Trigger Finger Treatment in Ayurveda – Effective Natural Remedies

Abstract

Ailments like trigger fingers seem quite prevalent nowadays. It is the most general cause of pain in the hand and might lead to serious disability if not treated properly at initial stages. The main reason behind this could be due to certain occupations that require excessive use of thumb and other fingers of the hand. Ayurveda deals with such malady by going into the base level of causative factors and focuses on ‘nidan parivarjan’ (avoiding the root cause of disease). So let’s discuss this in detail.

Introduction

Definition of Trigger finger

It is defined as a condition in which the finger attains a stuck position in a bent direction and is unable to work and move properly.

• This condition popularly known as “stenosing tenosynovitis” and it generally results from the formation of inflammation within the tendon sheath (tendons are the fibrous band that connects muscle to a bone structure) of moving fingers as a result of this, it attains a steady position in a bent direction.
• It can affect any finger including the thumb or there may be involvement of one or more fingers simultaneously.

Etilogical Factors

These are the main causes (nidan as per ayurveda) that results in formation of an ailment.

• Repetitive gripping actions of your fingers seen more commonly in certain occupations like in tailors, sportspersons etc.
• Continuous trauma to a particular site- persistent fracture of bones (phalanges and metacarpals) of hands.
• Underlying inflammatory processes such as arthritis.
• Excess intake of a protein rich diet.
• Increased level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate due to associated infection.

As per Ayurveda

The main reason of such inflammatory processes is due to elevated pitta dosha within the body and it gets vitiated due to following causes:

• Intake of amla (sour), lavan (salt) and katu (spicy) rich food articles
• Krodh ( anger)
• Consume vidhai anna( acidity causing food)
• Excessive exposure to sunlight and fire.

Clinical Features

It includes the signs and symptoms. A symptom means the general complaints along with patients present in front of the physician. They are as follow:

• Stiffness in the affected finger notices more prominently early in the morning.
• Difficulty in performing the normal functions with the affected finger.
• Presence of tenderness.
• Formation of bump (nodule) at the affected site of your hand .
• Fingers lock in a bent direction and that makes you unable to straighten it.

Signs: It means what a physician notices himself by observing the patient’s condition. In this particular disease following below listed signs are noticed by a physician:

• Rubor (means redness over the affected area)
• Calor (means heat, affected area appears hot due to presence of inflammation the temperature of that site got elevated)
• Dolor (presence of pain)
• Tumor (swelling or nodule formation)
• Functio laesa (loss of function of the diseased site)

Risk Factors

Means the factors that put you at risk of developing this ailment:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Diabetes mellitus
• Persistent presence of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Diagnosis

It means how we can identify the disease. There are various methods:

• Detailed physical examination of the patient- physician notices the classical appearance of the bent shape of the finger.
• Laboratory findings
• Erythrocytes sedimentation rate.
• C- reactive protein test.
• RA factor.
• Radiological examination:
• X Ray examination

According to ayurveda- The two most preferred diagnostic procedures used by a physician are as follow

Trividh pariksha-(Group of 3 diagnostic procedures)

• Darsha- Diagnosis is made by visual examination of the symptoms.
• Sparshan- Physician uses tactile examination to evaluate whether skin is cold/hot
• Prashan– Physicians ask direct questions from the patient, to evaluate the root cause of the disease i.e. history taking.

 Asthavidh pariksha (set of 8 examination procedure)

• Nadi pariksha– By palpating the pulse rate of the patient.
• Mutra pariksha– By examining the urine of the patient.
• Mal pariksha– By stool examination.
• Jivha pariksha– By examining the tongue whether coated or not.
• Shabad pariksha– By listening to the natural sounds within the body like intestinal sound (peristalsis) sounds of moving body fluids.
• Sparsh pariksha– By observing the patient skin texture whether it is cool, wet or dry.
• Drik pariksha– When a physician inspects patient symptoms through his/her eyes.
• Akriti pariksha– When a physician evaluates the general appearance of a patient whether he/she looks dull, lethargic or fatigued etc.

Management

According to modern system of medicine

• Rest: Firstly proper rest should be given to the patient to reduce the inflammatory response.
• Stretching exercises should be encouraged as this will help in getting back the normal position of the affected finger.
• Medications – Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen helps in relieving the pain but it is not able to relieve the swelling (bump).
• If symptoms are severe and does not corrected with above treatment modalities then follows the:
• Steroidal injection– injection is injected into the tendon sheath to reduce the inflammation.
• Surgery- this procedure is used if the above mentioned all procedures are not able to give consolation to the patient. In this affected tendon sheath is removed with the help of surgical intervention to provide symptomatic relief to the patient.

