Rahul Dalavi^{1, 2,}, Pushpinder Singh¹, Anil Pardeshi³, Md. Hanif Shaikh⁴, Shubhangi Narwade², Pallavi Pardeshi⁵

Background: Kshara Basti and Virechana Karma as therapy for Amavata are indicated in Ayurveda. Ayurveda is having a crucial role in the management of Amavata with special reference to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a crippling disease. Amavata is having clinical appearance as comparable with RA. The line of treatment as mentioned by Chakradatta is to bring Agni to normal state for digestion of Ama, eventually to eliminate vitiated Vata and Ama. Thus, here Kshara Basti and Virechana Karma are selected for the present study as Samshodhana process which corrects all the above captions. Objective: To evaluate and compare clinical efficacy of Kshara Basti and Virechana Karma as tharapy in Amavata. Methods: This was a randomized open-label, comparative clinical study. Total 35 randomly selected patients of Amavata were registered and screened and out of them 30 (15 patients in Group-A i.e. Kshara Basti and 15 patients in Group-B i.e. Virechan-Karma) were completed the treatment. Kshara Basti in the format of Kala Basti (as mentioned by Chakradatta) was given to the patients of Basti group and Virechana Karma as per Chakradatta was given to the patients of Virechana karma group. The effects of therapy in both groups were assessed by a specially prepared proforma. Results: The results of the study showed that both the groups showed significant relief in symptoms; however, compared to Virechana karma group, Basti group showed better result in the management of Amavata. Statistically significant improvement was found in ESR, RA factor (quantitative) and highly significant results were found in symptoms of Amavata (Kshara Basti results significant as compared to Virechana karma). Moderate improvement was seen in 80% of patients of Basti group (66.6% Virechana karma group), 6.6% patients got marked improvement in Basti group (no marked improvement in Virechana group), while mild improvement was found in 13.3% of patients of Basti group (33.3% for Virechana karma group). Conclusion: Kshara Basti and Virechana Karma have significant comparative activity in Amavata.

complementary and alternative medicines, amavata, Kshara Basti, Virechana Karma, Ayurveda, rheumatoid arthritis