Effect of Habb-e-Gule-Aak (Unani pharmacopeial compound formulation) and Riyazat in the management of Non-specific Low back pain (Waja’ uz-Zahr): A Case series
Abstract
Background: Low back pain has been a significant public health issue since long time, resulting in loss of functional productivity and medical costs. Nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) or pain for which there is no known cause, affects about 85% of sufferers. Although there are conservative treatments accessible in the conventional medical system, like NSAIDs, which produces certain side effects. Unani system of medicine is the ancient system of medicine which deals with prophylactic and therapeutic management of many illnesses with no or least adverse effects.
Objectives: To evaluate the effect of Unani compound pharmacopeial drug i.e., Habb-e-Gule-Aak (HGA) and exercises of lumbo-pelvic muscles (strengthening and stretching) in the management of NSLBP.
Materials and Methods: Five patients with a primary report of chronic NSLBP (>6 months) without radiculopathy were treated with 2 pills of HGA twice daily for 30 days. The effectiveness of therapy was assessed on baseline, 15th day and 30th day using a numeric rating scale (NRS) to measure pain reduction and Oswestry disability index (ODI) to assess the decrease in lower back disability in NSLBP.
Results: HGA and exercises of lumbo-pelvic muscles (strengthening and stretching) significantly reduced pain and disability in NSLBP.
Conclusion: This case series is preliminary research of the use of multiple modalities in the management of NSLBP. It is envisaged that additional experimental research will be done to demonstrate the efficacy of this combination in treating people with NSLBP.
Keywords: Habb-e-Gule-Aak, Ilaj Bit Tadbir, Lower back Exercise, Non-Specific Low back pain, Unani medicine
Keywords:
Habb-e-Gule-Aak, Ilaj Bit Tadbir, Lower back Exercise, Non-Specific Low back pain, Unani medicineDOI
https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v16i1.7526References
1. Gunnar BJ Andersson, Epidemiological features of chronic low-back pain, The Lancet, Volume 354, Issue 9178; 1999: 581-585. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(99)01312-4 PMid:10470716
2. Ribeiro, R. P., Sedrez, J. A., Candotti, C. T., & Vieira, A. Relação entre a dor lombar crônica não específica com a incapacidade, a postura estática e a flexibilidade. Fisioterapia e Pesquisa, 25(4), 2018: 425-431. https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-2950/18001925042018
3. Cherkin DC, Deyo RA, Wheeler K, Ciol M. Physician variation in diagnostic testing for low back pain: who you see is what you get. Arthritis Rheum 1994;37:15-22. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.1780370104 PMid:8129759
4. Jeelani GH, Makhzanul hikmat. New delhi: Aijaz publication house, 1994:264-265.
5. Nayab M, Anwar M, Qamri MA. Clinical study of waja ul Mafasil and evaluation of efficacy of Hijamat-Bila-Shart in the treatment. Indian J Tradit Knowl 2011;10:697-701.
6. Razi., Al Havi Fit Tibb. (Urdu translation by CCRUM) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Indai, New Delhi 1997:75- 85
7. Van Tulder MW, Koes BW. Low back pain: chronic. Clinical Evidence. London: BMJ Publishing Group, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-443-07287-6/50051-5
8. Singh G. NSAID induced gastrointestinal complications: the ARAMIS perspective--1997. Arthritis, Rheumatism, and Aging Medical Information System. The Journal of rheumatology. Supplement. 1998 May 1;51:8-16.
9. Brun J, Jones R. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-associated dyspepsia: the scale of the problem. The American journal of medicine. 2001 Jan 8;110(1):S12-3. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9343(00)00629-X PMid:11165989
10. Kearney PM, Baigent C, Godwin J, Halls H, Emberson JR, Patrono C. Do selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors and traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increase the risk of atherothrombosis? Meta-analysis of randomised trials. Bmj. 2006 Jun 1;332(7553):1302-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.332.7553.1302 PMid:16740558 PMCid:PMC1473048
11. Vonkeman HE, Brouwers JR, van de Laar MA. Understanding the NSAID related risk of vascular events. Bmj. 2006 Apr 13;332(7546):895-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.332.7546.895 PMid:16613964 PMCid:PMC1440616
12. Kabeeruddin H.M. Bayaz-e-Kabeer, Vol. I, Hikmat Book Depo, Hyderabad 1925: 275.
13. Anonymous,. Qarabadeen-e-Hamdard, Hamdard Dawakhana (waqf) Delhi.1981: 90.
14. Anonymous. Qarabadeen-e-Majeedi, Daftar Jamiya Tibbiya, Delhi YNM : 66, 70.
15. Kamaluddin H. Hamdani. Ila- bil-Tadbeer.1st Edition, Ejaz Publishing House, Darya Ganj, New Delhi, 2004; 28-31.
16. Sameena Firdaus, Dr. Ferasat ali, Nida sultana, Sana sultana, Riyazat (Exercise): A Part of Ilaj Bil Tadbeer and its Role in Prevention of Diseases, International Journal of Development Research, 2006; 6(1): 6486-6498.
