How to treat a frozen shoulder through ayurveda

How to treat a frozen shoulder through ayurveda

According to ayurveda a frozen shoulder is known as Ababahuka. It is a pure vata roga. Vitiated vata dosha absorbs the fluid (kapha) of the joint which leads to Ababahuka.

Sign and symptoms

• Stiff, painful shoulder with progressive limitation of movement, which worsens overtime
• The pain is felt worst at night and when lying on the affected side. The patient has difficulty in doing normal daily tasks
• Usually occurs on one side but sometimes it can spread to the other shoulder
• It happens mostly to people aged in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s
• Women are more prone to it than men.

Causes

• Maybe due to synovitis, rupture of the capsule, or a lesion in the muscle complex around the joint particularly in the supraspinatus.
• It could be due to a history of trauma. For example if your arm is in a sling for a long time or immobilized in a specific position for a prolonged period of time
• Heart or lung problems can be linked to cause shoulder pain. Cardiac surgery sometimes leads to a frozen shoulder. Diabetes is a commonly associated condition with frozen shoulders.

Ayurveda treatment

If a frozen shoulder is caused by a secondary group the Panchkarma and Kerala therapy is very effective. The aim of the Ayurveda treatment is to bring the vitiated vata in equilibrium. The most popular kerala therapy is pizhichil, which means squeezing of medicated oil with the help of a cotton cloth all over the body with full concentration on the shoulder along with a different stroke of massage.

• Elakizhi is a special herbal pack massage with Pizhichil gives strength to the muscle and improves the mobility of the shoulder joint.
• Nasyam is a popular panch karma therapy for all urdhvajatrugata roga. It is a powerful rejuvenating therapy.
• Duration for all the therapies are courses of 7, 14 and 21 days depending upon the severity of the symptoms along with oral medicines for 3-4months.

Other treatment

It is essential to carry out a careful clinical examination as many diseases of diverse origin are frequently present with musculoskeletal symptoms.

• Physiotherapy is quite effective in an acute condition
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Steroid injection into the joint to reduce inflammation
• Nerve block is a short term pain relief option
• Surgery if the above fails.