Validation of Siddha Varmam therapy for the pain management of ankle sprain
Abstract
AYUSH system of medicine is an alternative medicine that is practiced traditionally in different areas of India. Siddha system of medicine is one among them. It has been followed for decades in Tamil nadu. Siddha system of medicine possess many unique therapeutic techniques and varmam is one among them. Varmam is a non-invasive therapeutic technique which is based on “vaasi flow” (i.e. energy flow) [1,2,3]. The unremitted flow of vaasi, stagnant at particular points which are called as varmam points [1,2,3]. Immediate pain reliving is possible by manipulating these points. Ankle sprains are one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries. Ankle sprains occur when there are stretching or microscopic tears of the ankle ligaments due to overstressing those ligaments [8]. Ankle sprains occur frequently among young and active people, accounting for almost 2 million injuries per year [9]. In all sports injuries, the rate of ankle sprains ranges from 15 to 20 % [10]. Ankle sprain is categorised into three grades based on their severity. The symptoms of ankle sprain pain (mild to severe based on grade of the injury), swelling, tenderness, bruising, stiffness and instability. The recovery period of ankle sprain may take 2 to 8 weeks in case of grade I & II but in case of grade III duration may be prolonged [11]. In case of Grade I & II sprain the severity of pain can be immediately reduced to some extend by manipulating varmam points. We have handled many cases in our OPD and we have observed that the recovery period of ankle sprain can be reduced by the manipulation of varmam points. This article is about the review of the varmam points that has been followed in varmam OPD, GSMC, Chennai for ankle sprain.
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