Clinical evaluation of Unani formulation in shara [urticaria]

ABSTRACT

Urticaria refers to an area of focal dermal oedema secondary to a transient increase in capillary permeability. Although persons in any age group may experience acute or chronic urticaria, these lesions increase in frequency after adolescence, with the highest incidence occurring in the third decade of life. In Unani texts, Urticaria has been mentioned as Shara or pitti uchalna as one of the clinical entities while in modern medicine it is considered as the sign, which is found in various diseases. Unani Scholars while describing its aetiology have emphasised mainly on the humoral basis and named certain foods and drugs which may be responsible for precipitating the clinical manifestation of Urticaria. The main objective of this study was to scientifically evaluate the anti-allergic activity of our drugs in this commonly encountered clinical entity, referred as Urticaria. The study was open single group uncontrolled randomised clinical trial. In the present study thirty cases of 20 to 60 years of age who were clinically diagnosed were enrolled in the study for 45 days from the Department of Moalejat OPD, Aligarh Unani and Ayurvedic Medical College, Aligarh. The patients were treated with Irasa [Iris ensata Thunb.], Zanjabeel [Zingiber officinalis Rosc.], Qaranfal [Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb.] and Maghz-e-Amaltas [Cassia fistula Linn.] 6 grams, 3 grams, 3 grams and 4 grams, respectively, in the form of decoction 12 hourly for 45 days. All the patients were assessed for subjective parameters. Significant improvement in clinical presentation of the disease was observed. At the end of the study, it was concluded that the formulation was found effective in Shara [Urticaria]