Efficacy of Agnikarma and Siravedha along with Rasna Saptaka Kwatha orally in the management of Vatakantaka (plantar fasciitis): An open-labeled randomized comparative clinical trial

Background: Vatakantaka (plantar fasciitis) is a major contributing orthopedic condition in plantar heel pain which affects the quality of life of an individual. Pain management modality is the cornerstone in such conditions: Agnikarma (therapeutic cauterization) and Siravedha (bloodletting); a para-surgical procedure mentioned in Ayurveda has paramount importance to combat the pain that occurs due to vitiation of Vata. The prevalence of plantar fasciitis is increasing day by day, and hence it is the need to find effective management and establish Ayurveda treatment to manage this condition. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of Agnikarma and Siravedha along with Rasna Saptaka Kwatha in the management of Vatakantaka (plantar fasciitis). Materials and Methods: After approval of the Institutional Ethics Committee and obtaining the Clinical Trials Registry–India registration number, a total of 65 patients of Vatakantaka were enrolled for clinical study and were randomly divided into two groups. Among them, 32 patients were treated with four sittings of Agnikarma at the interval of 7 days along with oral administration of Rasna Saptaka Kwatha whereas 33 patients were treated with two sittings of Siravedha at the interval of 15 days along with Rasna Saptaka Kwatha orally for 30 days. Results: The result in subjective parameters, i.e. visual analog scale, Maryland Foot Score, and objective parameters, i.e. swelling, tenderness, and windlass test were assessed with grading score. The result of subjective parameters was assessed with Wilcoxon signed-rank test within the group and the Mann–Whitney U -test between the groups as well as for objective parameters paired t -tests within the group and unpaired t -tests between groups were applied. A highly significant result was found in heel pain, swelling, and tenderness in both groups before and after the treatment. Group A showed comparatively better significant results than group B. Conclusion: Agnikarma along with the oral administration of Rasna Saptaka Kwatha provided a better effect in the relief of heel pain than Siravedha along with the oral administration of Rasna Saptaka Kwatha .