COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF AGNIKARMA AND SHIVA GUGGULU IN GRIDHRASI (SCIATICA)

Gridhrasi is one of the eighty Nanatmaja Vatavyadhi mentioned in various Ayurvedic texts, caused by the vitiation of Vata Dosha. One of the most common symptoms of Gridhrasi is Ruka (low back pain of radiating type), and its incidence has increased over time as a result of the human being's changing lifestyle. On the basis of its symptoms, it can be compared with sciatica in allopathic science, and its treatments mainly aim at relieving pain, using analgesics, muscle relaxants, or physiotherapy, and even surgery in certain cases, and all these carry some side effects. The present clinical study evaluated the efficacy of Agnikarma Mrittika Shalaka and Shiva Guggulu (orally) in 34 patients aged 35-70 years. Group A patients were treated with Agnikarma using Mrittika Shalaka at the most tender points in Lumbar region, while Group B were treated with Shiva Guggulu orally twice daily with lukewarm water.