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A Comparative Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Jalaukāvacārana and Siddārthakādi Lepa in the Management of Mukhadūṣikā w.s.r. to Acne Vulgaris
Authors: Pandey Krishna Kant, Tripathi Arun Kumar and Srivastava Alok Kumar
Number of views: 320
Mukhadūṣikā, having a symptomatic correlation with Acne vulgaris, is one of the most
challenging and stubborn skin disorder prevailing since Vaidika era. It affects approximately
80% of the adolescents around the world. Acne Vulgaris is a polymorphic chronic inflammatory
disease of pilo-sebaceous units characterized by comedones, papules, pustules, nodules, cysts,
abscesses, and even widespread scarring sometimes. Ayurvedic texts have mentioned vitiation of
Kapha, Vāta and Rakta responsible for disease. As the disease is having a chronic nature,
modern medicines only subsides the disease for short time period along with various side-effects
and relapse also occur on withdrawing the medicines. Therefore, to identify an alternative, safer
and permanent cure, Jalaukāvacārana and Siddārthakādi Lepa were selected for the present
study to see their effect on Mukhadūṣikā. 30 patients selected from the Panchkarma and KayaChikitsa O.P.D. of the Rishikul Campus, UAU, Dehradun were randomly assigned to 2
treatments groups (15 patients in each). Group A patients were treated with Jalaukāvacārana (4
sittings on a 7-day interval) while in Group B patients, Siddārthakādi Lepa was also applied
daily along with 4 sittings of Jalaukāvacārana. Total duration of treatment in both groups was of
28 days along with a follow-up period of 30 days. Assessment was done on the basis of
subjective parameters i.e. Piḍikā (Acne lesions) grading and associated complaint grading, as
well as objective parameters i.e. count of lesions. Both interventions were found to be
significantly effective (p<0.05) in reducing Piḍikā grading as well as associated symptoms i.e.
Vedanā (Pain), Dāha (Burning), Pāka (Inflammation), Kandū (Itching), Vaivarnyatā
(Discolouration) and Snigdhatā (Oiliness). However, additional benefit of lepa was found only
Snigdhatā (p<0.05) and Vaivarnyatā (p>0.05). Both the interventions also showed significant
result in reducing count of lesions too. Lepa application was additionally beneficial in reducing the number of all types of lesions but the results were statistically significant on comedones and
pustules (p<0.05). None of the intervention was able to reduce the no. of scar/Grading of scars
significantly. On follow-up after 30 days, 20% in Jalaukāvacārana group while 13.33% in
Jalaukāvacārana along with Lepa application group showed relapse in grading of acne.