Ayurveda understanding, situations included, remedy

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S

Torticollis, often known as wryneck is a painful situation of the neck marked by painfully twisted neck. On this situation the neck is twisted. This additional causes the top to rotate and tilt at an odd angle. The highest of the top is usually tilted to 1 facet whereas the chin is tilted in the direction of the opposite facet.

Generalized Signs of Torticollis

Signs typically start slowly however would worsen over time, because the illness progresses. Totally different signs could also be skilled by completely different folks. The commonest signs of torticollis embrace –

–         lack of ability to maneuver the top usually
–         lack of ability to show the top, often holding it twisted to 1 facet
–         ache in neck and muscle tissues therein
–         neck stiffness
–         spasm of neck muscle tissues
–         ache alongside the backbone
–         swelling of neck muscle tissues
–         headache
–         chin tilted to 1 facet / awkward place of the chin
–         one shoulder is increased than the opposite

Associated Studying – Torticollis

Ayurveda understanding of Torticollis

Vata dysfunction

Ache, stiffness, lack of ability to maneuver or flip the top, spasm, mal-positioning of shoulder and chin and related headache – all these signs in torticollis level out in the direction of involvement of aggravated vata in causation and worsening of torticollis over a time frame. Torticollis is clearly a vata dysfunction. Manyastambha and Grivastambha defined within the context of vata nanatmaja rogas embrace the reason of torticollis.

Manyastambha

Manya, in Sanskrit means ‘again of the neck’ Stambha means stiffness. The which means of the phrase stambha shall not be restricted to ‘solely stiffness’. It additionally contains the opposite signs coexisting with stiffness or attributable to it, like ache and limitation of actions. We don’t discover a detailed description of Manyastambha.

Manyastambha has been defined within the context of ‘vata nanatmaja vyadhi’ i.e. eighty particular situations attributable to ‘aggravation of solely vata’. However we will additionally see a kapha part in Manyastambha. So, it’s predominantly a vata dysfunction, with kapha affiliation in some situations.

Torticollis might be intently correlated to manyastambha.

Kapha involvement in Torticollis, Kaphavruta Vata

Stambha, which interprets to stiffness or catch or rigidity (limiting the actions) is a symptom attributed to kapha, although vata can also trigger stambha. Grasp Sushruta has particularly talked about kapha together with vata within the pathogenesis of manyastambha.

For the reason that aggravated kapha blocks the vata and interferes in its regular functioning, torticollis may also be thought-about as kaphavruta vata situation.

Understanding Torticollis from the angle of causative elements, Greeva Hundanam

Among the many causes of acquired torticollis sleeping in awkward or bizarre place has been talked about.

The opposite causes of acquired torticollis like spasm or damage of neck muscle tissues, damage, vigorous motion and damage leading to muscle shrinkage will trigger aggravation of solely vata. On this case they might trigger greeva hundana which is alike torticollis. The causes of secondary torticollis like slipped aspects or disc herniation may also trigger aggravation of vata resulting in greeva hundana.

Damage to muscle or nervous system will trigger torticollis. This too may happen as a result of vata aggravation following damage and trigger greeva hundana.

Associated Studying – Hundanam

Understanding Torticollis from ‘sorts of torticollis’ perspective

Mounted and muscular torticollis might be thought-about within the class of asthi and mamsagata vata.

Congenital torticollis as in Klippel Feil Syndrome could also be thought-about because the affliction of muscle tissues and bones of the fetus by aggravated vata. Vata is answerable for differentiation of physique elements. The fusion of neck vertebrae might happen as a result of failure of this operate of vata.

Spasmodic contractions of neck muscle tissues are additionally attributable to vata aggravation. When vata will get aggravated spasmodic contractions can happen wherever within the physique. Similar is the case with tilt of the top. Irregular twists, turns and tilts within the physique elements are attributable to aggravated vata.

Among the many sorts of torticollis on the idea of place of head and neck – laterocollis, rotational torticollis, anterocollis and retrocollis – all are attributable to aggravated vata.

