Evaluating the Efficacy of Unani Regimen (Riyāḍat Juz’iyya with Ma‘jūn Kundur) in Women Having Salasul Bawl (Urinary Incontinence): A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract Background and Objectives: Urinary incontinence (UI) has a significant influence on women’s quality of life and increases their mortality risk. Because of embarrassment and a misconception that bladder control loss is a typical side effect of childbearing and aging, many women wait years before seeking help. The prevalence of UI worldwide ranges from 10% to 40%. UI has been found to reduce both social interactions and social activities and is associated with poor self-rated health, impaired emotional and psychological wellbeing and impaired sexual relationships. The objective of this study was to establish the efficacy of Riyāḍat Juz’iyya and Ma‘jūn Kundur , an Unani formulation in the treatment of UI ( Salasul Bawl ) in women for 12 weeks. Materials and Methods: The study was hospital-based, clinical, and randomized controlled trial with ethical approval from Jamia Hamdard Institute’s Ethics Committee and registration in Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2020/04/024539). The trial was conducted at the outpatient department of Tahaffuzi Wa Samaji Tib, Majeedia Unani Hospital, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, India for 1 year between January 2020 and December 2020. Seventy-two clinically stable female patients between the age group of 40 and 60 years with a complaint of UI were included after obtaining informed written consent. Ma‘jūn Kundur , a patent Unani formulation (125 g) of Hamdard Laboratories was procured from Saifi Pharmacy, Lane no. 36, Tughlaqabad. These patients were then randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups to receive either Ma‘jūn Kundur or Riyāḍat Juz’iyya (pelvic floor exercises) along with Ma‘jūn Kundur for 12 weeks. Subjective as well as objective parameters were assessed at the end of the study. The improvement was assessed by health assessment sheet-which constituted the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire on Female lower urinary tract Symptoms ICIQ-FLUTS questionnaire score before and after the intervention for the analysis of the effect of Riyāḍat-e-Juz’iyya on symptoms of UI and also by recording pad weight. Results: Out of 72 study participants who gave their consent for enrollment in the present study were randomized into two groups: first, the experimental group who received Ma‘jūn Kundur (5 g twice a day orally) with Riyāḍat-e-Juz’iyya of the pelvic floor muscles and second group who received only Ma‘jūn Kundur (5 g B.D. orally) for 12 weeks. As seven and five subjects were excluded (lost to follow up), respectively, in each group, the experimental group exhibited more improvement in UI as compared to control group in terms of reducing the severity of UI symptoms and the number of UI symptoms experienced. The exercises also helped in reduction of the weight of pad after 12 weeks of treatment. Interpretation and Conclusion: Through this study, it can be concluded that the cumulative effect of Riyāḍat-e-Juz’iyya and Ma‘jūn Kundur is highly effective in the treatment of UI.