Āyurvedic management of Arśas with Apāmārga Kṣāra Taila: A randomized controlled clinical study

Backround: Haemorrhoids are the most common problems of the anal canal due to hereditary, anatomical deformities, exciting causes, diet etc. In Ayurveda, disease arśas which is explained by all the classics can be correlated to haemorrhoids. In modern surgery, different surgical methods are advocated to overcome the haemorrhoids. However, modern management has its own limitations and in that it causes various side effects, recurrence, severe pain etc., Ācārya Suśruta advocates different treatment modalities such as auṣadha (medical), śastra (surgical), kṣāra (alkali cauterization) and agni karma (heat cauterization) in the management of arśas. Aims and Objectives: Considering this, the present study has been undertaken to evaluate the comparative efficacy of Apāmārga Kṣāra Sūtra and Apāmārga Kṣāra Taila in the management of arśas. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 patients enrolled for the study, out of which 30 patients were randomly assigned into first group (control group) and were subjected to Apāmārga Kṣāra Sūtra (AKS). 30 patients were randomly assigned into the second group. In second group, i. e trial group, to obtain efficacious and safe results an innovative method was planned by using Apāmārga Kṣāra Taila basti (AKT). AKT involved administration of oil through anal route. Results: After intervention, it was observed that both AKS and AKT group are found to be equally effective to treat the arśas with reduction in clinical parameters such as bleeding per rectum, pain in ano, protrusion of mass and in constipation. In both the groups, results obtained with the above parameters showed statistically highly significant result with P value < 0.001. Conclusion: Hence, Apāmārga Kṣāra Sūtra and Apāmārga Kṣāra Taila are found to be affective in the management of arśas.