A Comparative Clinical Study on Vatariguggulu and Panchakarma Therapy with Special Reference to Kshara Basti and Virechana Karma in the Management of Amavata (Rheumatoid Arthritis)

In the whole world, rheumatic diseases are the commonest cause of physical & mental crippling condition in the society with rheumatoid arthritis is sharing the lion portion [1]. Important role in the management of this crippling disease has been described in Ayurveda from ancient time. It appears from the point of view of modern medical sciences that Amavata can be simulated with rheumatoid arthritis in its clinical appearance. In spite of tremendous development of modern medical sciences, modern drugs for the management of rheumatoid arthritis shows serious side effects like gastritis, gastric ulcers, immune depression, decalcifications, hyperglycemia, etc. and ultimately no drug is found to be effective after a certain period of therapeutics. Panchakarma therapy is one of the important branches of Ayurveda, which deals mainly with purification of the aggravated dosas (pathological state of body humors) from the human system. Amavata, being a disease that develops due to involvement of ‘Ama’ and ‘Vata’ in particular. Vasti (enema) therapy is a special branch of Panchakarma, usually administered for elimination of Vata. Virechana or purgation is another important therapy under Panchakarma which is mainly administered mainly to eliminate Ama dosa in the present context. Beside, conventional panchakarma therapes like Vasti and Virechana, conservative conventional pacification therapies with Vatariguggulu was also added. Results were found significant (p<0.05) by combination with Panchakarma along with relevant pacification therapy.