Title : Randomised double blind controlled trial to test the efficacy of Sun?hyadi kashaya against Maharasnadi kashaya in knee osteoarthritis
Abstract:
Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis is a prevalent degenerative joint disease with significant impact on older adults and has no curative treatment. A randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial investigated the efficacy of Suntyadi Kashaya compared to Maharasnadi Kashaya, a popular formulation used in Sandhigatavata which is symptomatically similar to Osteoarthritis , in managing knee osteoarthritis.The study aimed to assess the non-inferiority of Suntyadi Kashaya using established efficacy measures, including the Visual Analog Scale for pain and the Indian version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index .
Methodology: A total of 114 patients meeting the American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria for knee osteoarthritis were randomized into two groups, each receiving either 60ml of Suntyadi or Maharasnadi Kashaya twice daily for 60 days. The Kashaya extracts were prepared under Good Manufacturing Practice standards, ensuring uniformity and blinding. Follow-ups occurred at 30, 60, and 90 days, with assessments focusing on primary efficacy variables and secondary variable as knee flexion degree.
Results and Discussion: Key findings showed significant improvements in both groups in terms of pain, stiffness, and functional difficulty, with Suntyadi Kashaya demonstrating slightly greater efficacy in WOMAC and VAS scores over time. The null hypothesis of inferiority was rejected, confirming that Suntyadi Kashaya is not inferior to Maharasnadi Kashaya. Statistical analyses, including non-parametric tests, substantiated the therapeutic efficacy of both interventions.This research underscores the potential of standardized Ayurvedic formulations in managing osteoarthritis, highlighting Suntyadi Kashaya, a formulation with only 3 ingredients as an effective, non-inferior alternative to Maharasnadi Kashaya with 26 herbal ingredients.
