EFFICACY OF BHALLATAKA AGNIKARMA IN VATKANTAKA (CALCANEAL SPUR) - A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Agnikarma is an important para surgical procedure emerged as an integral part of the Ayurvedic therapeutics. Agnikarma is application of heat to a particular part of the body by raising local body temperature causing dilatation of local blood vessels which increases tissue perfusion, excretes the metabolic waste reduces the shotha (inflammation) and hence the pain resulted by the shotha. Agnikarma is superior then Ksharkarma as the disease treated by Agnikarma never happen again. 46 years traffic police officer with calcaneal spur was diagnosed on x-ray with severe pain and difficulty in walking was treated with Bhallatak Agnikarma. It is one of the effective and cheapest line of management on opd basis with instant results shown. Patient showed significant relief after Agnikarma. As the calcaneal spur is bony overgrowth from the calcaneal tuberosity which occurs when foot exposed to a constant strain leads to calcium deposition in the heel bone. In Ayurveda, Calcaneal spur correlate with ‘Asthimajjagat Vata’ and ‘Vatakantaka’ .It is one of the Vatavyadhi which occurs in gulfa sandhi region; Caused due to excessive walking or walking on irregular surfaces, excessive pressure exerted over ankle region. This causes vat to accumulate in ankle region (Vat Prakop –Sthansanshraya). It is characterised by Shool (pain) at heel region. In Ayurveda, the pain is due to Vat Dosha and in Vatakantaka, Vata and Kapha both are responsible for the disease pathology. And this Vat-Kapha Dushti can be effectively treated by Agnikarma.