Ayurveda for Low Back Pain

Low Back Pain: An Ayurveda Approach

Almost everyone at some point of life might have experienced a low back pain that may travel downward in to the buttocks and in to one or both lower extremities. 

What is the cause for low back pain ?Pain in the low back can be a result of conditions affecting the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.

Common causes of low back pain (lumbar backache) include lumbar strain, nerve irritation, lumbar radiculopathy, bony encroachment, and conditions of the bone and joints. 

Treatment for Low back pain 

The treatment very much depends on the underlying cause. 

Ayurveda and Lumbago 

Ayurveda refers this condition as Kati shoola.

Kati refers to ‘low back’ (hip) and shoola refers ‘pain’.

The description of this condition is available in some other conditions like ‘katigraha’, ‘prishtagraha ’etc, which are included under Vata Dosha imbalance disorders.

Approaches and Therapies:

The general principles of treatment of vata dosha are adopted in case of katishoola (low back pain). 

Ayurveda advises the intake of a wholesome diet to prevent Low back pain.

1. Wheat

2. Red rice

3.Blackgram

4. Drumstick

5. Brinjal

6. Garlic 

7. Ghee

8. Sour and sweet substances 

9. Snake gourd 

And Ayurveda also advises to avoid the intake of bitter, astringent and pungent substances. Also usage of cold water and other cold articles must be avoided.

Ayurvedic procedure for LBA

Among all the remedies available for low back pain, Kati Vasti (Kati Basti) is the most popular one. 

What is Kati Vasti (Kati Basti)?

The term has 2 terms –

Kati – means low back

Vasti – means to hold (compartment which holds)

Thus Kati Vasti means a treatment in which medicated oils are poured and pooled for a fixed duration of time in a compartment or a cabin constructed over the low back area using wet flour of black gram, covering the Lumbo-sacral and Sacro-iliac joints.

Kati Vasti is done in the morning when the Kapha symptoms predominate in the low back (stiffness), in the noon when pitta symptoms predominate (inflammation, burning sensation etc) and in the evening if Vata symptoms predominate (pain). Generally it is done early in the morning if convenience of the patient has to be seen.

Article By Dr Arya Krishna BAMS ( AYURVEDA)