Kati vasthi, The Best Ayurvedic Treatment for Back Pain

Have you ever blamed a sedentary lifestyle, unending sitting before the computer screen, long driving, and weight lifting for this?

Have you found any short-term solution to this problem besides painkillers?

Ayurveda, the holistic science, has the solution to this.

Kati vasti is an Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapy with excellent results on low back aches in a short period. You may now wonder how holding medicated Oil can cure this chronic issue.

Are you curious about this safe and powerful treatment procedure?

What is Kati Vashti treatment?

Kati vasti is a traditional Ayurvedic treatment in which comfortably warm medicated Oil is kept over the low back region or lumbo- sacral region for a specific period using a specially formed frame.

It is indicated in diseases of the lower back region, such as lumbar spondylosis, sciatica, lumbago, intervertebral disc prolapse, etc.

The word Kati means low back, and vasti means to hold or to retain. So as the name indicates, the treatment includes holding the warm medicated Oil in the low back region using a special frame made up of black gram flour.

The procedure act as a combined oleation (snehana) and fomentation (swedana) therapy and is usually done for 7 – 14 days for 15 – 45 minutes and as advised by the physician.

By this procedure, vitiated Vata dosha returns to the optimum level, reducing pain, reducing the stiffness of muscles and intervertebral joints, relaxation of muscles, etc.

Even though this is an external therapy, it should be performed with utmost care with a physician’s consultation.

Benefits of Kati vasti treatment.

Kati vasti can be considered a pacifying procedure (Samana karma) which is a non-invasive, cost-effective, and affordable treatment procedure even for the common people.

Even though it is advised for pacifying Vata dosha by the combination of different medicated Oil, Kati vasti can be effectively used in the treatment of Kapha and pitta doshas.

The benefits can be shortlisted as:

• It is a safe, non-invasive, cost-effective treatment with no side effects.
• Helps in bringing Vata dosha to its optimum level.
• Nourishes and strengthens muscles, nerves, bones, ligaments, and tissues of the low back region.
• Smoothens and lubricates the intervertebral joints.
• Provide flexibility and mobility to the muscles and intervertebral joints of the lumbosacral region.
• Improves blood circulation and removes toxins from the affected region.
• Reduce pain and stiffness of the low back region.
• Kati vasti can reduce inflammation, tenderness, and swelling of the lumbosacral area.
• Gives mental and physical relaxation to the patient.

How effective is Kati vasti in Ayurveda?

According to Acharya Vagbhatta, in Ashtanga Hridayam sutra sthanam (16^th chapter), among the four types of Sneha, Oil (medicated or non-medicated) is most beneficial for Vata dosha.

As per Ayurveda, different types of pain, stiffness, and neurological problems are caused by Vata dosha. Acharya Charaka explains that Oil has the property to penetrate the body’s deep tissues.

Holding medicated Oil in the lumbosacral region causes vasodilation and neuronal stimulation.

An increase in blood flow results in the removal of toxins and increases oxygen and nutrient circulation. Increased blood circulation will reduce peripheral inflammation, resulting in faster healing.

When the tissues get the necessary supplements, the healing begins immediately, reducing pain, stiffness, nerves and muscle strengthening, and flexibility to the muscle and intervertebral joints.

Keeping warm oil results in sweat in the respective area, which removes toxins from the skin surface. As the warmth of the Oil penetrates the deep structures, the nerves also get stimulated.

Thus we can conclude that by applying Kati vasti, low back ache, whether any dosha causes it can be alleviated on a short-term basis.

Kati vasti treatment procedure

Even though it is a simple external therapy, it should be performed under a physician’s consultation by a trained therapist. A physical and radiological examination should be carried out before the procedure. X-ray or MRI should rule out any types of deformities or malignant changes. If inflammation persists, steps should be taken to subside inflammation before starting the procedure.

Oils used in Kati Vasthi Treatment

Any of the four maha Sneha (ghee, bone marrow, fat, Oil) can be used for this procedure as per the condition.

Medicated Oil can be used alone or in combination according to the predominance of doshas involved. In Ayurveda, most medicinal oils are prepared with sesame as a base. The sesame oil is Vata Kapha soothing in nature. So by using this, Vata and Kapha return to normalcy, resulting in reduced pain, stiffness, heaviness, etc. Pitta dosha can be corrected by adding medicinal herbs with pitta Samana properties to the Oil used.

