A COMPARATIVE CLINICAL STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFICACY OF SAHACHARADI KASHAYA WITH VASAGUDUCHYADI KASHAYA PRECEDED BY SAHACHARADI TAILA MATRA BASTI IN SIRAJA GRANTHI VIS-À-VIS VARICOSE VEINS

Background: Sirāja Granthi, a Vātapradhāna Vyādhi, can be correlated with varicose veins, a chronic venous disorder of dilated, elongated, tortuous superficial veins caused by valvular incompetence. It presents with pain, heaviness, edema, itching, pigmentation and reduced quality of life. Conventional management gives symptomatic relief but carries risks of recurrence and procedure-related complications. Mātrā Basti and Vātahara formulations may offer a safe, economical alternative. Objective: To compare the efficacy of Sahacharādi Kaṣāya with Vāsāgudūcyādi Kaṣāya, each preceded by Sahacharādi Taila Mātrā Basti, in Sirāja Granthi (uncomplicated varicose veins, CEAP C1–C4). Methods: Forty-four patients were registered, and 42 completed the study (21 per group). All received Sahacharādi Taila Mātrā Basti (72 ml) for 7 days. Group A then received Sahacharādi Kaṣāya and Group B received Vāsāgudūcyādi Kaṣāya, 20 ml with an equal quantity of water twice daily before food for 30 days. Assessments were made on Day 0, Day 8, Day 38 and Day 68 (one-month follow-up) using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), and grading of Kandu and Dāha. Data were analysed with the Wilcoxon signed rank test, Mann–Whitney U test and Chi-square test. Results: Both groups showed statistically significant improvement in pain and modest improvement in VCSS. Group B showed a higher percentage improvement in pain (30.56% vs 27.03% at Day 38), but the intergroup difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Kandu showed no significant change owing to its low baseline prevalence, and Dāha was absent in all participants. Mātrā Basti was well tolerated and no adverse effects were recorded. Conclusion: Both protocols were safe and effective in uncomplicated Sirāja Granthi (CEAP C1–C4), with no statistically significant difference between them.