European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A COMPARATIVE CLINICAL STUDY ON THE MANAGEMENT OF SHEETAPITTA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO URTICARIA BY THE ORAL USE OF ADRAKA KHANDA WITH OR WITHOUT NIMBADI LEPA

Prakash Kumar Naik*, Nabanita Chakrabarty, Tapas Bhaduri

ABSTRACT

Background: Sheetapitta is described in Ayurveda as a disorder characterized by recurrent wheal-like eruptions, itching, pricking sensation, burning and occasionally fever. Its clinical manifestations resemble urticaria, a dermatological condition involving transient wheals and pruritus. Ayurvedic management may include internal formulations and external applications selected according to the clinical presentation and traditional therapeutic principles. Aim: To evaluate and compare the clinical efficacy of oral Adraka Khanda alone and oral Adraka Khanda combined with externally applied Nimbadi Lepa in patients with Sheetapitta with special reference to urticaria. Materials and Methods: An interventional, prospective, randomized, open-label comparative clinical study was conducted at the Institute of Postgraduate Ayurvedic Education and Research at Shyamadas Vaidya Shastra Pith Hospital, Kolkata. Sixty patients completed the study and were divided into two groups of 30 each. Group A received Adraka Khanda 10 g orally twice daily after meals for 45 days. Group B received the same oral treatment with Nimbadi Lepa applied externally twice daily for 45 days. Clinical assessment included Mandala, Kandu, Toda, Vidaha and Jwara. Laboratory assessment included WBC count, eosinophil level and serum IgE. Results: Both groups demonstrated statistically significant within-group improvement in subjective parameters (reported p<0.001). Group A showed 66.27%, 63.90%, 47.89%, 57.20% and 55.10% relief in Mandala, Kandu, Toda, Vidaha and Jwara, respectively. Corresponding improvements in Group B were 76.40%, 70.00%, 78.08%, 82.14% and 66.67%. Between-group differences were statistically significant for Toda, Vidaha and Jwara. Laboratory parameters decreased in both groups, but the differences between groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Both treatment regimens were associated with clinical improvement during the study period. The addition of Nimbadi Lepa was associated with greater improvement in selected subjective symptoms. Further controlled studies are necessary to establish treatment-specific efficacy and long-term safety.

Keywords: Sheetapitta; Urticaria; Adraka Khanda; Nimbadi Lepa; Ayurveda; Kayachikitsa; Comparative Clinical Study.