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

Myalgia is the identify given for muscle ache. Muscle ache happens as a result of completely different causes, overuse of muscle groups and harm are the most typical causes. It could additionally happen secondary to many systemic ailments. The ache could range in vary, gentle to average to extreme and in addition from individual to individual. Some instances of muscle ache are acute, short-term and reply properly to easy house cures or remedies. Then again, many occasions muscle ache could run a power course, be widespread, presenting with extreme and protracted ache and will demand medical consideration, particularly if they’re as a result of some critical and power underlying medical circumstances.

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 in addition contact upon the doable 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 also be brought on by aggravated vata affecting and damaging the muscle groups and interfering with its regular capabilities, other than inflicting ache and different associated signs therein.

Beneath talked about causative components shall be thought-about from Ayurveda perspective –

–        causative components 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 components chargeable for aggravation of vata

–        Vata calming therapies, medicines, weight loss plan and life-style modifications

–        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 groups 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 individuals who are accustomed to devour meat

–        Inner therapies – Vasti – Asthapana and Anuvasana, Matra Vasti, Ksheera Vasti, Virechana

Mamsagata Vata & Medogata Vata

1. 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 elements,

–        Pricking or throbbing ache within the physique elements,

–        Ache as if somebody has crushed with sticks or fist

–        Extreme ache in physique elements

–        Extreme tiredness / fatigue

This can be a situation brought on by aggravated vata getting localized within the muscle groups, regularly damaging it and inflicting ache and different signs.

Associated Studying – Mamsagata Vata

2. 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 an alternative of mamsa – muscle groups as in Mamsagata Vata.

Therapy – Therapy for each Mamsagata and Medogata Vata is similar. Acharya Charaka mentions the beneath talked about remedies for these two circumstances –

–        Virechana – purgation

–        Niruha Vasti – Decoction enemas

–        Shamana – palliative remedies or administration of vata assuaging medicines and measures

Asthi Majjagata Vata

Mamsa Bala Kshaya i.e. deterioration in energy of muscle groups and Satata Ruk – extreme ache in bones and bone marrow (and in addition in muscle groups) have been talked about amongst the signs of Asthi Majjagata Vata i.e. aggravated vata localized within the bones and bone marrow.

Usually, we see that the muscle ache and weak point might be evident in joint associated or bone associated ailments. Right here, muscle ache and its lack of energy might be secondary to the ailments 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 point is secondary to bone or marrow issues. Therapy rules embody –

–        Bahya Abhyantara Sneha – administration of inner and exterior oleation therapies as and when wanted.

Additionally,

In all of the above mentioned circumstances – Mamsa, Medo, Asthi and Majjagata Vata circumstances – the final line of therapy of Vata Issues might be readily administered together with particular line of therapy.

Particularly on this context, talking about Mamsagata Vata, – in my scientific 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 circumstances.

Mamsavruta Vata

Mamsavruta Vata is a situation whereby the muscle tissue envelopes and blocks the vata and interferes in its capabilities. Although ache will not be talked about amongst the signs of this situation, the therapy rules of the identical might 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 through 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. Muscular tissues are chargeable for all actions together with joints, so muscle ache is a component and parcel of signs of sandhigata vata additionally.

Therapy rules embody – vata vyadhi therapy generally and sandhigata vata therapy in particular.

Muscle Ache brought on by Pitta

Muscle pains brought on by pitta might be inflammatory in nature and can have indicators of irritation like rise in temperature, burning sensation, redness, tenderness, fever and so forth. When there may be extreme ache and gentle indicators of irritation, it may be a case of Vata-Pitta kind of muscle ache. All these ache might be brought on by harm, an infection or irritation.

Therapy in these circumstances embody –

–        Pitta mitigating measures

–        Coolant therapies – like lepa – anointment or utility of pastes product of coolant substances like Chandana (sandal wooden), Ushira (vetiver) and so forth, 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 won’t trigger ache within the muscle groups. It would trigger heaviness or swelling within the concerned muscle groups. Often, Kapha could get entangled as an related dosha together with aggravated vata or pitta.

Therapy contains kapha assuaging measures together with weight loss plan and medicines. 

When kapha builds up within the physique and in addition in kapha associated issues, whereby there might be swelling or oedema as a result of assortment of fluids, the ache and different signs are as a result of stress. In these circumstances, shotha chikitsa must also be thought-about.

Rakta involvement in muscle ache

Muscle pains could also be triggered as a result of circumstances 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 groups are concerned. Ache has been talked about as a part of signs on this context. That is relevant for muscle groups too.

Ama involvement in myalgia

Ama is one causative issue for causation of ache, wherever within the physique. Ache is a particular and predominant function in circumstances like Samavata and Amavata. If muscle ache is secondary to such circumstances, therapy must be focussed in direction of ‘ama’.

Line of therapy of amavata or samavata shall be adopted.

Necessary formulations in Myalgia

For inner 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 groups, repetitive pressure, blunt accidents, power ache and painful syndromes, neuromuscular issues and ischemia have been counted amongst the necessary 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 components for vata aggravation or causation of vata vyadhis.

Pitta affiliation with vata might be thought-about whereby inflammatory circumstances are inflicting myalgia.

Localized myalgia might be mamsagata vata restricted to restricted space of muscle teams. It may be thought-about and handled on the traces of ekanga vata – vata aggravation in a small portion of physique. Diffuse Myalgia might 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 going down within the full physique.