A Critical review of aetiopathological study of Urustambha

Abstract

Background- Urustambha which literally means stiffness of thighs, pain and inability to move the pelvis and lower extremities. In the present era, Urustambha patients come with different manifestations which are difficult to diagnose. If oleation therapy or Panchakarma (the five kinds of therapeutic procedures or treatments) therapy is administered due to misdiagnosed that this disease as Vata disorder or due to ignorance, it results in increasing symptoms. So, this article is very useful to understand which types of symptoms that look like Vata Vyadi are not always treated with Snehan (oleation)or Panchakarma etc.

 Introduction- Urustambha which means stiffness of thighs. Patients are unable to move the pelvis and lower extremities because of pain and this is the only disease in which Panchakarma is contraindicated. It is as hazardous as Trimarma  (three vital organs) disorder and resembles Vata (vital biological force responsible for movement and cognition disorder). Though the clinical presentation of Urustambha resembles Vata-dominant diseases due to its clinical presentation, however Kapha (controls body fluids and maintains the structural cohesion of the organism) and Meda dhatu (body component which indicates fat in general and adipose tissue in particular) are the main culprits in the pathogenesis so the management is focused on the main culprits like Kapha and Meda dhatu. These two (Kapha and Meda dhatu)obstruct the vessels flowing downwards in the thigh region causing stiffness and immobility of the thighs.

Conclusion- This article helps to understand the concept of Urustambha from an Ayurveda perspective and modern aspects too and concluded with treatment mentioned in different Ayurvedic texts which can be very useful in the prevention and management of diseases that yield due to Kphaja factors and symptoms originate as Vata Vyadhi such as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), Thrombophlebitis, Lipid myopathies (LM) etc.