The approach to healing used in Ayurveda medicine is very different from the approach used in Western modalities.
The goal is not to mask or eliminate a symptom, but to uncover the cause and work to reduce or eliminate the conditions that allow the cause to be created.
Ayurvedic treatment for leg pain may initially focus on helping to relieve the immediacy of the pain, but more of its focus will be on working with you to make changes to how you live so that it won’t return. This means that success is measured by how well you become overall.
Some leg pains can never be totally eliminated, but the rest of your health and well-being can be improved enough – along with improvement in the motion, resiliency and cushioning, that it becomes less of a burden of pain.
Ayurvedic treatment for leg pain is starting to be studied more and more, and the results are showing that it is effective when it is practiced rigorously.
Just like taking pain medication when you are supposed to, practicing the Ayurvedic treatment as it is prescribed is necessary for you to see results.
What is muscle resiliency?
Muscle resiliency is the ability of the muscle to contract and then relax. The contraction and relaxation process is only possible if the muscle is receiving adequate nutrition and cleansing from the circulation of the blood and the lymphatic systems.
While the blood circulation is controlled by the beating of the heart, the lymph system is dependent on movement in order to go through its cycle.
This is why the physical movement is always a part of the treatment for leg pain whether you are following a Western protocol or an Ayurvedic one.
Ayurvedic treatment for leg pain
Much of the Ayurvedic treatment for leg pain is going to focus on improving the ability of the leg muscles to contract and relax while combining diet changes and herbs to promote healthier circulation.
A detoxifying cleanse may also be called for, depending on your current state of health.
If you are overweight, the practitioner may want to work with you to change your diet and cleanse the toxins from your body to improve your Vata before starting to do any other work.
Leg pain can be complicated by bearing too much weight, reduced circulation, and poor nutrition.
Poor posture and low mobility are also common issues associated with it. These are addressed in Ayurvedic medicine by employing yogic practices, deep massage, and other methods of relaxing and introducing more flexibility and stamina to the tendons and ligaments of the joints.
The treatment is not viewed as something you do until the knee joint problem disappears; it is viewed as a means to create a new way of living that keeps your life in balance and prevents problems from occurring again.
Why does Ayurvedic medicine work?
Ayurveda is a system of beliefs that is centuries old and that originated in the region of India. It is not just a medicine, but a way of living and understanding the context of your existence in the world.
As a form of healthcare, it has been used for many centuries and its influence can be seen in other traditions, such as that of TCM.
Ayurvedic medicine works on the principle that the body is influenced by three kinds of energy – that of digestion, movement, and immune strength. They are called Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
Each person is born more imbued with one energy than another and they have to adapt their life to keep their energies in balance to avoid being unwell.
When leg pain or illness occurs – it is because one of the energies has weakened (or strengthened) and put the triad out of balance.
Ayurvedic medicine is the practice of balancing energies through diet, herbs, natural medicines, relaxation and movement practices.
Understanding the doshas
The doshas not only define the natural inclinations of your body, but they comprise the three main energies that affect your health and well-being. The three doshas are Pitta, Vata, and Kapha.
Chronic leg pain is primarily considered to be a Pitta Kata, which means it has to do with the energy of movement, but it is also the more serious Vata Kata – which means that there may also be a core disturbance to your hormonal and immunological systems. This is why the first part of the treatment is going to focus on the Vata.
The recommendation may be for massage, light asana and the consumption of herbs associated with promoting healthy digestion such as ginger, turmeric, and ashwagandha.
How do they know what is causing the problem?
Ayurvedic practitioners are trained to allow them to create a full picture of the causes of your leg pain.
They don’t just look at the leg symptoms, but they will look towards the whole picture of your lifestyle to begin to understand what has created the opportunity for the leg pain to exist.
They are going to examine you through questions, and through touch and massage, to begin to determine the entire path of the disruption to your body through all of your joints and organs.
Why don’t more people use Ayurvedic medicine?
If you are going to follow the Ayurvedic treatment for leg pain you are going to have to be committed to being a part of the cure for your pain.
This goes beyond just remembering to take a pill or show up for a physical therapy appointment, it means changing your lifestyle habits.
In the Western world, the idea of a patient’s participation in the treatment as being as important as the treatment is a relatively new concept.
In general, people expect their pain to be resolved by someone, or something, outside of themselves.
The practices and commitment required to get the benefit promised by the Ayurvedic treatment for leg pain can be too much for many people to follow through on.
The nature of holistic healing is it involves the whole person, not just the part that is in pain.
