita Edited by Yadavaji Trikamji
Acaraya, Chaukhambha Sanskrit Sansthana • Harrison ;- Principle of Medicine,
by Anthony
iarh Edition,
3, Fanci et aI, Me Graw Hill.
edited
Heath
Varanasi.
profession Division.