Article in PDF
How to Cite
Citation Manager
Readers' Comments (0)
Audio Visual Article Statistics
Link
to PUBMED
Print this Article
Send to a Friend
Advertisers
Access Statistics Resources
Authors are the souls of any journal, and deserve much respect. To publish a journal manuscripts are needed from authors. Authors have a great responsibility for producing facts of their work in terms of number and results truthfully and an individual honesty is expected from authors in this regards. Both ways its true "No authors-No manuscripts-No journals" and "No journals–No manuscripts–No authors". Reviewing a manuscript is also a very responsible and important task of any peer-reviewed journal and to be taken seriously. It needs knowledge on the subject, sincerity, honesty and determination. Although the process of reviewing a manuscript is a time consuming task butit is expected to give one's best remarks within the time frame of the journal.
Salient features of the JCDR: It is a biomedical, multidisciplinary (including all medical and dental specialities), e-journal, with wide scope and extensive author support. At the same time, a free text of manuscript is available in HTML and PDF format. There is fast growing authorship and readership with JCDR as this can be judged by the number of articles published in it i e; in Feb 2007 of its first issue, it contained 5 articles only, and now in its recent volume published in April 2011, it contained 67 manuscripts. This e-journal is fulfilling the commitments and objectives sincerely, (as stated by Editor-in-chief in his preface to first edition) i e; to encourage physicians through the internet, especially from the developing countries who witness a spectrum of disease and acquire a wealth of knowledge to publish their experiences to benefit the medical community in patients care. I also feel that many of us have work of substance, newer ideas, adequate clinical materials but poor in medical writing and hesitation to submit the work and need help. JCDR provides authors help in this regards.
Timely publication of journal: Publication of manuscripts and bringing out the issue in time is one of the positive aspects of JCDR and is possible with strong support team in terms of peer reviewers, proof reading, language check, computer operators, etc. This is one of the great reasons for authors to submit their work with JCDR. Another best part of JCDR is "Online first Publications" facilities available for the authors. This facility not only provides the prompt publications of the manuscripts but at the same time also early availability of the manuscripts for the readers.
Indexation and online availability: Indexation transforms the journal in some sense from its local ownership to the worldwide professional community and to the public.JCDR is indexed with Embase & EMbiology, Google Scholar, Index Copernicus, Chemical Abstracts Service, Journal seek Database, Indian Science Abstracts, to name few of them. Manuscriptspublished in JCDR are available on major search engines ie; google, yahoo, msn.
In the era of fast growing newer technologies, and in computer and internet friendly environment the manuscripts preparation, submission, review, revision, etc and all can be done and checked with a click from all corer of the world, at any time. Of course there is always a scope for improvement in every field and none is perfect. To progress, one needs to identify the areas of one's weakness and to strengthen them.
It is well said that "happy beginning is half done" and it fits perfectly with JCDR. It has grown considerably and I feel it has already grown up from its infancy to adolescence, achieving the status of standard online e-journal form Indian continent since its inception in Feb 2007. This had been made possible due to the efforts and the hard work put in it. The way the JCDR is improving with every new volume, with good quality original manuscripts, makes it a quality journal for readers. I must thank and congratulate Dr Hemant Jain, Editor-in-Chief JCDR and his team for their sincere efforts, dedication, and determination for making JCDR a fast growing journal.
Every one of us: authors, reviewers, editors, and publisher are responsible for enhancing the stature of the journal. I wish for a great success for JCDR."
Thanking you
With sincere regards
Dr. Rajendra Kumar Ghritlaharey, M.S., M. Ch., FAIS
Associate Professor,
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Gandhi Medical College & Associated
Kamla Nehru & Hamidia Hospitals Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462 001 (India)
E-mail: drrajendrak1@rediffmail.com
On May 11,2011
Dr. Shankar P.R.
"On looking back through my Gmail archives after being requested by the journal to write a short editorial about my experiences of publishing with the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (JCDR), I came across an e-mail from Dr. Hemant Jain, Editor, in March 2007, which introduced the new electronic journal. The main features of the journal which were outlined in the e-mail were extensive author support, cash rewards, the peer review process, and other salient features of the journal.
Over a span of over four years, we (I and my colleagues) have published around 25 articles in the journal. In this editorial, I plan to briefly discuss my experiences of publishing with JCDR and the strengths of the journal and to finally address the areas for improvement.
