Volume 1, Issue 1, 2019

Research @ DAHH - Case Report 3

Simultaneous Management of Symptoms of Osteopenia and Osteoarthritis of Knee Through Panchakarma Therapy: Concept and Application

Alka Mishra*, Lalima Batham*, Saurabh Mishra**, Vandana Shrivastava*

* Department of Ayurveda and Holistic Health, Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Gayatrikunj-Shantikunj, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India

** Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Gayatrikunj-Shantikunj, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India

Corresponding Author: Saurabh Mishra - Email: sau.dsvv@gmail.com

(Citation: Mishra A, Batham L, Mishra S, Shrivastava V. Simultaneous management of symptoms of osteopenia and osteoarthritis of knee through panchakarma therapy: concept and application. Ayurveda evam Samagra Swasthya Shodhamala. 2019;1(1):1. [cited date]. Available from: https://sites.google.com/dsvv.ac.in/shodhamala-dahh/asssm11/asssm111)

(Source: https://sites.google.com/dsvv.ac.in/shodhamala-dahh/asssm11/asssm111)

Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis of knee (Janu sandhigata vata) is a major cause of mobility impairment, particularly among females. Osteopenia (Asthi kshaya) is a common musculoskeletal disorder, characterized by below normal bone mineral density, resulting in an increased risk of fragile fractures, and associated physical disability, pain, degradation in quality of life, etc. Effective and simultaneous management of symptoms associated with these disorders, in a short duration of time, is not readily achieved. Panchakarma therapy of Ayurveda has shown noticeable effectiveness in the individual management of these disorders.

Methodology: Panchakarma therapy was administered for 14 days to a female patient suffering from multiple musculoskeletal disorders including Osteoarthritis of knee and Osteopenia of spine. According to Ayurveda, both these complaints are associated with Vata imbalance. Hence, Vata pacifying herbal medicines, that also provide nourishing effect to the degenerative tissues of the knees, spine, etc. were used. Later, herbal medicines were also prescribed for self-management at home.

Results: The patient experienced relief in pain and swelling in B/L knee joints, relief in pain in lower back, neck and B/L shoulder joints. Overall, the patient reported a good experience. In a followup taken after about three and a half months, the patient reported noticeable relief in knee and back pain as compared to that in previous winters.

Conclusion: Panchakarma therapy showed encouraging results in simultaneous management of symptoms associated with multiple musculoskeletal disorders, in short duration of time.

Keywords. Asthi kshaya, Ayurveda, Janu sandhigata vata, Osteoarthritis of knee, Osteopenia, Panchakarma

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