A Comparative Study of Valuka Sweda and Shatapushpadi Lepa in Janu Sandhi Shula, Shotha and Stabdata w.s.r Amavata

Abstract

Amavata is disorder affecting the population globally with pain,  swelling, stiffness of joints. It can be compared with Rheumatoid  arthritis based on similar signs and symptoms, with female and male  ratio as 3:1. The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in most industrialized  countries varies between 0.3% and 1%; In India a rough estimate of 0.5  – 0.75% affliction is observed, with two-thirds of patients having mild to-moderate disability and less than 10% having severe disability Within  10 years of disease onset, at least 50% of patients in developed countries  are unable to hold down a full-time job. In any form of arthritis involving  knee joint not only produces physical disability, but also has crippling  effect on psychosocial entity of the individual. So knee joint being an  important locomotory and weight bearing joint, deserves special  attention in prevention and management strategies for rheumatic  diseases. Our Ayurvedic literatures have wealth of resource information  regarding the measures preventing the complication and treatment of this  disease. Among them are Valuka sweda and shatapushpadi lepa  mentioned by Yogaratnakara which are said to have important role to  play in reduction of shotha, shula and stabdata in treatment of Amavata. So the knee joint has been specially considered, and effort has been made  in this comparative study to evaluate the efficacy of valuka sweda and  shatapushpadi lepa in janu sandhi shula, shotha and stabdata w.s r Amavata.