Efficacy of Nirgundi Lepa in the Management of Vatakantaka (Plantar Fasciitis): A Case Series

Abstract

Plantar fasciitis, or Vatakantaka, is a common cause of heel pain characterised by inflammation and swelling in the plantar fascia, leading to discomfort. Standard treatments often yield poor results, which has motivated research into new therapies. The present case series includes 10 patients (five males and five females) with plantar fasciitis who were treated with a topical application of Nirgundi Lepa twice a day for four weeks. Pain levels were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and foot function was evaluated with the Foot Function Index (FFI) at baseline, two weeks after treatment, and at the conclusion of the study. Nirgundi Lepa was applied to the feet of both limbs, resulting in a reduction in pain and an improvement in foot function. VAS scores decreased by an average of 65%, and the FFI-related symptom improvement rate increased to 55%. The therapeutic effects observed during the follow-up period were sustained, with minimal recurrence of symptoms. The present case series illustrates the utility of Nirgundi Lepa in patients with plantar fasciitis, positioning it as an effective non surgical modality for managing heel pain. Further research is needed to confirm these results and assess their value in clinical practice.

Keywords

• analgesics
• calcaneus spur
• foot function index
• heel pain
• inflammation
• non invasive
• pain management