Manage Your Pain Effectively By Applying A Loose Bandage

Vata Dosha gets increased when there is pain due to blunt injury, arthritis, carpel tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis etc. One of the best ways to combat the pain is to apply loose bandage around the affected area. 

Indications, contraindications

To whom this rule applies and to whom it does not?
This rule applies to blunt injury or arthritis pain etc, where there is no wound and no abscess. This rule does not apply to open wounds with bleeding, abscess, sinus (filled with pus) and so on.
It is not a good idea where stiffness of joints is involved – as in rheumatoid arthritis, some cases of cervical spondylosis etc.
This rule applies to people with osteo arthritis, plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, torn ligaments, blunt injury, cervical spondylosis, lumbar spondylosis, etc. So, basically joint disorders.

Method, purpose

What to do?
Take a crepe bandage and wrap it loosely around the painful area. Let it be there in its place while you sleep at night. If possible, keep the bandage on even during day time.
For the joints, if crepe bandage is not an option, you can wear ankle cap, wrist bands, knee cap, lumbar belt, cervical collar etc. Make sure that these caps / collars are a size above your actual size. So that they are not too tight around your joints.

Purpose:
The best way to heal an aching joint or muscle or ligament is by rest. This is why, fractures are treated with bandages. By tying a loose bandage around it, you are reminding your brain repeatedly that the area is problematic and needs rest.
Tying a bandage loosely ensures that the area is maintained compact. The compactness makes the joint less mobile and gives rest to the painful part.
It also gives a signal to people around you to be careful near that area (not to overstep on your feet, not to shake your hand harder etc 🙂 ).

Vata Dosha involvement in pain

Sensation of pain is a Vata Dosha activity. More the skin of painful area is exposed to air, more the increase in Vata. This is because, Vata is composed of air and ether elements.
This is why, it is advised to avoid exposure to direct fan air in certain conditions. Read why and more here
So, bandaging makes the the painful area less prone to air exposure. Vata is made checkmate. Pain reduces.

Vata also has coldness quality. (Learn qualities of Vata, Pitta and Kapha here)
So, loose bandage yields warmth, so Vata is calmed down by this, means lesser pain, quicker healing.

Precautions

Do not tie it tight. If you tie it tight, blood circulation will get hampered and there can be severe complications. Ideally, you should be able to insert your 2 fingers into the bandage after tying.
Always ask your doctor if you can do so or not.
Avoid it in the aforementioned forbidden conditions.
If you have applied a pain relief oil over the area and if you apply bandage over it, if it is a hot day, then the sweat+ oil can make the area itchy. Take care.

So, where to purchase crepe bandage, ankle cap and so on? Here are a few leads. (ad)