Abstract
Background: - Varicose veins are enlarged and twisted, veins at the skin surface of lower limb, due to poor functioning of valves in the deeper leg veins or venous insufficiency in the perforators, making blood back up in the legs, with the resulting pressure causing surface veins to enlarge. Bulging, cord-like, twisted, soft, swellings are seen on the legs, anywhere from the groin to the ankle, often associated with the complain of burning, throbbing, muscle cramping, swelling, or heavy feeling in the legs. Depending on the clinical presentation it is having a close proximity with Siragranthi mentioned in ayurvedic literature. Methodology : - Sixty patients diagnosed as varicose veins satisfying the inclusion criteria were selected. They were recruited into two Groups-Groups I and Group II-following randomised sampling with 30 patients in each group, by lottery method. The patients of group I received Sahacarāditaila pāna (drinking of milk processed with oil made up of Strobilanthes ciliates and other indigenous drugs) internally five ml with milk in empty stomach twice daily along with Siravyadha (puncture of vein), once in fifteen days, for two months (four sittings) along with cycling exercise. Group II patients were advised only to do exercise: "Cycling in air" morning and evening for 20 minutes and application of crepe bandage. Assessment was done before and after treatment for pain, night cramps, itching, ankle flare and venous clinical severity (VCSS) score. Result: - Pain, night cramps, and itching, reduced in both groups significantly with the p value < 0.001. While comparing the result Group I and Group II, Group I showed much reduction in VCS score with the p value of < 0.001. Conclusion: - Clinically both the group got reduction in symptoms of disease. Four Patients in Group I and three patients of group II got maximum improvement. Hence Sahacharadi tailapana and Siravyadha along with exercise & bandage was more effective in reducing the sign and symptom of varicose veins as compared to simple exercise and pressure bandage.

Key words: Sahacharadi tailapana, siravyadha, varicose veins, exercise, cycling in air.