According to Ayurveda

Line of treatment in this as it is Pittaj vyadhi (occurs due to vitiation of pitta dosha)

A. Sanshodhan Chikitsa (detoxification procedure)

• Deepan- Power of digestive fire (Agni) is increased by using deepan herbs like….
• Paachan- Digestive medicine is given by oral route to assimilate undigested food particles within the body.
• Sanehan- Smoothing the body dosha’s by using herbal ghrit/oil.
• Svedan- Semi-hot medicated kwath is sprayed on the patient’s body by a specially made swedan yantra (instrument).
• Vaman (emesis)- emetic medicines are given to the patient to take out the vitiated dosha of the body.
• Virechana (purgation) is the best technique to release out the pitta dosha from          the body by anal route.
• Raktamokshan (bloodletting) -It is considered as “ardh chikitsa” (important as a whole treatment) by acharya shushruta because it helps in purifying the blood by removing harmful toxins from it

All above mentioned procedures are included in “Panchkarma therapy”. They are the main and most unique treatment modalities mentioned in ancient indian medicine.

B. Samshman Chikitsa (by oral medication) – In this we control the disease by subsiding dosha within the body itself.

Planet Ayurveda is a leading herbal manufacturing unit serving mankind with their 100% organic products free from preservatives and chemical agents, made under the supervision of ayurveda experts. They offer various herbal formulations to be used in the trigger finger.

Some of them are as follows

1. Yograj guggul
2. Boswellia curcumin
3. Ashwagandha capsules
4. Joint Aid capsules
5. RumoGin 5 Capsules

Products Description

1. Yograj Guggul

It is herbal painkillers that help in preventing muscle cramps and is very effective in joint disorders. This medicine rejuvenates and strengthens the skeletal and neuro-muscular system that will help you in managing ailments like trigger fingers. Ingredients includes Shuddha guggul (Pure form of Commiphora mukul), amalaki (Embilica officinalis), haritaki (Terminalia chebula), vibhitaki (Terminalia bellerica) etc.

Dosage: 2 tablets two times daily with normal or lukewarm water.

2. Boswellia Curcumin

It possesses great anti inflammatory, antifungal property, very well for your skin functioning which keeps functioning of the nervous system healthy & helps you to fight with ailments like trigger finger very efficiently.It is an effective combination of shallaki (Boswellia serrata) and haridra (Curcumin longa)

Dosage: 1 capsule two times daily with normal or lukewarm water.

3. Ashwagandha Capsules

It contains a great antioxidant property that boosts the immune system and develops strong immunity power along with that aid in reducing the inflammation to combat disease like trigger finger. Ingredients include Pure extract of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera).

Dosage: 1 capsule two times daily with lukewarm water.

4. Joint Aid Plus

This herbal formulation provides strength to the skeletal system of our body, aid in relieving joint pain associated with the trigger finger very often. Ingredients includes Nirgundi (Vitex negundo), shallaki (Boswellia serrata), guggul (Commiphora mukul), sonth (Zingiber officinale) and ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) etc.

Dosage: 2 capsules twice daily with lukewarm water.

5. RumoGin 5 Capsules

Herbs present in this beautiful formulation have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory action that will aid in wound healing and repair, cleanse the doshas outside from the body along with that increases the mobility of joint and bone structures so work very well in ailment like trigger finger.Ingredients includes Haridra (Curcuma longa), sonth (Zingiber officinale), shallaki (Boswellia serrata), maricha (Piper nigrum) and pippali (Piper longum).

Dosage: 1 capsule two times in a day with normal or lukewarm water

Conclusion

We can now conclude that in an ailment like trigger finger ayurvedic herbs work really well as our main focus is on the base level of the disease. In the trigger finger the main culprit is the elevated Pitta dosha so our main concern is to deal with it intrinsically. For Ayurvedic treatment, you can consider choosing Planet Ayurveda as we have been serving mankind with our holistic approach of healing. You can directly visit us at our clinic at Mohali, Punjab or can send your queries on our official email id- herbalremedies123@yahoo.com