Comprehensive Clinical Analysis of the Ayurvedic Management of Katishool: A Case Study and Integrative Literature Review

Low back pain, identified in the Ayurvedic medical tradition as Katishool, remains a leading cause of global disability, impacting functional capacity and socioeconomic productivity.1,2 This clinical report presents an in-depth analysis of the Ayurvedic management of chronic Katishool, specifically within the context of lumbar spondylosis and degenerative vertebral conditions.3 Following the Case Report, this study documents the therapeutic trajectory of a 53-year-old male patient suffering from chronic lumbosacral pain, numbness and tingling sensation in both lower limbs (intermittently), and significant mobility impairment. The intervention involved a multi- modal Ayurvedic protocol comprising Shodhana (bio-cleansing) therapies—specifically Kati Basti and a regulated Kala Basti schedule—and Shamana (palliative) medications including Trayodashanga Guggulu and Dashmoola Kwatha.3,5 Assessment of clinical efficacy was conducted using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and objective physical markers such as the Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test.4 The results demonstrated a profound reduction in pain intensity from a VAS of 8/10 to 1/10 and a decrease in functional disability from a severe score of 55% to a mild score of 20% over an eight-week period. This report further explores the pharmacological synergy of Ayurvedic formulations, the pathophysiological correlation between Vata-vitiation and modern spinal degeneration, and the necessity for standardized reporting in Ayurvedic clinical research to foster integrative medical dialogues.6,7