Plantar Iontophoresis With Aqueous Solution of Guggulu in the Management of Plantar Fascitis: Engendering an Incipient Dimension in Its Management

Abstract

Guggulu, a resin from Commiphora mukul is an established anti-inflammatory agent since ancient time. It has been first described in Atharva Veda in 2000 B.C. Guggulu is the dry gum resin obtained from the bark of the Commiphora mukul. Phyto-chemically it is found to be mixture of diterpenes, sterols, steroids, esters and higher alcohols. Topical application of Guggulu resin as anti-inflammatory agents at the site of inflammation is a proven effective measure for the arthropathies & various other musculo-skeletal conditions. Since most of the drugs showed less than adequate skin permeability, so the iontophoresis an "electrically-assisted trans-dermal drug delivery system" was proposed to be a physical technique for enhancement of skin permeation of topical drugs. Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain in adults with the peak incidence occurring in people between the ages of 40 -60 yeas. Various treatment modalities have been proposed but with debatable outcome. So an effort has been made to execute plantar iontophoresis using aqueous solution of Guggulu resin in the management of plantar fasciitis.