Efficacy of leech therapy in the management of osteoarthritis (Sandhivata)
Rai PK, Singh AK, Singh OP, Rai NP, Dwivedi AK (2011) · Ayu · n=25
Perfil del estudio
- Diseño
- single-center, open-label clinical trial within the Ayurvedic Jalaukavacharana (leech therapy) framework (Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India)
- Tamaño de la muestra (n)
- 25
- Intervención
- Jalaukavacharana (Ayurvedic leech therapy with Hirudo medicinalis) applied to painful periarticular sites of the affected joint over multiple sessions
- Comparador
- Within-subject pre/post comparison without a randomized control arm (descriptive efficacy assessment)
- Punto final primario
- Symptomatic improvement in pain and joint mobility in patients with osteoarthritis (Sandhivata, a Vatavyadhi condition in Ayurvedic classification)
- Resultado primario
- Encouraging clinical improvements reported in pain and mobility following leech therapy in osteoarthritis patients (descriptive, no inferential statistics on between-group comparison)
- Duración del seguimiento
- follow-up over the treatment course (specific weeks not standardized)
- PMID
- 22408305
Hallazgos clave
- First Indian Ayurvedic clinical evaluation of Jalaukavacharana for osteoarthritis (Sandhivata) indexed in PubMed
- Positions leech therapy within the Raktamokshan (bloodletting) parasurgical paradigm of Ayurveda
- Attributes mechanism to anti-inflammatory and anaesthetic substances in leech saliva consistent with modern biochemistry
- Cited as supportive evidence for use of leech therapy in degenerative joint disease as a low-side-effect alternative to NSAIDs
- Reported as encouraging by authors; no inferential between-group statistical tests provided due to within-subject design
Limitaciones
- Not a randomized controlled trial - within-subject descriptive evaluation only
- No defined control comparator arm; pre/post within-subject design only
- Small sample (typical Ayurvedic clinical evaluation cohort)
- Outcome measures not standardized to WOMAC, VAS, or other validated OA instruments
- Single Ayurvedic teaching institution - generalizability to broader OA populations limited
Implicaciones clínicas
Rai 2011 is the most-cited Indian Ayurvedic clinical evaluation of Jalaukavacharana for osteoarthritis, providing methodological context for understanding leech therapy as practiced in the Ayurvedic regimental therapy tradition rather than as a standalone intervention. The study is a within-subject descriptive evaluation, not an RCT, and is included in this registry as 'preliminary' grade to document the cross-cultural evidence base while preserving GRADE discipline. For clinicians integrating traditional and modern medicine, the trial illustrates how leech therapy is positioned within Ayurvedic concepts of Vata imbalance and bloodletting; for evidence-based hierarchy purposes, it should be cited alongside (not in place of) the German RCT body.
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