My experiences of publishing with JCDR: Overall, my experiences of publishing withJCDR have been positive. The best point about the journal is that it responds to queries from the author. This may seem to be simple and not too much to ask for, but unfortunately, many journals in the subcontinent and from many developing countries do not respond or they respond with a long delay to the queries from the authors 1. The reasons could be many, including lack of optimal secretarial and other support. Another problem with many journals is the slowness of the review process. Editorial processing and peer review can take anywhere between a year to two years with some journals. Also, some journals do not keep the contributors informed about the progress of the review process. Due to the long review process, the articles can lose their relevance and topicality. A major benefit with JCDR is the timeliness and promptness of its response. In Dr Jain's e-mail which was sent to me in 2007, before the introduction of the Pre-publishing system, he had stated that he had received my submission and that he would get back to me within seven days and he did!
Most of the manuscripts are published within 3 to 4 months of their submission if they are found to be suitable after the review process. JCDR is published bimonthly and the accepted articles were usually published in the next issue. Recently, due to the increased volume of the submissions, the review process has become slower and it ?? Section can take from 4 to 6 months for the articles to be reviewed. The journal has an extensive author support system and it has recently introduced a paid expedited review process. The journal also mentions the average time for processing the manuscript under different submission systems - regular submission and expedited review.
Strengths of the journal: The journal has an online first facility in which the accepted manuscripts may be published on the website before being included in a regular issue of the journal. This cuts down the time between their acceptance and the publication. The journal is indexed in many databases, though not in PubMed. The editorial board should now take steps to index the journal in PubMed. The journal has a system of notifying readers through e-mail when a new issue is released. Also, the articles are available in both the HTML and the PDF formats. I especially like the new and colorful page format of the journal. Also, the access statistics of the articles are available. The prepublication and the manuscript tracking system are also helpful for the authors.
Areas for improvement: In certain cases, I felt that the peer review process of the manuscripts was not up to international standards and that it should be strengthened. Also, the number of manuscripts in an issue is high and it may be difficult for readers to go through all of them. The journal can consider tightening of the peer review process and increasing the quality standards for the acceptance of the manuscripts. I faced occasional problems with the online manuscript submission (Pre-publishing) system, which have to be addressed.
Overall, the publishing process with JCDR has been smooth, quick and relatively hassle free and I can recommend other authors to consider the journal as an outlet for their work."
Dr. P. Ravi Shankar
KIST Medical College, P.O. Box 14142, Kathmandu, Nepal.
E-mail: ravi.dr.shankar@gmail.com
On April 2011 Anuradha
Dear team JCDR, I would like to thank you for the very professional and polite service provided by everyone at JCDR. While i have been in the field of writing and editing for sometime, this has been my first attempt in publishing a scientific paper.Thank you for hand-holding me through the process.
Dr. Anuradha
E-mail: anuradha2nittur@gmail.com
On Jan 2020
Reviews
Full Version
Role of Panchakarma Chikitsa in the Management of Katigraha (Lumbar Spondylosis): A Literature Review
Correspondence Address :
Anup Jain,
Assistant Professor, Department of Panchakarma, Ch. Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sansthan, Khera Dabar, GGSIPU, New Delhi-110073, India.
E-mail: dr.anupjain@gmail.com
Katigraha is a disease in which Vata gets imbalanced in its sthana (seat), causing pain to originate in the joints of sphika and prishtha-vanshasthi. According to Gadanigraha, when Vata is affected by Ama and is located in Kati Pradesh, it exhibits the symptoms of Katigraha, namely Graha (stiffness) and Ruja (pain) in Kati Pradesh (lower back). Compared with modern science, the authors can correlate this disease to lumbar spondylosis. Chronic low-back pain affects 4.2% of the population and accounts for almost 50% of total low-back pain related costs. The treatment involves various approaches, including anti-inflammatories, analgesics, muscle relaxants, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), exercises, traction, and invasive procedures like surgeries. Panchakarma, a specialised facet of Ayurveda, not only focuses on bringing the body to a state of Samadosha, thereby targeting to achieve normal health. With literary evidence supporting its efficacy, Panchakarma offers a comprehensive approach in managing such conditions, encompassing curative, preventive, and promotive aspects of health. Databases such as PubMed, Google Scholars, Shodhaganga, etc., were searched, and a total of 12 articles were shortlisted based on various Panchakarma interventions being used for the management of Katigraha. Panchakarma provides a promising avenue for the effective management of Katigraha, paving the way for enhanced well-being and improved quality of life for individuals suffering from this condition.
Shodhaganga, Svedana, Snehana, Vatavyadhi
Ayurveda is an ancient science of life that describes tridosha as the regulatory humors of the body. Amongst these tridosha, Vatadosha holds the position of dominance as it can force the other doshas, Pitta and Kapha, to move from their seats just like strong wind can displace clouds (1). Katipradesha (Lower back) is described as one of the important seats of Vata dosha (2), and one of the disorders affecting this region is Katigraha, in which Vata becomes imbalanced in its own sthana (seat), causing pain to originate in the joints of sphika and prishtha-vanshasthi. According to Gadanigraha, when Vata is affected by Ama and located in Kati Pradesh, it exhibits the symptoms of Katigraha, namely Graha (stiffness) and Ruja (pain) in Kati Pradesh (lower back) (3).
