Exploring Modified Siravedha for Effective Treatment of Vatakantaka (Plantar Fasciitis)- A Single Case Report

Abstract

Plantar fasciitis is one of the common causes of heel pain and it affects one in ten persons throughout their lifetime.  Due to over strain to the muscles and ligaments of the plantar region, over-stretching of the plantar fascia is leading cause of the manifestation of plantar fasciitis. Looking at aetiopathogenesis, signs & symptoms, Vatakantaka mentioned under Naanatmaja Vatavyadhi can be correlated with plantar fasciitis and treatment modalities prescribed for it can be adopted for its management. Siravedha (~ venepuncture) is a unique modality given by Acharya Sushruta to let out noxious blood from the painful site and gradually cure the disease. A 39-year-old female patient visited Asthi-Sandhi-Marma Roga OPD with complaints of pain in the left heel region. Based on examination, she was diagnosed a case of plantar fasciitis and 4 sittings of Siravedha were done once weekly for 4 weeks after local Snehana (~Therapeutic oleation) and Swedana (~ sudation therapy) at foot region. Effective relief was achieved as pain and tenderness decreased significantly after each session. The Visual Analog Scale score dropped from 8 to 0, while tenderness decreased from Grade 4 to 0. Additionally, there were no recurrences during the 6-month follow-up period.