Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Myalgia is the title given for muscle ache. Muscle ache happens as a consequence of completely different causes, overuse of muscle mass and damage are the most typical causes. It might additionally happen secondary to many systemic illnesses. The ache could range in vary, gentle to average to extreme and likewise from individual to individual. Some instances of muscle ache are acute, short-term and reply properly to easy house treatments or therapies. Alternatively, many occasions muscle ache could run a continual course, be widespread, presenting with extreme and protracted ache and will demand medical consideration, particularly if they’re as a consequence of some severe and continual underlying medical situations.
Associated Studying – Muscle Ache, Myalgia – causes, signs, prevention and therapy
On this article we will attempt to perceive myalgia or muscle ache from the Ayurveda Perspective and likewise contact upon the attainable Ayurveda interventions for a similar.
The ‘Vata’ issue
Vata aggravating causes – Ache in muscle or any construction of the physique can’t be triggered with out the involvement of aggravated vata. Myalgia can be brought on by aggravated vata affecting and damaging the muscle mass and interfering with its regular features, aside from inflicting ache and different associated signs therein.
Under talked about causative elements shall be thought-about from Ayurveda perspective –
– causative elements for aggravation of vata
– causes of ‘Vata Vyadhi’
The causes embody the meals, actions, seasons, habits and therapies which worsen vata.
Therapy contains –
– Nidana Parivarjana – avoiding the causative elements liable for aggravation of vata
– Vata calming therapies, medicines, weight-reduction plan and way of life adjustments
– Ideas of treating Vata Vyadhi
– Ideas of treating Mamsagata Vata
– Exterior therapies – Abhyanga, Swedana, Sarvanga Dhara (widespread muscle involvement), Ekanga Dhara (small teams of muscle mass concerned), Lepa, Upanaha, Patrapinda Sweda, Shashtika Shali Pinda Sweda,
– Brimhana – bulk enhancing or strengthening therapies, medicines and meals
– Snehana – consumption of fat / medicated fat – oils, ghee, bone marrow, muscle fats
– Mamsarasa – use of meat soup or juice for many who are accustomed to eat meat
– Inside therapies – Vasti – Asthapana and Anuvasana, Matra Vasti, Ksheera Vasti, Virechana
Mamsagata Vata & Medogata Vata
- Mamsagata Vata
Within the context of Vata Vyadhi, a situation referred to as ‘Mamsagata Vata’ has been defined, the reason of which matches with myalgia or muscle ache.
Mamsagata Vata is marked by presence of –
– Heaviness of the physique components,
– Pricking or throbbing ache within the physique components,
– Ache as if somebody has overwhelmed with sticks or fist
– Extreme ache in physique components
– Extreme tiredness / fatigue
This can be a situation brought on by aggravated vata getting localized within the muscle mass, regularly damaging it and inflicting ache and different signs.
Associated Studying – Mamsagata Vata
- Medogata Vata
The identical signs of Mamsagata Vata are additionally present in Medogata Vata whereby the aggravated vata is localized within the fats tissue as a substitute of mamsa – muscle mass as in Mamsagata Vata.
Therapy – Therapy for each Mamsagata and Medogata Vata is identical. Acharya Charaka mentions the beneath talked about therapies for these two situations –
– Virechana – purgation
– Niruha Vasti – Decoction enemas
– Shamana – palliative therapies or administration of vata assuaging medicines and measures
Asthi Majjagata Vata
Mamsa Bala Kshaya i.e. deterioration in energy of muscle mass and Satata Ruk – extreme ache in bones and bone marrow (and likewise in muscle mass) have been talked about amongst the signs of Asthi Majjagata Vata i.e. aggravated vata localized within the bones and bone marrow.
Typically, we see that the muscle ache and weak spot will probably be evident in joint associated or bone associated illnesses. Right here, muscle ache and its lack of energy will probably be secondary to the illnesses of bones and joints and bone marrow.
Therapy – of Asthi Majjagata Vata too shall be thought-about for treating Myalgia, particularly so, if the ache and weak spot is secondary to bone or marrow issues. Therapy rules embody –
– Bahya Abhyantara Sneha – administration of inside and exterior oleation therapies as and when wanted.
Additionally,
In all of the above stated situations – Mamsa, Medo, Asthi and Majjagata Vata situations – the final line of therapy of Vata Issues may be readily administered together with particular line of therapy.
