Siddha External Therapies: Thokkanam and Varmam in The Management of Kumbavatham (Frozen Shoulder) – A Case Study

Abstract

A 50 years old married female from Palamunai, Arayampathy reported to Siddha Ayurveda Base Hospital (SABH), Puthukkudiyiruppu, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka with severe pain with tenderness and restricted extension, abduction, adduction and rotation of her right shoulder both active and passive movements for 9 months. She was diagnosed to be affected by frozen shoulder which is equated to Siddha medicine one of the vatha disease Kumbavatham.mShe was treated with Siddha external therapy thokkanam and Varmam with Melugu thylam. The patient has been following advices strictly Siddha diabetic diet and pathiyam. Assessment of pain and shoulder movements before, during and after treatment recorded and Siddha assessment of envagai thervu and manikadai nool also recorded. The patient was observed under the close monitoring for 6 months after 21 days of treatment. There were no adverse reactions observed during the course of treatment. The combination therapy has proved the reduction in pain and restricted movements which was measured using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), goniometer and SPADI index. This case study demonstrated that the application of Thokkanam and Varmam effectively reduced the symptoms of Kumbavatham.