Lumbar Spondylosis is a disease diagnosed as back pain induced by spine movement and associated with stiffness (4). It is one of the most commonly found conditions in adults. Lifestyle issues and habits like bike riding, speed breakers, improper posture, heavy weight lifting, and improper rest to the spine are risk factors that aggravate this disease in working adults. Chronic low back pain is diagnosed when pain lasts more than 12 weeks and accounts for almost 50% of total back pain costs (5). Treatment in other systems of medicine commonly includes anti-inflammatory, analgesics, and muscle relaxant medications. NSAIDs and topical application of heat/ice are also found effective in relieving back pain (6).
Considering the above scenario and the needs of modern society to find an effective cure, it becomes imperative to review or search for safe and effective interventions in cases of Katigraha (Lumbar spondylosis). The rationale for conducting a review in this context stems from several factors.
Traditional knowledge vs. modern needs: Ayurveda, being an ancient science, provides insights into the understanding of health and disease that have been passed down through generations. However, in the modern context, there is a need to bridge this traditional knowledge with contemporary healthcare demands. This review seeks to explore how Ayurvedic interventions, specifically Panchakarma therapies, can address a prevalent modern health issue like Lumbar spondylosis (Katigraha).
Complexity of Ayurvedic conceptual framework: Ayurveda employs a comprehensive understanding of the human body, which involves concepts like Tridosha (the three fundamental energies), particularly Vata dosha, and their influence on health. Lumbar spondylosis is seen through the lens of Vata imbalance in Ayurveda. Therefore, exploring how Ayurvedic interventions target this specific imbalance requires a comprehensive review of existing literature.
Variability in traditional treatments: Ayurveda offers a range of interventions, including herbal remedies, dietary modifications, lifestyle changes, and Panchakarma therapies. Each of these interventions may have diverse formulations and methodologies, making it essential to review the specific interventions used in treating Katigraha to assess their efficacy and safety.
Need for evidence-based practice: In the modern healthcare landscape, there is an increasing emphasis on evidence-based practice. While Ayurveda has a rich tradition and empirical evidence, there is a growing need to subject Ayurvedic interventions to rigorous scientific scrutiny. By conducting a review of clinical research studies, this review aims to contribute to the evidence base supporting Ayurvedic interventions for the management of lumbar spondylosis.
Clinical trials, randomised or non-randomised studies with interventions of various Panchakarma modalities available on databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Shodhaganga, Cochrane Library, etc., from the year 1995 to August 2021, irrespective of their study centers, were searched. References of key articles were hand-searched using keywords such as ‘Katigraha’, ‘Panchakarma’, ‘Shodhana’, ‘Basti’, ‘Svedana’, ‘Katibasti’, ‘Nasya’, ‘Katidhara’, ‘Upnaha’, etc. The database of the CTRI was also searched with the same keywords to obtain a list of current and completed research on Katigraha. Screening of the title, abstract, and full text of the retrieved articles was independently conducted by two reviewers, and any differences were resolved by a third reviewer.
Inclusion criteria: Data analysis focused entirely on Ayurvedic controlled clinical trials (randomised and non-randomised controlled trials) conducted in patients suffering from Katigraha between 1995 and August 2021. Only articles published in the English language were eligible for inclusion.
Exclusion criteria: Ayurvedic review articles on Katigraha, Ayurvedic clinical studies on complications of Katigraha, related animal studies, case studies or case series, observational studies, and modern studies were excluded from the study.
A total of 138 articles were retrieved after searching the selected databases. Upon an extensive review of literature from the above sources, 48 articles were removed due to duplicity (in the form of articles and listings appearing as citations in Google Scholar). Among the remaining 90 articles, 46 were removed as they were not clinical trials but only case studies and observational studies. From the remaining 44 articles, 15 were removed as they were reviews. Full texts of 29 articles were identified, but among them, 17 were excluded as they contained only Shamana chikitsa, Snehana chikitsa, or therapies like Marma therapy, Yoga, etc., in the treatment groups. Hence, a total of 12 articles were included (Table/Fig 1).
Comparative review of included 12 articles, Features of study participants and types of intervention with exact outcomes are mentioned in (Table/Fig 2) (7),(8),(9),(10),(11),(12),(13),(14),(15),(16),(17),(18).
Katigraha is a disease in which Vata gets vitiated and is situated in Katipradesh, producing symptoms like shool and stambh. As it is Krichrsadhya, shamana aushadhi alone is not enough to treat the disease, so Panchakarma chikitsa is of prime importance, as evident from the success of all the above-reviewed studies.