Particularly on this context, talking about Mamsagata Vata, – in my medical expertise – Abhyanga, Patrapinda Sweda and Shashtika Shali Pinda Sweda / Navarakizhi are extremely efficient in relieving ache and different signs of Mamsagata vata vis-à-vis myalgia or painful muscular situations.
Mamsavruta Vata
Mamsavruta Vata is a situation whereby the muscle tissue envelopes and blocks the vata and interferes in its features. Although ache just isn’t talked about amongst the signs of this situation, the therapy rules of the identical may be thought-about in treating muscle pains.
Therapy rules of Mamsavruta Vata contains
– Swedana – sudation
– Abhyanga – natural oil therapeutic massage,
– Mamsarasa – consumption of meat soup and
– Sneha – consumption of medicated fat
Sandhigata Vata
This can be a situation during which aggravated vata will get localized within the joints of the physique and causes ache and swelling. The individual finds it tough to make actions, particularly to flex and lengthen the limbs. Muscle groups are liable for all actions together with joints, so muscle ache is part and parcel of signs of sandhigata vata additionally.
Therapy rules embody – vata vyadhi therapy on the whole and sandhigata vata therapy in particular.
Muscle Ache brought on by Pitta
Muscle pains brought on by pitta will probably be inflammatory in nature and may have indicators of irritation like rise in temperature, burning sensation, redness, tenderness, fever and many others. When there’s extreme ache and gentle indicators of irritation, it may be a case of Vata-Pitta sort of muscle ache. Most of these ache may be brought on by damage, an infection or irritation.
Therapy in these situations embody –
– Pitta mitigating measures
– Coolant therapies – like lepa – anointment or utility of pastes manufactured from coolant components like Chandana (sandal wooden), Ushira (vetiver) and many others, Dhara with cooling oils or ghee or mixture of each or milk processed with Dashamula or coolant herbs
– Virechana
Muscle Ache with Kapha involvement
Aggravation of solely Kapha is not going to trigger ache within the muscle mass. It’d trigger heaviness or swelling within the concerned muscle mass. Often, Kapha could become involved as an related dosha together with aggravated vata or pitta.
Therapy includes kapha assuaging measures together with weight-reduction plan and medicines.
When kapha builds up within the physique and likewise in kapha associated issues, whereby there will probably be swelling or oedema as a consequence of assortment of fluids, the ache and different signs are as a consequence of strain. In these situations, shotha chikitsa also needs to be thought-about.
Rakta involvement in muscle ache
Muscle pains could also be triggered as a consequence of situations like Vatarakta brought on by aggravated Rakta. Therapy rules of Vatarakta shall be thought-about on this context. Uttana Vatarakta is a sort of Vatarakta whereby pores and skin and muscle mass are concerned. Ache has been talked about as a part of signs on this context. That is relevant for muscle mass too.
Ama involvement in myalgia
Ama is one causative issue for causation of ache, anyplace within the physique. Ache is a particular and predominant characteristic in situations like Samavata and Amavata. If muscle ache is secondary to such situations, therapy must be focussed in direction of ‘ama’.
Line of therapy of amavata or samavata shall be adopted.
Essential formulations in Myalgia
For inside use –
– Maharasnadi Kashayam
– Sahacharadi Kashayam
– Guggulutiktakam Kashayam / Ghrtam
– Gandharvahastadi Kashayam
– Rasnaerandadi Kashayam
– Balarishtam
– Ashwagandharishtam
– Ashwagandha Churna
– Ashwagandha Ksheerapaka
– Mahasneha
For exterior use –
– Ksheerabala Taila
– Bala Taila
– Balashwagandha Lakshadi Taila
– Sahacharadi Taila
– Prasarini Taila
Myalgia vs Mamsagata Vata / Vata Vyadhi
Bodily stress, overuse of muscle mass, repetitive pressure, blunt accidents, continual ache and painful syndromes, neuromuscular issues and ischemia have been counted amongst the essential causes for muscle aches / myalgia. All these causes result in aggravation of vata wanting from Ayurveda perspective. Most of them have been talked about within the nidana – etiological elements for vata aggravation or causation of vata vyadhis.
Pitta affiliation with vata may be thought-about whereby inflammatory situations are inflicting myalgia.
Localized myalgia may be mamsagata vata restricted to restricted space of muscle teams. It may be thought-about and handled on the strains of ekanga vata – vata aggravation in a small portion of physique. Diffuse Myalgia may be counted as mamsagata vata occurring in all the physique, involving many muscle teams. It may be thought-about as variant of Sarvanga Vata – vata aggravation happening within the full physique.
