Upanaha sweda therapy in ayurveda and its effectiveness in joint disorders

Summary of article contents:

The procedure of applying warm herbal paste to the effected part of the body followed by bandaging is referred to upanahasweda . It is a type of ekanga sweda which can be done with or without heating the medicine. Upanaha Sweda is one among four types of Sweda described by Acharya Vagbhata . Moreover, both Charaka and Sushruta have accepted it as a therapy of choice in case of Sandhigata VataUpanaha sweda is one among the modality of swedana used widely in the management of sandhigatavata , which is found to be helpful clinically This therapy has vatahara, shothahara (antiinflammatory), shoolaghna (analgesic) action. It can be used with Agni Samskara or even without use of Agni . Mode of action of Upanaha Sweda having multiple factors and their combine effects that includes, prevention of heat loss from body, increasing the absorption of medicinal contents through skin, increasing or removing Kleda from affected joint depending upon the type of drug utilized and by supporting and limiting the movement of the affected joint Ayurvedic texts opines that Upanaha Sweda acts by trapping the heat inside the body by preventing the heat loss through Romakupa Keywords: Upanaha, Sweda, Sandhigata Vata INTRODUCTION Ayurveda is a science based on the theory of Panchamahabhuta where these elements are used wisely to cure the diseases