View of Basic Tenets of Janusandhigatavata w.s.r. to Knee Osteoarthritis and Assessment of Pharmacological Actions of Shadanga Guggulu - A Classical and Contemporary Overview

Abstract

Today in modern lifestyle, everybody lives in the calculative manner of me. Improper food habits, consumption of fast-food, late-night work parties, irregular timing and duration of the workout, suppression of natural urges, excessive travelling, continuous work in one posture, improper sitting, mental stress, depression, serve as causes for vitiation of a doshas, especially Vata dosha leading to formation of various diseases (Nanatmaja Vata vyadhi). Acharya Charaka has described the disease Sandhigata anila under Vatavyadhi chikitsa chapter. The word Sandhi means joint, Gata means site and Vata means moving biological energy. When the vitiated Vata localizes at the site of Sandhi, it is termed as Sandhigata vata. It is a kind of articular degenerative disorders that affect any joints but generally observed in weight bearing joints. When it affects knee joint it is termed as Janusandhigata vata which on basis of clinical features can be correlated with osteoarthritis of knee joint. Ayurveda system of health care emphasizes on Ahara (diet), Vihara (physical activities) as foremost measures in treating any disease followed with Sanshaman, Samshodhana or Shalya karma. Guggulu formulations are indispensable in Vatavyadhi due to the ability to address the root cause (Vata imbalance) and symptoms (pain, inflammation, degeneration) through multipronged actions, from detoxification to rejuvenation hence validated by both tradition and contemporary science. Current study seeks to build a bridge between two knowledge systems potentially enriching understanding of knee osteoarthritis pathogenesis and key role of Shadanga guggulu in its management by assessing pharmacological actions.