Sama Stage Amavata (Rheumatoid Arthritis) Treatment: How Effective Is Erand Sneha (Castor Oil)?

Abstract

The chronicity, incurability, comorbidities, and morbidity of Amavata (Rheumatoid Arthritis) make it a tough
condition to treat for doctors. Eranda Sneha (Castor oil) has the ability to stimulate the digestive fire, clear
blockages in the gastrointestinal tract, calm the Vata and Kapha Doshas, and eliminate them via purging. The
purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of castor oil in treating Amavata at the Sama stage (the acute
phase). CONTENT & APPROACH: From the outpatient and inpatient clinics of the Roga- Nidana Evam Vikriti
Vijnana, department of I.P.G.T. & R.A. at the Gujarat Ayurved University in Jamnagar, 61 patients aged 20 to 60
who met the inclusion criteria and had symptoms of Sama stage were recruited for the research. Patients were split
into two groups: those who received Eranda Sneha (Castor oil) alone, and those who received Eranda Sneha plus
Shunti (Zingiber officinale) once daily on an empty stomach. The results showed that after 15 days of treatment,
both groups had a reduction in their symptoms. Only group A showed moderate improvement on maximal
objective and subjective measures, suggesting that this treatment had a modest overall impact.The research
suggests that Castor oil, either alone or in combination with Zingiber officinale, is helpful in eradicating the Sama
stage of Amavata and relieving associated symptoms.