Role of snehana and svedana in vatavyadhi: For vata vyadhi, Snehan and Svedana are the best line of treatment. Sneha dravya possesses Drava, Sukshma, Sara, Snigdha, Manda, Mridu, Guru (19), which are opposite to Vata, thus alleviating it. When administered, Snehan provides nourishment to emaciated tissue. As Katigraha is a Vata vyadhi, Snehan softens the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, correcting stiffness, rigidity in the body, and lubricating the Srotas. Following Snehan, Svedana should be given, alleviating pain, stiffness, oedema, and making the body soft (20). Repeated administration of Snehan and Svedana ensures that the koshta becomes soft, preventing vayu diseases from permanently lodging there.
Role of virechan in katigraha: Acharya Charak mentioned Mridu Virechan in Vata Vyadhi (21). If the disease does not subside with Snehan and Svedana, the patient should be given Virechan with mild drugs added with unctuous ingredients. This process cleanses the body of morbidities, stimulates Agni, and is followed by the administration of Snehan and Svedana once again.
Role of basti in vatavyadhi: In Charak Siddhisthan, Acharya Charak described Basti as Ardh Chikitsa (22), the best therapy to subdue aggravated Vata. The primary sign of Vata aggravation is pain, making Basti an effective treatment for the disease. Since Katigraha is a Vata vyadhi, basti is considered the best treatment for this condition.
Role of bahi parimarjan chikitsa: Katibasti (23) is a Snigdha, Saagni type of Sveda often recommended for conditions like back pain and arthritis. Medicated oils with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties should be used. These oils help in the formation of lipoidal bonds, aid in the penetration of drug molecules, increase blood circulation to the affected area, balance Doshas, strengthen muscles, release toxins, and reduce inflammation.
Patra pinda sveda (24) is a form of Svedana that falls under Pinda Sveda. It involves using leaves of medicinal plants with analgesic, anti-degenerative, and anti-inflammatory properties. This treatment reduces symptoms like Shula and Stambha in Katigraha. The Ushna Guna stimulates the sympathetic nervous system and promotes vasodilation. The Sara and Sukshama Guna of Svedana Dravya liquefy Doshas, facilitating their excretion through micropores on the skin, resulting in the elimination of vitiated Doshas from the body. Both Patrapinda Sveda and Kati basti combine Snehana and Svedana, forming the first line of treatment for Vata Dosha.
Limitation(s)
In this review, the quality of individual studies was not assessed, and findings were synthesised quantitatively. The present review applied a limited search strategy. Due to the broad nature of this review, the synthesis and interpretation of findings are limited. The article, being exploratory in nature, does not provide exact decision-making but rather aids in reaching a conclusions about various types of therapies that may be useful in managing Katigraha.
The comprehensive exploration of the management of Katigraha, a Vata-dominant disorder, highlights the significance of a holistic approach in Ayurveda. The review has emphasised the intrinsic role of Panchakarma therapies, particularly Snehan, Svedana, Virechan, Basti, and Bahi Parimarjan Chikitsa, in effectively addressing the complexities of this ailment. Snehana, with its unique qualities opposite to Vata, stands out as a pivotal therapy, softening muscles and lubricating the Srotasa, thereby correcting stiffness and rigidity in the body. The integration of Snehan, Svedana, Virechan, Basti, and Bahi Parimarjan Chikitsa forms a comprehensive treatment protocol that not only addresses the symptoms but also targets the root cause of the Vata vitiation. This approach, based on the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, provides a promising avenue for the effective management of Katigraha, paving the way for enhanced well-being and improved quality of life for individuals suffering from this condition.
DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2024/62954.19250
Date of Submission: Dec 18, 2023
Date of Peer Review: Jan 24, 2024
Date of Acceptance: Feb 26, 2024
Date of Publishing: Apr 01, 2024
AUTHOR DECLARATION:
• Financial or Other Competing Interests: None
• Was Ethics Committee Approval obtained for this study? NA
• Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? NA
• For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. NA
PLAGIARISM CHECKING METHODS:
• Plagiarism X-checker: Dec 19, 2023
• Manual Googling: Feb 02, 2024
• iThenticate Software: Feb 24, 2024 (5%)
ETYMOLOGY: Author Origin
EMENDATIONS: 6
- Emerging Sources Citation Index (Web of Science, thomsonreuters)
- Index Copernicus ICV 2017: 134.54
- Academic Search Complete Database
- Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)
- Embase
- EBSCOhost
- Google Scholar
- HINARI Access to Research in Health Programme
- Indian Science Abstracts (ISA)
- Journal seek Database
- Popline (reproductive health literature)
- www.omnimedicalsearch.com