Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Background: Vāta-vikṛti contributes substantially to pain, disability, sleep disturbance, and gastrointestinal dysrhythmia. Contemporary burden indicators for osteoarthritis (OA) and low back pain (LBP) underscore the need for safe, multimodal, non-opioid interventions.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a basti-centric Pañcakarma program for Vāta-predominant disorders in routine practice.
Methods: Prospective single-arm cohort (N=30; 30-70 y) with Vāta-predominant OA knee, spondylosis (cervical/lumbar), sciatica, and functional bowel disturbance. Protocol: individualized pūrva-karma (snehana, svedana), pradhāna-karma centered on alternating nirūha and anuvāsana basti (yoga/kāla schedules), selective nāsya for cervico-cranial symptoms, gentle virecana in Vāta-pitta overlap, and paścāt-karma (saṃsarjana-krama, rasāyana). Primary outcomes: Pain (NRS 0-10), sleep (PSQI), and constipation/IBS frequency severity index; secondary outcomes: knee ROM/Timed Up-and-Go, straight-leg raise, global rating of change. Safety captured as adverse events (AEs).
Results: At 4 weeks, mean pain reduced from 6.9±1.2 to 3.1±1.3 (Δ=-3.8; p<0.001). PSQI improved from 9.2±3.1 to 5.7±2.6 (Δ=-3.5; p<0.001). Constipation/IBS frequency score decreased 43%. Function improved: knee flexion +18°, TUG-2.6 s; SLR +16°. Global improvement was “much improved” or better in 73%. No serious AEs; transient cramping (10%) and urgency (7%) resolved spontaneously.
Conclusion: A basti-centric Pañcakarma regimen appears effective and safe for Vāta-predominant disorders in real-world practice, aligning with classical rationale and emerging clinical literature on basti and nāsya. Controlled trials are warranted.