17. Tavares, F. A. G., Chaves, T. C., Silva, E. D., Guerreiro, G. D., Gonçalves, J. F., & Albuquerque, A. A. A. de. Immediate effects of joint mobilization compared to sham and control intervention for pain intensity and disability in chronic low back pain patients: randomized controlled clinical trial. Revista Dor, 2017:18(1). https://doi.org/10.5935/1806-0013.20170002
18. Chang, W.-D., Lin, H.-Y., & Lai, P.-T. Core strength training for patients with chronic low back pain. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 27(3) 2015: 619-622. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.27.619 PMid:25931693 PMCid:PMC4395677
19. Chen, H.-M., Wang, H.-H., Chen, C.-H., & Hu, H.-M. (). Effectiveness of a Stretching Exercise Program on Low Back Pain and Exercise Self-Efficacy Among Nurses in Taiwan: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Pain Management Nursing, 15(1) 2014: 283-291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2012.10.003 PMid:23266331
20. Hecimovich, M., Pomije, M., & Harbaugh, A. Comparing lumbopelvic stabilization exercises and yoga on functional stability and low back pain in young, non-elite, female gymnasts. Physiotherapy and Health Activity, 25(1), 2018: 1-8 https://doi.org/10.1515/pha-2017-0001
21. Standardization of single drug of unani medicine. Part 2, CCRUM- New Delhi -June 1992: 158-163
22. Kabiruddin H. Makhzanul Mufridat. New Delhi: Aijaz Publishing House; (YNM): 49-52
23. Sighi M, Purohit AA. Studies on comparative larvicidal efficacy of methanol extracted latex of Calotropis procera and Temephos against Aedes aegypti in arid parts of Rajasthan. RJPBCS, 4(4), 2013 :1139-1142.
24. Ghani NM. Khazain al-Advia. Idara Kitab-us-shifa. New Delhi 2011;211,869,549.
25. Funk JL, Frye JB, Oyarzo JN, Timmermann BN. Comparative Effects of Two Gingerol-Containing Zingiber officinale Extracts on Experimental Rheumatoid Arthritis. J Nat Prod. 2009; 72:403-407. https://doi.org/10.1021/np8006183 PMid:19216559 PMCid:PMC2837120
26. Ma J, Jin X, Yang L and Liu ZL. Diarylheptanoids from the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale. Phytochemistry. 2004;65(8): 1137-1143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2004.03.007 PMid:15110695
27. Yamahara J, Miki K, Chisaka T, Sawada T, Fujimura H, Tomimatsu T, Nakano K, and Nohara T. Cholagogic effect of ginger and its active constituents. J Ethnopharmacol. 1985;13(2):217-225 https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(85)90009-1 PMid:4021519
28. Khan MA. Muheet e Azam (Urdu Translation), CCRUM, New Delhi 2012; 1:577-578.
29. Muniappan M., Sundararaj T. Antiinflammatory and antiulcer activities of Bambusa arundinacea. J. Ethnopharmacolgy. 2003; 88 : 161- 167. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(03)00183-1 PMid:12963137
30. Rathod JD. Ameliorative effect of Bambusa arundinacea against adjuvant arthritis-with special reference to bone erosion and tropical splenomegaly. Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics 2012, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v2i3.150
31. Bukhari IA, Pivac N, Alhumayyd MS, Mahesar AL, Gilani AH. The analgesic and anticonvulsant effects of piperine in mice. See comment in PubMed Commons below J PhysiolPharmacol 2013: 64: 789-794
32. Bang JS, Oh da H, Choi HM, Sur BJ, Lim SJ, et al. Anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic effects of piperine in human interleukin 1beta-stimulated fibroblast-like synoviocytes and in rat arthritis models. See comment in PubMed Commons below Arthritis Res Ther 2009:11: R49 https://doi.org/10.1186/ar2662 PMid:19327174 PMCid:PMC2688199
33. Kravchenko I, Eberle L, Nesterkina M, Kobernik A. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of ointment based on dense ginger extract (Zingiber officinale). Journal of Herbmed Pharmacology. 2019 Feb 25;8(2):126-32. https://doi.org/10.15171/jhp.2019.20
Published
Abstract Display: 22 
PDF Downloads: 15 PDF Downloads: 4 How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2026 Sadaf T.A. Shaikh , Mohd. Anwar , Mohammad Saad Ahmad Khan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
How to Cite
.