Comparative Clinical Trial of Habb-e-Hudar & Hijama Bila Shurt (Dry Cupping Therapy) in Wajaul Mafasil (Arthritis) of Knee.

Wajaul Mafasil is a compound Arabic term, where Waja literally means ‘pain’ and Mafasil means joints. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of the arthritis and is the leading cause of disability in older persons, affecting 10% of population >60 years of age, in which 80% of individual have limited mobility and 25% cannot perform major daily activities. The disease follows a more severe course in women with greater symptoms, more extensive involvement, and increased prevalence of knee and hand joint involvement. There are wide range of treatment options available in different system of medicines. Inspite of that patient are not fully satisfied. Unani scholars in their treatise have mentioned different formulations but their scientific validation have still not done. Hence a study was conducted to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of Habb-e-Hudar and Hijamah bila Shurt in Wajaul Mafasil of knee. The study was conducted as comparative clinical study. A total of 72 eligible patients fitting the inclusion criteria were selected from OPD/ IPD. However, only 60 patients (30 in each group) completed the trial. Group A patients was given 2 pills Habb-e-Hudar was given orally twice a day for 30 days and Group B patient received Hijamah bila Shurt on knee daily for period of 30 days. Patients were assessed on subjective and objective parameters at baseline and on every follow up till 30th day. Safety parameters were assessed at baseline and after the end of the trial. The results were analysed statistically using Student t test and Paired Proportion test. Significant improvement was observed in all the subjective parameters (p<0.01), and all the objective parameters (p<0.001). No adverse effect was reported. This study reveals that Hijamah bila Shurt and Habbe-Hudar both are effective but Hijamah bila Shurt is comparatively more effective treatment for Wajaul Mafasil of knee. There were no clinically or statistically significant side effects or toxicity during or after the trial. However large sample sized controlled clinical trials of longer duration are required to generalize the results.