Clinical evaluation of shilajatu (asphaltum punjabinum), kutaki (picrorhiza kurroa) and khadir (acacia catechu) in the management of sthaulya (obesity)

Abstract

Sthaulya (obesity) is the most common, frequent health related conditions that poses a considerable challenge to Ayurvedic physicians. It is one of the important risk factors and contributor for cardiac and cerebrum-vascular deaths globally since ancient time. Two thousand years ago, Acharya Charaka described Ashta Nindita Purusha and emphasized in detail about two pathological conditions viz Ati sthula and Atikarshya. Atisthula purusha is worst among them, due to its complicated pathogenesis, variable complications and treatment. Obesity exacerbates a large number of health related problems, both independently and in association with other diseases. Therefore this topic was chosen and the clinical trial was carried out at Hospital of NIA, Jaipur, India. The aim and objective was to evaluate the effect of Shilajatu (Asphaltum punjabinum), Kutaki (Picrorhiza kurroa) and Khadir (Acacia catechu) in the patients of Sthaulya. 30 patients of Sthaulya were selected and randomly divided into three groups - A, B and C of 10 patients each. 3 in Group B and 1 in Group- A (total 4) were dropped out from the study for irregular follow-ups. Group A (9 patients) of Sthaulya were kept as placebo, controlled and were administered two capsules of 500 mg filled with wheat flour orally twice a day with lukewarm water. Group B (7 patients) were treated with trial drug with warm water. Group C (10 patients) treated with trial drug including controlled diet and regular exercise. The duration of the trial was 3 months with monthly follow up. The data obtained was analyzed using statistical method, One Way ANOVA. Analysis of overall effect of trial drug on subjective and objective parameters of all the three groups revealed that Group C provided highly significant (p