Effect of HijamaBishShart(wet cupping) and Zimad-i-Pudina in Irqunnasa(sciatica):A Comparative Clinical study

The term ‘Sciatica’ describes a symptom i.e, pain alongthe sciatic nerve pathway, rather than a specific condition, illness, or disease.It is generally caused by compression of lumbar nerve L4 or L5 or S1, S2, or S3or by compression of sciatic nerve itself. Pain typically occurs in the distribution of a dermatome & goesbelow the knee to the foot. It may be associated with neurological dysfunction,such as weakness . The pain is characteristically of a shooting type,quickly travelling along the course of the nerve.

It is one of thecommonest neuralgic pain creating difficulty & problem in activities of dailyliving. 2%-40% of people havesciatica at some point of time .It is most commonduring the age of 40s &50s and men are more frequently affected than women.

Despite of advancement, there is no specific treatmentapproach in modern system of medicine. The condition is managed by bed rest,physical therapy (directed exercise), opoids, muscle relaxants,NSAIDS, botulinum toxin injection, steroids, gabapentin, TENS, Surgery(disectomy) and alternative medicine.

In Unani system of medicine, Irqunnasa (sciatica)& its treatment has been describe by many physicians. According to Jalinoos(Galen),in Irqunnasa(sciatica) the morbid matter get accumulated in the joint.Therefore cupping will be beneficial for the same. According to IbneSina,prior to evacuation of morbid matter, strong purgatives should be avoided.Emesis is better than purgation, in addition anti-inflammatory ointment (Zimad)& irrigation can be used. In case, the condition remained unresolved wetcupping (Hijama) and Zimad can employed after mild laxatives.Keeping all these things in view, study l is planned to evaluate  the  effect of Hijama BishShart (wetcupping) and Zimad-e-Pudina in the patients of  Irqunnasa(sciatica).

Almostall ancient Unani physicians advocated  HijamaBishShart(wet  cupping) in the treatment of Irqunnasa(sciatica).Therefore,it is high time to evaluate the effect  of  HijamaBishShart(wet cupping) in the  management  of Irqunnasa(sciatica).