Commonly used medicinal oils are:

1. Karpasasthyadi tailam
2. Sahacharadi tailam.
3. Mahamasha tailam.
4. Dhanwantaram tailam
5. Kottamchukkadi tailam.
6. Mahanarayana tailam.
7. Nirgundi tailam.
8. Ksheerabala tailam.
9. Bala aswagandadi tailam.
10. Tila tailam.
11. Medicated ghee like tiktaka ghritam, guggulu maha tiktaka ghritam etc.

Preparation of frame for Kati vasti

• Black gram powder ( 200- 250 grams) is mixed with a sufficient quantity of warm water and made into a dough(thick paste).
• The dough is rolled into a flat slab of measurement having a length of 15- 20 cm, a thickness of 3 cm, and a height of 5 cm.
• The diameter of the ring should be a way that it covers the lumbar vertebrae, sacroiliac joints, and coccyx within it.

Preparation of the patient for Kati vasti

• The patient must undergo an oil massage (abhyanga) all over the body and medicated steam (Nadi Sweda) on the low back region and legs.
• Then the patient is advised to lie down on their stomach, exposing the lumbosacral region.
• Drap all other areas of the body with a cloth.
• The prepared dough is placed on the low back region in a circular shape, or steel or plastic rings can be used.
• The sealing should be intact to prevent leaking of Oil through the sides.

 Kadi Vasthi Treatment Procedure

• The medicated Oil should be warm by keeping the vessel in a hot water bath.
• After ensuring the optimum temperature (40 – 45 degrees Celsius), it is slowly poured inside the ring along the side of the dough.
• The temperature is maintained throughout the procedure by replacing a small quantity of Oil after reheating it in a hot water bath.
• The Oil is kept for 30- 40 minutes as advised by the physician.

Post-treatment procedures For Kati Vasthi

• Remove the Oil completely by dipping cotton and squeezing it in a container.
• The dough can be removed; the area should be wiped and cleaned with warm water.
• The part is massaged with linear and circular strokes.
• Fomentation should be done either with Nadi Sweda, pariseka Sweda if needed.

Do’s and don’ts during Kati vasti

• Maintain an optimal temperature throughout the procedure.
• Some oil should be left in the ring while reheating the Oil.
• Don’t remove the Oil completely while reheating the Oil.
• Ensure proper dough sealing to prevent Oil from leaking through the sides.
• If accidental burns occur, stop the procedure immediately and apply aloe vera gel, turmeric with ghee, shatadhouta ghrita, etc., to the respective area.
• For the first 3 days, use the same Oil. Change the Oil from the 4^th day onwards
• The procedure must be done only by a trained therapist.

Post-treatment regimen For Kadi Vasthi

• The patient is asked to take complete rest for at least 45 minutes and take a bath using warm water.
• If the procedure is done on an outpatient basis, the patient should rest after reaching home.
• The patient can follow a normal diet as there are no dietary restrictions.

Restricted physical activities during and after Kati vasti Treatments

• The patient must avoid taking heavy weights during the treatment course.
• Avoid bending forward and backwards during the time of the treatment course.
• The sitting, standing, and sleeping postures should be intact.
• Avoid sexual intercourse and other strenuous activities during the treatment course until the physician advises.

Which are the diseases treated by Kati vasti?

Kati vasti is an external Sneha Sweda procedure that relieves low back diseases quickly.

It is indicated in diseases of the lower back region associated with neurological, musculoskeletal, and rheumatological problems.

The diseases in which the treatment is beneficial are

1. Lumbar spondylosis
2. Spondylolisthesis.
3. Intervertebral disc prolapse
4. Lumbar radiculopathy.
5. Fractures of lumbar vertebrae
6. Ankylosing spondylitis
7. Sacroiletits.
8. Sciatica
9. Slip disc
10. Degenerative disease of the spine.
11. Lumbago
12. Kati graham( stiffness of low back region)
13. Lumbosacral strain.
14. Coccydynia.

Avoid this procedure if the patient cannot stay prone for the prescribed time. It is contraindicated in conditions like

1. Acute fever
2. Acute stages of rheumatoid arthritis
3. Patients suffering from kidney or hemorrhagic diseases
4. Patients are suffering from infectious or inflammatory conditions.

Side effects of Kati vasti

As the treatment is an external, non-invasive therapy, there are no side effects associated with the treatment. The patient must avoid performing this procedure at home. Sometimes itching may be related to the medicinal Oil used, which usually subsides after the procedure.

 Kati vasti is a safe and non-invasive therapy accessible even to the common people. If you suffer from low back aches or related issues, you should try this best ayurvedic treatment in Kerala and feel the results.