COMPREHENSIVE CLINICAL ANALYSIS OF THE AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF KATISHOOL: A CASE STUDY AND INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Low back pain, identified in the Ayurvedic medical tradition as Katishool, remains a leading cause of global disability, impacting functional capacity and socioeconomic productivity.[1,2] This clinical report presents an in-depth analysis of the Ayurvedic management of chronic Katishool, specifically within the context of lumbar spondylosis and degenerative vertebral conditions.[3] Following the Case Report, this study documents the therapeutic trajectory of a 53-year-old male patient suffering from chronic lumbosacral pain, numbness and tingling sensation in both lower limbs (intermittently), and significant mobility impairment. The intervention involved a multi- modal Ayurvedic protocol comprising Shodhana (bio-cleansing) therapies—specifically Kati Basti and a regulated Kala Basti schedule—and Shamana (palliative) medications including Trayodashanga Guggulu and Dashmoola Kwatha.[3,5] Assessment of clinical efficacy was conducted using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and objective physical markers such as the Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test.[4] The results demonstrated a profound reduction in pain intensity from a VAS of 8/10 to 1/10 and a decrease in functional disability from a severe score of 55% to a mild score of 20% over an eight-week period. This report further explores the pharmacological synergy of Ayurvedic formulations, the pathophysiological correlation between Vata-vitiation and modern spinal degeneration, and the necessity for standardized reporting in Ayurvedic clinical research to foster integrative medical dialogues.[6,7]