Concept of Plantar Fasciitis acc to Ayurveda: Ayurveda considers it as Vatakantaka, condition resulting due to vitiation of vata along with other doshas and dathus. ‘Kantaka’ refers to the point of a needle which is like a thorn and that which produces a sharp, stinging pain at the heel of the foot.

Symptoms: Plantar fasciitis typically causes a stabbing pain in the bottom of your foot near the heel. The main symptoms are:

• Stabbing pain in the bottom of foot near the heels.
• Pain usually worst with first few steps in the morning.
• Pain after long period of standing or rising from sitting.
• Running, walking or lifting heavy weight may exacerbate the condition.

Causes: The plantar fascia is a band of tissue, called fascia, that connects your heel bone to the base of your toes. It supports the arch of the foot and absorbs shock when walking. Tension and stress on the fascia can cause small tears. Repeated stretching and tearing of the facia can irritate or inflame it, although the cause remains unclear in many cases of plantar fasciitis.

Risk factors Even though plantar fasciitis can develop without an obvious cause, some factors can increase your risk of developing this condition. They include:

• Age: Plantar fasciitis is most common in people between the ages of 40 and 60.
• Certain types of exercise: Activities that place a lot of stress on your heel and attached tissue — such as long-distance running, ballet dancing and aerobic dance — can contribute to the onset of plantar fasciitis.
• Foot mechanics: Flat feet, a high arch or even an atypical pattern of walking can affect the way weight is distributed when you’re standing and can put added stress on the plantar fascia.
• Obesity: Excess pounds put extra stress on your plantar fascia.
• Occupations that keep you on your feet: Factory workers, teachers and others who spend most of their work hours walking or standing on hard surfaces can be at increased risk of plantar fasciitis.

Complications Ignoring plantar fasciitis can result in chronic heel pain that hinders your regular activities. You’re likely to change your walk to try to avoid plantar fasciitis pain, which might lead to foot, knee, hip or back problems.

How Ayurveda prevent Plantar Fasciitis? Ayurveda suggests following a healthy regimen that does not lead to the aggravation of doshas. As prevention is better than cure, it is suggested to avoid over exertion to the heels and to follow a region that does not vitiate doshas and dhatus. As a part of daily regimen Ayurveda highlights the importance of wearing proper foot wears, daily massage to foot etc. Avoid walking with foot placed on hard, uneven surface and exertion (physical activities like running, jumping, walking , sports and games) leads to the aggravation of vata. Avoid day sleep and night vigil.

Ayurvedic Panchakarma Treatment For Plantar Fasciitis Main aim of our treatment is to normalise three dosha and to nourish the vitiated dhatus (tissues), also to reduce the pain and inflammation.

• Abhyanga – oil massage on the heels
• Swedana – Fomentation, especially Ishtika Sweda
• Avagaha – Foot dip in herbal oils
• Dhara – Dripping of medicated oil
• Upanaha / Bandhana: Poultice and Bandaging
• Agni karma – Cauterization
• Ishtika Sweda
• Virechana
• Basti
• Rakthamokshana
• Lepa
• Upanaha

Panchakarma procedures:

• Virechana (Purgation) – helps in eliminating vitiated pitta, vata and nourish asthi dhatu (bone)
• Basti (medicated enema) – using herbal oils or medicated milk helps in healing pain and inflammation by eliminating vata and nourishing asthi dhatu.
• Rakta mokshana (blood letting) – helps in relieving pain and inflammation.
• Ishtika Sweda (Brick fomentation) – This is one of the special treatments explained in Ayurveda which is extremely helpful in foot related pathologies like plantar fasciitis.
• Sneha dhara – In this medicated oils / ghee / oils and ghee are poured over the affected part for a fixed schedule of time period. Samvahana can be simultaneously done.
• Ksheeradhara – Medicated milk (milk processed with herbal drugs which have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties or with decoctions prepared from the same drugs) is poured in streams over the affected part just is in Sneha Dhara. Milk processed with Dashamula, Laksha, Bala provides good relief.
• Lepa – (Application of herbal pastes)
• Pastes prepared using the below said herbal powders can be used as applicants.
• Upanaha / Bandhana: Poultices and Bandaging
• Poultices prepared by combining the above said churnas (mentioned in lepa) and oils mentioned in the context of Abhyanga can be used for applying analgesic and anti-inflammatory poultices. Bandages around the painful part too are helpful.

Ayurveda Medicines used

Kashaya –

• Rasnadi kashayam
• Rasna erandadi kashayam
• Varanadi kashayam
• Astavargam Kashayam
• Guggulutiktakam Kashayam
• Sahacharadi Kashayam
• Sahacharabaladi Kashayam
• Kokilaksham Kashayam
• Rasnasaptakam Kashayam
• Guluchyadi Kashayam
• Gandharvahastadi Kashayam

Ghritam –

• Guggulutiktakam Ghritam
• Varanadi Ghritam
• Rasnadi Ghritam
• Dhanwantaram Ghritam
• Tiktakam Ghritam

Vati/ Guggulu –

• Murivenna
• Ashwagandhabala Lakshadi Taila
• Mahanarayana Tailam
• Ksheerabala Tailam
• Prabhanjanavimardana Tailam
• Pinda Tailam
• Kottamchukkadi Tailam
• Sahacharadi Tailam
• Dhanwantaram Tailam

Abhyanga, Dhara and Avagaha:

Murivenna

Ashwagandhabala Lakshadi Taila

Mahanarayana Tailam

Ksheerabala Tailam

Prabhanjanavimardana Tailam

Pinda Tailam

Kottamchukkadi Tailam

Sahacharadi Tailam

Dhanwantaram Tailam

Lepa

Kottamchukkadi churnam

Rasnadi churnam

Grihadhumadi churnam

Ellumnishadi churnam

Jatamayadi churnam

Diet Adaptation In Plantar Fasciitis Diet to be taken-

Vegetarian diet

Pumpkin seeds, white beans

Green leafy vegetable like cabbage, spinach

Soya food

Ladies finger, beans, carrot, beets, onion

Non – Vegetarian Diet

Chicken

Egg

Rooster and fish

Other Diet:

Horse gram, black gram, sesame seed, flax seed

Garlic, betel leaves, basil

Red colored rice

Fruits like orange, pomegranate, berries, mango

Ghee

Rasins, almonds, dates

Include cinnamon, long pepper, garlic, ginger in the diet.

Food To Avoid In Plantar Fasciitis

Sugar

Processed grain

Saturated fat

Fried and fast food

Excess hot, sweet and spicy food

Refrigerated food and ice creams

Cow pea, pea nut, Indian bean, Bengal gram

Beverages and soft drinks

Lifestyle and home remedies To reduce the pain of plantar fasciitis, try these self-care tips:

Maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight can put extra stress on your plantar fascia.

Choose supportive shoes. Buy shoes with a low to moderate heel, thick soles, good arch support and extra cushioning. Don’t wear flats or walk barefoot.

Don’t wear worn-out athletic shoes. Replace your old athletic shoes before they stop supporting and cushioning your feet.

Change your sport. Try a low-impact sport, such as swimming or bicycling, instead of walking or jogging.

Apply ice. Hold a cloth-covered ice pack over the area of pain for 15 minutes three or four times a day to help reduce pain and swelling. Or try rolling a frozen bottle of water under your foot for an ice massage.

Stretch your arches. Simple home exercises can stretch your plantar fascia, Achilles tendon and calf muscles.

At KPN Ayurveda, we provide the best Plantar Fasciitis Ayurveda Management in Hassan.