Effect of Zimad (Unani pharmacopeial liniment) in the management of Knee osteoarthritis: A case study

Knee osteoarthritis (Knee OA) is the most common Musculo-skeletal disorder, which causes functional disability thus, increasing the economic burden in the society. In conventional medicine it has been treated with various drugs i.e., NSAIDs, cox inhibitors and steroids. Although these drugs pose only symptomatic relief. In Unani medicine Osteoarthritis is treated with variety of regimens and drugs. Among these regimens Zimad (liniments) prepared with number of single Unani pharmacopeial drugs that exert anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-arthritic actions. Keeping this in mind a case study was conducted to assess the efficacy of Zimad containing drugs including Zingiber officinale Rosc, Saussurea lappa, Colchimum autumnale, Myristica fragrans Houtt and Matricara chamomile in the management of Knee OA for 14 sittings of alternate application for 28 days. A female patient with chief complaints of pain in left knee joint, along with the swelling, joint stiffness and mild tenderness feeling severe pain while performing daily activity for last 8 months was treated at IPD of the AKTC, AMU, Aligarh. The patient was assessed at baseline, 14th day and 28th day on the basis of changes in subjective and objective parameters. At the end of the treatment patient got significant relief in subjective (pain, joint stiffness and ROM) and objective parameters (VAS and WOMAC). The present study reveals that Zimad is safe and effective in the treatment of Knee OA without any side effect. Therefore, further randomized clinical studies need to be carried out to validate the effectiveness of Zimad in the management of Knee OA. Keywords: Ilaj Bit Tadbeer, Knee osteoarthritis, Sesquiterpene lactone, Waja’ al-Rukba, Zimad, Zingiberene