An open label single arm prospective clinical study on Vatagajankusharasa with Pippali Churna and Manjishta Kwatha as Anupana in Gridhrasi (Sciatica)

Abstract

Background - Low backache is the 2nd most common reason for all physician visits and it is a condition that affects as many as 80-90% of people during their life time.[1] Sciatica is a relatively common condition with a life time incidence varying from 13-40%. Gridhrasi in Ayurveda is a Rujapradhana Nanatmaja Vatavyadhi, which has similar presentation of sciatica intervenes with the functional ability of low back and lower limbs. Vata Gajankusha Rasa is a potent medicinal preparation, which in classics have mentioned can cure severe form of Gridhrasi in a week. The present study is taken up with the hypothesis that Vata Gajankusha Rasa with Manjishta Kwatha and Pippali Churna as Anupana would be effective in the management of Gridhrasi. Objective - To evaluate the effectiveness of Vatagajankusha Rasa with Pippali Churna and Manjishta Kwatha as Anupana in the management of Gridhrasi (sciatica). Method - Among 40 registered patients 36 of them completed the course of treatment. They were administered with Vatagajankusha Rasa (125mg) twice daily with Pippali Churna (3grams) and Manjishta Kwatha (15ml) as Anupana before food for a period of 7 days. For stastistical analysis subjective and objective parameters were assessed by Wilcoxon signed rank and McNemar test. Result - In the parameters of Gridhrasi, the medicine was found to be statistically significant in relieving the assessment parameters like Ruk, Toda, Sthambha, Aruchi, Gourava (p<0.001). In Objective parameters like SLR and Lessagues test, significant relief was observed after statistical analysis. Conclusion - Vatagajankusha Rasa with Pippali Churna and Manjishta Kwatha as Anupana is effective in the management of symptoms of Gridhrasi.