“A Comparative Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Panchamoola Kashaya Basti and Go-Ksheera Vaitarana Basti in the Management of Katishoola with Special Reference to Low Back Pain.”

Low back pain (LBP) is a musculoskeletal disorder involving muscles, ligaments, nerves, intervertebral discs and bony structure of the spine. Although most

individuals experience at least one episode of acute LBP during their lifetime.

Persistent pain alters activities of daily living, impairs body functions and significantly affects quality of life. Earlier considered a Geriatric problem, Katishoola is now increasingly prevalent among the younger, working age population due to lack of exercise, improper posture, prolonged sitting and occupational hazards.

In India, approximately 70-80% of adults experience LBP at some point in their lives, leading to considerable loss of productivity and functional disability.According to the WHO, in 2020, LBP affected around 619 million people globally, and the burden is projected to increase to 843 million by 2050. In 2025, it remains as one of the leading causes of years lived with disability worldwide, contributing substantially to economic burden through health care costs and work absenteeism.

Katishoola is not described as a distinct disease entity in the Brihatraree. However, Acharya Charaka, while explaining Anukta Vikara, states that vitiated Vata Dosha, when localized in any part of body, produces symptoms such as shoola, shosha and supti, which are considered manifestations of Vata Vyadhi.

Basti Karma is regarded as the most effective thearapy for vata vyadhi. Acharya Vagbhata describes basti as ardha chiktsa due to its systemic action on Vata dosha6. Hence, Basti plays a pivotal role in the management of Katishoola, by correcting the gati of Vyana Vata.

Acharya Vagbhata has described Panchamoola as a potent Vata-kaphahara dravya, possessing Kashaya-Tikta rasa, Ushna veerya, and Shothahara and Vedanasthapaka properties. Acharya Vangasena has advocated Goksheera Vaitarana Basti, which possesses Madhura rasa, Guru-Snigdha guna, Sheeta veerya, and Madhura vipaka, acting as Vatahara and Vedanastapaka.

Contemporary management of katishoola largely offers symptomatic relief through analgesics and physiotherapy with limited long term efficacy and high recurrence rates. Panchamoola kashaya yoga basti, owing to its targeted vata-kaphahara and shothahara karma comparatively less ushna which is helpful in bala,vriddha persons and less tikshna than dashamoola, provides a focused and safer therapeutic approach for Katishoola, warranting systematic clinical evaluation.

Therefore, taking these two treatment modalities an effort is made to treat, analyze and compare the efficacy of Panchamoola kashaya basti and Goksheera Vaitarana Basti in Katishoola.