Understanding Torticollis from ‘signs and problems of torticollis’ perspective

1. Signs and dosha relation in torticollis

2. Dosha affiliation in different signs of torticollis

3. Dosha affiliation with problems of torticollis

Stiff Neck, Greeva Hundanam

It’s a self-limiting type of torticollis which happens spontaneously and contains a number of painful neck muscle tissues. This situation will spontaneously go away in about 1-4 weeks’ time. The muscle tissues that are typically concerned on this situation are trapezius or sternocleidomastoid. In lots of instances no particular or clear causes are discovered however in some situations colds or uncommon postures are contributory. This situation may also be correlated with the reason of Greeva hundanam.

Spasmodic Torticollis, Greeva Hundanam

It’s a situation in which there’s recurrent and transient contraction of neck muscle tissues, primarily sternocleidomastoid muscle. Additionally it is referred to as by the under talked about names –

–         Intermittent torticollis
–         Cervical dystonia
–         Idiopathic cervical dystonia

This situation may correlate with the outline of greeva hundanam.

Ayurveda Therapy of Torticollis

Therapy rules

Nidana Parivarjana – One shall keep away from / maintain away the causative elements because the at the start a part of intervention. Primarily extreme day sleep, sleeping on uneven floor (odd, untoward place) and extreme trying in upward gaze shall be averted as a lot as potential.

Vata Vyadhi Chikitsa – Since Manyastambha typically in contrast with torticollis is likely one of the vata vyadhis, a normal line of remedy of vata vyadhi needs to be adopted in treating torticollis.

–         When solely vata is concerned – interventions like abhyanga – oil therapeutic massage, lepa – anointment of medicinal pastes, pichu – holding a gauze or swab dipped in vata assuaging oil over the posterior a part of the neck, swedana – sudation, primarily nadi sweda or pinda sweda, nasya – errhines and vasti – medicated enemas are extraordinarily useful.

–         When kapha is related – ruksha sweda – dry sudation / fomentation, mrudu vamana – gentle emesis, nasya – errhines and lepa can be useful.

It is very important establish the dosha involvement and affiliation on this situation in order to offer good outcomes.

Greeva Basti – oil pooling therapies completed on the again of the neck is extraordinarily useful in relieving the signs of torticollis. It may be skillfully mixed with nasya and churna or patra pinda sweda for higher outcomes.

Helpful formulations

For Abhyanga and Greeva Basti – Mahanarayana Taila, Ksheerabala Taila, Prasarinyadi Taila and Mahamasha Taila / Kottamchukkadi Tailam (kapha involvement)

For Nasya – Ksheerabala Taila 101 and Mahamasha Taila for vata predominant situations / Anu taila for kapha predominant situation

For Vasti – Ksheerabala Taila, Mahamasha Taila, Guggulutiktaka Ghrta

For oral use –

–         Prasarinyadi Kashayam
–         Maharasnadi Kashayam
–         Varanadi Kashayam
–         Rasonadi Kashayam
–         Dashamula Kashayam
–         Mahayogaraja Guggulu
–         Rasnadi Guggulu
–         Ashwagandharishta
–         Balarishta
–         Mahavata Vidhwamsini Ras

Helpful Yoga Postures

–         Ushtrasana – Camel Pose
–         Shavasana – Corpse Pose
–         Navasana – Boat Pose
–         Uttana Shishosana – Prolonged Pet Pose
–         Balasana – Youngster’s Pose
–         Vashishthasana – Aspect Plank Pose
–         Setu Bandhasana / Setu Bandha Sarvangasana – Bridge Pose
–         Utthitha Trikonasana – Prolonged Triangle Pose
–         Adho Mukha Shvanasana – Downward Going through Canine Pose
–         Paschimottanasana – Seated Ahead Bend Pose
–         Uttanasana – Standing Ahead Bend Pose
–         Virabhadrasana II – Warrior II Pose
–         Urdhwa Mukha Pasasana – Thread the Needle Pose
–         Viparita Karani – Legs up the wall Pose
–         Gomukhasana – Cow Face Pose
–         Ardha Matsyendrasana – Half Lord of the Fishes Pose
–         Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana – Two Footed Pose
–         Chakravakasana / Marjaryasana / Bitalasana – Cat / Cow Stretch Pose
–         Anahataasana – Melting Coronary heart Pose
–         Salamba Bhujangasana – Sphinx Pose