Local application of medicated oils (bahya snehana) is among the general procedures
recommended in Ayurveda for the management of arthritis and conditions like frozen shoulder,
synovitis and sprains to reduce pain, stiffness and swelling. Polyherbal ointment is prepared with
Ayurvedic drugs indicated for local application in above conditions. This study evaluates the
efficacy and safety of ointment in the management of these conditions. It is an open, noncomparative,
prospective study conducted on 51 patients of both sex aged between 18 to 75 years.
The ointment was applied over the affected part followed by hot fomentation, thrice in a day for
15 days. The effect was assessed on day 5, 10, 15 on pain, swelling, tenderness, morning stiffness,
range of motion, grip power, walking time, and need of analgesics. After 15 days the complete relief
was observed in pain (63.6 % of joints), swelling (73.5% of joints), morning stiffness (65.6% of
joints) and tenderness (86.2% of joints). The range of motion (in 47.8% of joints) and grip power
(in 35.7% of joints) came to normal in 15 days of therapy. Need of analgesic is reduced in 83%
of patients taking analgesics. No significant side effects were observed. The study shows that
Polyherbal ointment is effective and safe in the management of arthritis and musculoskeletal
disorders like sprain, frozen shoulder and muscular pain.
Key words: Arthritis, Frozen shoulder, Synovitis, Sprain, Amavata, Sandhigata vata,
Asthigata vata, Mamsagata vata, Shotha, Shoola, Gridhrasi.
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