Januvasthi (Knee joint treatment)

Retaining the warm medicated oil over the painful knee joint for certain period is known by the name janu basti. This is a practical modification of snigdha sweda, where warmed sneha is allowed to stand over knee area for a prescribed period of time. It can be used in Janushoola caused by degenerative joint diseases, but contraindicated in inflammatory conditions. Janu basti is proved effective in condition like osteoarthrosis , rheumatoid arthritis, and other painful conditions of the knee.

Materials required:

1. Prescribed taila-200 ml
2. Black gram flour-500 g
3. Cotton ribbon(3 inch x 1 meter)-1
4. Hot water-Q.S.
5. Vessels(plate, glass tumbler, spoon, pan)-4
6. Razer-1
7. Cotton – Q.S.

1. Towels -2
2. Attendent-1

 Pre operative procedure:

            The black gram flour should be thoroughly mixed with hot water to make thick dough. 1-2 table spoons of flour should be mixed with water loosely to form a paste. The thick dough should be shaped as about of 3 inches height, 1 inch width and length sufficient to form a ring around the required area. Usually it should be 30 cm for a medium sized adult.

The knee joint should be completely exposed and if site of manipulation is hairy, it must be shaved clearly. The patient must then be allowed to lie comfortably over the cot, in supine position. Such position is prescribed for uras and it is named as urovasti. If the procedure is to be done on posterior part, the patient is made to lie on prone position.

 Procedure:

The area of application should be thoroughly cleaned and flour dough should be pasted over the line, marked around knee joint like a ring. It should be then reinforced by pressing and sealed properly by flour paste to avoid leakage of oil. In addition, the cotton ribbon should be pasted around the wall, completely closing the margin between skin and dough wall. It is then allowed to set properly.

            The oil should be warmed over hot water bath, usually up to 38^oC – 40^oC. The warmed oil should be them poured uniformly into bund constructed up to an extent that oil level stands up to 2 inches above the skin level. It should be allowed to remain there for prescribed time. The temperature of oil must be maintained throughout the procedure by taking some oil out using cotton and replaced by same amount of warmed oil.

 Post operative procedure:

After the prescribed time, complete oil should be removed and area should be cleaned by wiping with a clean dry cotton towel. The patient should be allowed to remain the same position for half hour.

 Precautions:

1. Avoid excess heating of the oil since it may cause burn.
2. Paste the bund well to avoid leakage.
3. Do not move the joint during procedure.

 Complications:

1. Burns– Apply cold water and Shatadhouta Ghrita
2. Discomfort due to sitting for same posture for long time– Make comfortable positions with correct sized cushions, and massage the areas.

Janu Basti is proved effective in knee arthritis treatment, with conditions like osteoarthrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other painful conditions of the knee.