Combined effect of castor oil, ruksha sweda and a polyherbal compound on inflammatory mediators in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Ayurveda is the most ancient system of medicine practised in India. While treating a patient Ayurveda considers both the disease and diseased person too. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune and inflammatory disorder of multiple joint pain & swelling. It has also systemic effect. During the course of disease some inflammatory markers are elevated in the blood like rheumatoid factor (RF), anti cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti CCPab), C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). In Ayurveda amavata is a similar disease which keeps clinical correlation with RA. Madhava Nidana, a text of 7^th AD first described this disease. Present clinical trial was carried out on 17 patients selected from the Sir Sundar Lal Hospital, IMS, BHU, Varanasi. For this study Eranda Taila (castor oil), Ajmodadi churna (polyherbal compound) and dry fomentation (Ruksha sweda) were used which are mentioned in Chakradutta. There was quite improvement in clinical symptoms and elevated blood levels of inflammatory mediators of the disease.