Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome through ayurveda: A case study

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a compression of the median nerve at the wrist. CTS produces symptoms such as pain, numbness, and tingling sensations in the hand and wrist. In Ayurveda , no disease can be exactly correlated with CTS, but it can be considered as one of the Vata vyadhi (~disorders due to vitiated Vata ) based on signs and symptoms. Acharya Charaka has mentioned Snehayukta (~unctuous) and Mridu virechana (~mild therapeutic purgation) in Vata vyadhi chikitsa . A 36-year-old male patient who approached the Panchakarma outpatient department of a tertiary Ayurveda hospital with pricking pain (~ Todavata vedana ) in the bilateral hand and forearm up to elbows with numbness (~ Suptata ) and tingling sensation (~ Chimachimayana ) which was more pronounced in left than right, for the last two years. Electromyography and nerve conduction velocity testing were suggestive of bilateral CTS (more in the left than the right). The patient was admitted to the inpatient department for 15 days and underwent Shodhana chikitsa (~bio-cleansing therapy), including Rukshana (~dryness inducing), Snehana (~internal oleation), Swedana (~therapeutic sudation), and Virechana karma (~therapeutic purgation), followed by Shamana chikitsa (~pacification therapy), including oral administration of Dashamoola kwatha, Simhanada guggulu, Kaishora guggulu, Ashwagandha churna, and Gandharvahastadi taila for 30 days. The Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire was used to measure the efficacy of the Ayurveda therapeutic regimen. On assessing through the questionnaire, the Symptom Severity Scale and Functional Status Scale revealed 59% and 63% relief, respectively. Further, Phalen’s, Durkan’s/Carpal compression, Tinel’s, and Hand elevation test came out negative after completion of treatment. Based on the outcome of the case, it may be stated that Virechana karma, in particular, along with oral Ayurveda medications , has shown encouraging results in the management of CTS, without any adverse event during and after the course of treatment.