CLINICAL STUDY OF GUGGULU GOLD AND GUM SHALLAKI ALONG WITH PANCHKARMA THERAPIES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SANDHIGHATA VATA W.S.R OSTEOARTHRITIS

Abstract

In Vriddhavastha, most of the Dhatus Kshaya, which in turn leads to Vataprakopa and thus making individuals prone to many diseases. Among these diseases, Sandhigata Vata is one type of Vata-Vyadhi, which is the commonest form and occurs mainly due to sitting jobs, air conditioner atmosphere, lack of proper healthy diet, travelling and old age etc. Sandhigata Vata is one of the most common Vatavyadhi, which can be correlated with osteoarthritis. The prevalence rate of Osteoarthritis is about 14.8 %, in which knee osteoarthritis prevalence rate is 10.8% which is more than the arthritis of other joints1. The incidence of osteoarthritis in India is as high as 12%. It is estimated that approximately four out of 100 people are affected by it. Osteoarthritis is the most common articular disorder which begins asymptomatically in the 2nd & 3rd decades and is extremely common by age 70. Almost all persons by age 40 have some pathologic change in the weight-bearing joint. 25% of females & 16% of males have symptomatic osteoarthritis. When we talk about healthy joints, there is a coating of tough but smooth and slippery tissue, called cartilage, which covers the surface of the bones and helps the bones to move freely against each other. When a joint develops osteoarthritis, part of the cartilage thins and the surface becomes rougher, which in turn doesn't allow the joint to move as smoothly as it should. When cartilage becomes damaged, all the tissues within the joint become more active than normal as the body tries to repair itself. But these repair processes are going to change not only the structure of the joint but will often allow the joint to work normally and without any pain and stiffness. Acharya Charaka has mentioned "Sandhi Gataanila”, which means vata gets located in the Sandhi and thereafter results in Sandhigatavata. Allopathic treatment has its limitation in managing this disease. It can provide either conservative or surgical treatment and can only subside the pain but not cure the cause of diseases. While traditional life science Ayurveda has the most effective solution over this. Local Abhyanga and Nadi Sweda were selected for the present study in one group, as it has shown best for the Vata Vyadhis. Here local Abhyanga was given with Bala Taila because Bala Taila and Nadi Sweda are having Vatashamaka and Rasayana properties. While in the case of another group, Guggulu gold along with gum shallaki followed by local Abhyanga and Nadi Sweda were given to the patients. Keywords: Vridhavastha, Dhatus Kshaya, Sandhigata Vata Abhyanga, Vatashamaka, Rasayana, Guggulu gold, Gum Shallaki, Nadi Sweda