A clinical study to evaluate the efficacy of Vacha (Acorus calamus) in the management of Sthaulya with special reference to Hyperlipidemia

Abstract

Human ardor for herbal medicine dates lower back to Vedic life. One such herbal drug is Vacha (Acorus calamus Linn.). It is indicated in 'Santarpana Janya Vyadhi’ for having Lekhaniya, Srotoshodhan, Pramathi actions. As per Ayurvedic concept Sthaulya is a disorder of Medovahasrotas with symptoms of deposition of Meda (fat) at the site of abdomen, buttock, chest, neck and all over the body. It can be correlated with Obesity in present era. Hyperlipidemia is closely related to it which is a disorder of lipoprotein metabolism, which can include overproduction of lipoproteins. The disorder can manifest as an elevation of plasma cholesterol, TGs, or both, together that contributes to the development of atherosclerosis, a precursor for Coronary Artery Disease. Due to increased sedentary lifestyle such metabolic conditions have shown its hike in the present era. A clinical study was designed as a randomised single group open interventional trial. In this study total 41 consenting patients of either sex were registered after screening for the trial from Kayachikitsa O.P.D. of Government Ayurvedic Hospital, Patiala, Punjab but 30 patients completed the course of the trial. Test drug Vacha Churna capsules of 500mg were given twice daily with water before meal for 30 days. The results shown were highly significant.