ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In routine, Ayurveda practitioners prefer classical pharmaceutical form of herbal medicines in compare to modern extracts. OBJECTIVE: To explore the difference of efficiency between whole drug powder of Phyllanthus niruri plus root decoction of Sida cordifolia and modern extracts of the same in compared to placebo in patients of diabetic poly-neuropathy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized, partly-double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of two different pharmaceutical forms of herbal medicines over placebo in 90 patients (30 in each group) of diabetic sensory polyneuropathy for first three weeks period. After three weeks, active herbal medication groups were continued with their assigned medicaments for next 5 weeks period and all placebo-patients were randomized again into 2 groups of active medication and treated for next 8 weeks. Patients were assessed with Neuropathy Total Symptom Score 6 and sensation thresholds. RESULTS: Significant effect of both form of herbal medicines over placebo was found in aching pain [F (2, 49) = 6.79, p = 0.002], allodynia [F (2, 59) = 6.74, p = 0.002], burning pain [F (2, 82) = 14.66, p < 0.0001], numbness [F (2, 77) = 16.37, p < 0.0001] and pricking pain [F (2, 50) = 14.23, p < 0.0001]. After the 8 weeks period, no significant difference was identified between the effect of both the herbal treatment on aching pain (U = 220, p = 0.03), allodynia (U = 421.5, p = 0.29), burning pain (U = 881.5, p = 0.846), numbness (U = 778, p = 0.92) and pricking pain (U = 260, p = 0.15). CONCLUSION: Both herbal groups have significant effect to reduce NTSS-6 score in compare to placebo. No significant difference found between the effect of two different pharmaceutical forms of Phyllanthus niruri and S. cordifolia.
ABSTRACT
Severe knee flexion contracture greater than 80° is rare and challenging to manage. It is a common complication which occurs after a prolonged course of the rheumatoid arthritis. The case was a 45 year old female patient of Ama vata (rheumatoid arthritis) with sandhijadya and sankoca (contracture deformity) who was hospitalized for 2 months. She was unable to walk since 1 year due to contracture of both knee joints. The patient came on a wheel chair and was unable to walk even with support. She was advised for contracture repair surgery which she refused. After hospitalization she was treated with Nadi svedana twice a day for 20 min each. Simultaneously, passive stretching for 45 s in every 5 min interval was done. She was treated for 2 months. The patient was instructed to continue other Ayurvedic remedies given as the Ama vata (rheumatoid arthritis) treatment. After Nadi svedana, goniometric assessment of the knees contracture was performed every week. She got satisfactory result in stiffness and pain and has been able to walk with support. Extension of both knee joints has improved up to 20° with increased range of motion. Her height has also been increased up to 1.5 cm due to improvement in the extension of the knee joints with better feeling in daily activities during 3 months of follow-up period.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Overall improvement in the living standards of country's population is leading to longer life expectancy. To emphasize the medical and psychological difficulties faced by geriatric people is essential to know status of their quality of life (QOL). METHODOLOGY: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out at urban field practice area of one of the teaching institutes of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Considering the prevalence of about 7.5% of 60 years and above people sample size of 250 was calculated. A predesigned questionnaire related to the QOL of elderly people devised by the World Health Organization-QOL was used. RESULTS: Mean age of the study population was 65.8 years with standard deviation of 5 years. Almost two-thirds of geriatrics were currently married and having spouse alive. List of common morbidities observed among study population was joint pain (42.8%), cataract (32.8%), hypertension (22.4%), diabetes mellitus (17.2%), and dental problems (12.4%). Scoring of QOL profile revealed that none of the geriatric had poor QOL, whereas 56% fall into category "good" and 50.8% had "excellent" QOL. QOL as per four different domains was significantly better among males as compared to females. Physical, environmental, and psychological domains were better in those who were educated and married individuals living with their spouse. CONCLUSION: Overall QOL was good to excellent. Social characteristics, such as education, marital status, and gender, all play role for the perceived QOL among the respondents.
