Comparative Efficacy of Ksheerabala Oil and Steroid Mouthwash in the Management of Oral Submucous Fibrosis
Suwarna Dangore-Khasbage, Surbhi Juneja, Anita WanjariBackground:
Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), a well-known premalignant oral condition, is often treated with corticosteroids. However, corticosteroids have numerous adverse effects. Thus, an ayurvedic preparation with a holistic approach may be a favorable option.
Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy of ksheerabala oil in the management of OSMF by comparing it with the commonly used drug, i.e., corticosteroid.
Methods:
This Institutional Ethical Committee-approved Comparative Interventional Study included 90 patients diagnosed with OSMF, who were equally divided into three groups. Group A patients were treated with a steroid mouthwash, Group B with ksheerabala oil, and Group C with a combination of both. Mouth opening, burning sensation, and cheek flexibility were the clinical parameters evaluated.
Results:
Observations revealed the efficacy of each drug for the management of OSMF. However, Group B showed greater improvement than Group A from the first to fifth visits, while Group C showed the greatest improvement among the three groups.
Conclusion:
A newer ayurvedic preparation of ksheerabala oil is an efficient adjuvant with corticosteroids in the management of OSMF. Nonetheless, considering a drug with no side effects, its use alone for OSMF should also be preferred.