A Critical Review of CTRI Registered Trials of Shushkakshipaka Ayurvedic Management

Acharya Sushruta and Acharya Vagbhata, both of them have classified Shushkakshipaka under Sarvagataroga. Symptoms of Shushkakshipaka described by Sushruta are Sudarun Paribodhanam (dryness of eyelids), Ruksha Vartma (dryness of eyes), and Avil Darshana (blurred vision) and Darun Vartma (stiffness of eyelids). This study scrutinized the trials registered for Shushkakshipaka from the database to detect patterns in methodology (study design, sample size) of trials. Material and Method: This was an observational study that analysed the CTRI registered trials for Shushkakshipaka between March 2012 and July 2024. A trial search was conducted on the CTRI database to include all types of studies registered for Shushkakshipaka with keywords like “Shushkakshipaka” and studies conducted on conditions other than Shushkakshipaka were excluded. Result: There were total 51 studies which were analysed from Ayurveda stream. Most of these studies were registered from Maharashtra state [n-19] i.e., 39.75%, most of the study conducted as randomized trial (n-39), parallel group trials (n-39). Conducted as double arm study 76.47%. Most of the study Shushkakshipaka related studies registered on CTRI is maximum in year 2024 (n-11). There are 22 studies having age group in between 1 year and 1 year 6 months i.e., 43.13%. Maximum studies conducted in age group between 18- 60 years of age (n-39) i.e., 76.47%. There were 34 studies including kriyakalpa as intervention i.e., 66.66%. Conclusion: The present review is an attempt to analyse the CTRI-registered Shushkakshipaka clinical trials, which show the general characteristics of trials along with study design and setups. Although there is a surge of clinical trials on CTRI regarding Ayurveda for Shushkakshipaka, the methodological information is not more elaborative and there is large scope for improvement.