Chronic anal fissures treated with Unani formulation – A series of case reports

Abstract

Background: Chronic anal fissure is recognized for its profound impact on quality of life and the propensity for treatment relapse, underscoring the need to explore safe and alternative clinical interventions. Unani medicine offers a wealth of therapeutic approaches for anal fissures, yet empirical evidence remains limited. Objective: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the Unani formulation Marham Safeda Kafoori in treating chronic anal fissures. Methods: Seven patients with chronic anal fissures underwent a 14-day treatment with Marham Safeda Kafoori. Concurrently, two Unani interventions, namely Habb-e-Bawaseer Amya and Habb-e-Muqil, were administered for the management of constipation. Therapeutic response was assessed using a 100mm Visual Analog Scale for anal pain and burning sensations, alongside evaluating non-hemorrhoidal rectal bleeding and fissure healing status. Results: Following a two-week follow-up, pain and burning decreased significantly. Similarly, all the cases were healed completely with no instances of rectal bleeding. Conclusion: The trial formulation demonstrated promising efficacy in the management of anal fissures, with no observed adverse effects. Nevertheless, it is prudent to recommend rigorous prospective clinical investigations to validate its scientific soundness.

Keywords

• Fissure-in-ano
• Anal pain
• Constipation
• Unani medicine