Pinda-sweda

Pinda sweda is generally done as a local fomentation, applied on the pain afflicted body parts. It can be expanded so as to cover the entire body also. It is a treatment in which a special type of rice called Shashtika Shali (which is harvested in 60 days) prepared in milk processed with herbal decoction is tied in boluses and used for rubbing on the body parts which are intended to receive nutrition and strength.

Milk is a well known nutrient to us, so is rice. They form a part of our daily diet. But in this write-up we shall see how these 2 food products are used for treatment purposes, not when taken internally but when applied externally.

Milk processed with medicinal herbs and a special type of rice are combined together to be used as an effective external therapy. This treatment is used to provide strength and nutrition to the body tissues, especially bones, muscles and other soft tissues.

It is Snehana (oleation), Swedana (fomentation) and Mardana (massage) together. It is useful in painful conditions caused by morbid Vata, Pitta and or Rakta, usually degenerative and inflammatory diseases or diseases caused due to contamination of blood.

It is a specialized treatment of Ayurveda which helps in providing matchless relief in pain, swelling and stiffness associated with many systemic diseases, especially in rheumatological conditions like Sandhigata Vata (osteoarthritis), Amavata (rheumatoid arthritis), Kati-shula (low back pain), Mamsagata Vata (Myalgia), Fibromyalgia, GB Syndrome, various types of Neuro-muscular and Musculoskeletal diseases.
It is basically a strengthening and nutritious treatment. It also has an extraordinary relaxing and analgesic effect.

Benefits of Pinda-sweda:

Mainly provides strength and rejuvenate the tissues and also to provide relief from pain, inflammation, and stiffness (catch) associated with bone, joint, neuromuscular and or musculoskeletal pains.

1. Musculo-

skeletal pains such as in myalgia and or fibromyalgia.

2. Osteoarthritis (Sandhigata Vata) –

Osteoarthritis is the common form of arthritis. It results from the breakdown or damage of protective joint cartilage on the ends of the bones and underlying bone. It can affect and damage any joint in the body. The most common symptoms are joint pain and stiffness. Joint swelling and decreased range of movements are also present in many cases. Pinda-sweda helps in preventing the degeneration process from progressing and strengthens the joints and muscles.

3. Rheumatoid Arthritis (Amavata) –

It is a chronic progressive disease causing inflammation in the joints and resulting in painful deformity and immobility, especially in the fingers, wrists, feet and ankles. It has an autoimmune component also. Pinda-sweda will serve the purpose of rejuvenating and strengthening the joints, muscles and soft tissues.

4. Cervical spondylosis –

Neck pain due to damage of neck bones and joints or osteoarthritis of neck bones.

5. Frozen Shoulder –

Chronic pain and stiffness of the shoulder joint with limitation of range of movements, also known as adhesive capsulitis.

6. Low back pain or Lumbago (Lumbar spondylosis) and Sacroiliac joint syndrome or Sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

7. Sciatica –

Pain affecting the back, hip and outer side of the leg caused by compression of a spinal nerve root in the lower back is called Sciatica. It happens due to the effect of degeneration of inter-vertebral disc or discs causing compression on the Sciatic nerve.

8. Inter-vertebral disc protrusion or prolapse disc –

It is impinging or compressing on the nerves supplying the lower limbs. It presents with pain, numbness, pain extending down the limbs, pain worsening at night, muscle weakness, tingling, aching or burning sensations in the neck, back, legs and arm etc. depending on the site of prolapse.

9. Spondylolisthesis –

is a forward displacement of a vertebra, especially a 5th lumbar vertebra. Generally it occurs following a fracture. It presents with back stiffness, tight hamstrings, leaning forward posture, waddling gait and generalized lower back pain with intermittent shooting pain from buttocks to the posterior thigh and or lower leg via sciatic nerve.

10. Ankylosing Spondylitis –

It is a form of arthritis which primarily affects the spine. It causes severe inflammation of the vertebrae that might eventually lead to chronic pain and disability. The disease will cause pain and stiffness in other parts of your body. Other large joints such as the shoulders, hips and knees can be involved as well.

11. Spinal stenosis –

It is a condition in which the spinal column (backbone or spine) narrows and starts compressing the spinal cord. It is a gradual process. The symptoms include leg or arm weakness, lower back pain while standing or walking, numbness in legs or buttocks and balance problems.

12. Coccydynia –

Tail bone pain

13. Paralysis –

It is the loss of muscle function in part of your body (one or more muscles). It can be accompanied by a loss of feeling (sensory loss) in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. It happens when something wrong happens with the way messages pass between your brain and muscles. It can be complete or partial; can occur on one or both sides of your body. (Hemiplegia – paralysis of one side, Diplegia – Paralysis affecting symmetrical parts of the body, Facial paralysis etc.)

14. Hemiparesis –

It is the weakness of the entire left or right side of the body.

15. Paraplegia –

It describes complete or incomplete paralysis affecting the legs and possible also the trunk, but not the arms. It is usually caused by spinal cord injury or a congenital condition such as spina-bifida that affects the neural elements of the spinal canal.

16. Whiplash –

In this problem neck pain is caused when a person’s head moves backward and then suddenly forward with great force. Whiplash presents with neck pain and stiffness, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, ringing in ears etc.

17. Wry neck (Torticollis) –

It is a painfully twisted and tilted neck. The top of the head in this condition generally tilts to one side and the chin tilts to the other side. Symptoms include, an inability to move your head normally, neck pain or stiffness, headache, having one shoulder higher than the other, swollen neck muscles, a tilting of your chin to one side.

18. Guillain Barre Syndrome –

It is a rare condition in which your immune system attacks your nerves leading to muscle weakness and even paralysis. There is a rapid onset of muscle weakness as a result of damage of the peripheral nervous system.

19. Iliotibial band syndrome –

The ilio-tibial band is a band of rough tissue that runs from your hip down to the outer part of your knee. If it is irritated by overuse or other problems, it becomes inflamed and cause pain on the outer side of the knee.

20. Patello –

femoral pain syndrome (Chondromalacia patellae) –

This often results from issues associated with muscle imbalance, tightness and alignment of the legs, rather than an injury. Pain is present between the patella and the underlying thighbone (femur).

21. Useful in other conditions such as:

• Emaciation / Wasting diseases
• Breathing disorders
• Old (chronic) joint injuries which was not properly treated, sprained ligaments, cartilage tears, sports injuries, sprains and strains
• Pain due to repeated trauma of bones, joints, muscles, soft tissues
• Elbow pain due to various conditions like Tendinitis, Olecranon bursitis, elbow sprain, cellulitis, arthritis, nerve entrapment etc.
• Pains and catches in the joints and spine (especially neck and low back) due to bad postures
• Neuromuscular diseases and various musculoskeletal disorders, etc.