Effect of Janubasti in Janusandhigat Vata (Osteoarthritis of Knee) with Dashmool Taila- Case Series

Abstract

Introduction: Osteoarthritis of knee (OA knee) is a kind of degenerative disease. Its management becomes so challenging through modern medicine as the medicines are effective only for a short duration of time with adverse effects on body. The 2017 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report ranked hip and knee OA as the 11th highest contributor to global disability and the 23rd highest cause of disability adjusted life years (DALYs). So it’s better to find the management through holistic approach like Ayurveda science. In Ayurveda OA knee can be correlated with janu sandhigata vata which is one, among the eighty nanatmaja vata vyadhis. When the vitiated vata lodges in sandhi i.e. joint, it is termed classically as sandhigata vata. Janusandhigata vata is a condition where vata dosha, afflicted due to nidan sewana, localizes through kha baigunya in janu sandhi i.e. knee joints, manifesting pain, swelling and restriction of movement locally. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of dashmool taila in the management of OA knee. Materials and Methods: 10 cases of janusandhigata vata (OA knee) who approached to department of panchakarma, Ayurveda Campus and Teaching Hospital, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal were selected on random basis, irrespective of duration or grading of disease for janu basti. Range of movement i.e. angle of flexion and extension of knee by goniometer, VAS pain score, and subjective study of shola (pain) upon walking, sandhi graha (restriction in movement), shotha (swelling), crepitus (atopa) and tenderness (vatapurna drutisparsha) were recorded. Results: Before intervention mean VAS score was 7.2, mean AOF for male was115.5, for female was 98.8, Mean AOE for male was 5.8 and for female was 5.4 and after intervention mean VAS score was 3, mean AOF for male was 130.4, for female 122.8, mean AOE for male was 2.2 and for female 4.4 respectively. t test value of t is greater than tabulated value of t at 5degree level of significance and 1degree freedom for AOF and AOE. Significant improvement in above parameters were observed. Conclusion: The current case series demonstrated the effectiveness of Ayurvedic treatment for janusandhigata vata (OA knee) which includes janu basti with dashmool taila followed by snehana and swedana.