This document discusses a study on the role of Uttar Basti (medicated oil administered through the urethra) in treating urethral strictures. 210 patients received 5 sessions of Uttar Basti with sesame oil, honey and rock salt at weekly intervals. Symptoms improved considerably and follow up over 5 years found no recurrences. Uttar Basti was found to be an effective, non-invasive treatment for urethral strictures with minimal complications compared to conventional surgeries.

1. ROLE OF UTTAR BASTI IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MUTRA MARGA SANKOCH
(URETHRAL STRICTURE).
AMILKANTHIWAR RAJENDRA H.
Department of Shalyatantra Government Ayurveda College,
Osmanabad, Maharashtra, India.
Email: drarajendrah@rediffmail.com
Abstract
(Urethral stricture). As far as conventional surgery is concerned urethral stricture still remains a
challenge due to post procedural high recurrences and complications. Uttarbasti is per urethral
administration of medicated oil, which has been recommended by Sushrut for such urinary track
disorders.
Objectives: To study the efficacy of Uttarbasti in the management of mutra marga sankoch (Urethral
stricture).
Material and method:
Material:
Drugs required: Til Tail (sesame oil), Saindhav lavan(Rock salt), Madhu(Honey).
Equipments required for the administration of Uttarbasti. Drugs to prevent shock and tackle
emergency.
Method:

2. Inclusion criteria: well-diagnosed patients, after clinical and radiological assessment, of either sex and
from all age groups are randomly selected.
Exclusion criteria: Patients with acute UTI, DM, and neoplasm of lower urinary track, BEP, and
impacted calculus in urethra and bladder neck.
Five Uttarbasti were given to the patients at the interval of 7 days. Subjective and objective parameters
were observed, graded and recorded at the first Uttarbasti and followed up after each. All the
observations were analyzed by parametric and non-parametric statistical methods. Post procedural
follow up taken, for not less than five years.
Results: The results observed in this study revealed considerable difference in the symptomatology and
in the radiological findings as well.
Discussion and conclusion: Uttarbasti being almost non invasive, with considerably minimum
recurrences and most economical, easy to practice OPD procedure, could be the treatment of choice in
the management or urethral stricture.
Keywords: Urethral stricture, Ayurvedic treatment, mutra marg sankoch, uttarbasti. Sesame oil,
Honey, Rock salt.
Introduction
Acharya Sushrut – the father of surgery had mentioned excellent procedures for the management of
many surgical disorders. Many herbal or mineral drugs are in use for several medical or surgical
disorders since ancient times, particularly where modern line of treatment has limitations either in form
of recurrences or complications. The information is passed down by the word of mouth from generation

3. to generation. To establish the effectiveness of these surgical and parasurgical procedures with full
evidence, thorough scientific studies are required.
Urethral stricture is a condition where modern surgical or parasurgical procedures pose many
difficulties and complications. Acharya Sushrut and Charak had recommended uttarbasti for the
management of many urinary tract disorders. Uttarbasti is –
Per urethral administration of medicated oil or decoction
Simple, non-invasive, OPD procedure. In an attempt to establish an effective therapy for urethral
stricture of varying etiology the role of uttarbasti was studied in 210 patients and the results are
presented in this communication.
Material and method:
Material:
Drugs
Til Tail (Sesame oil)
Saindhav lavan (Rock salt)
Madhu (Honey)
Equipments
Sterile 20ml glass syringe
Sterile penile clamp
Sterile cotton pad
Drugs to prevent shock and tackle emergency
Methods:

4. Inclusion criteria for patients:
210 randomly selected well-diagnosed male and female patients of all age groups.
Exclusion criteria for patients:
With acute urinary tract infection
Diabetic patients
With neoplasms of lower urinary tract
With benign prostatic enlargement
With impacted calculus in urethra and bladder neck.
Parameters for grading of symptoms and relief of the patients:
Symptoms of urethral stricture (mutra marga sankoch) present at first visit were graded and followed
up after each uttarbasti as
Severe Moderate Mild Complete relief
Symptoms +++ ++ + -
Table 1: Observations according to symptoms.
Symptoms Total Severe Moderate Mild After 5th Uttarbasti After 5th
Patients Uttarbasti
No response
to treatment
Complete Slight

5. relief relief
Burning 210 133 70 07 175 35 NIL
micturition
Frequency of 203 56 98 49 175 28 NIL
micturition
Straining at 210 175 35 - 189 21 NIL
micturition
Decreased 210 203 07 - 161 49 NIL
stream
Prolonged 210 21 161 28 196 14 NIL
micturition
Haematuria 42 - 14 28 42 - NIL
Incontinence of 63 14 42 07 63 - NIL
urine
Stangury 168 42 126 - 161 07 NIL
Retention of 07 07 - - 07 - NIL
urine
Investigations:
Urethrogram
Volumetric studies
Routine blood and urine
were done before and after treatment.

6. Procedure of uttarbasti:
Pre procedure (Purvakarma):
Investigations
Written consent
Emptying of bladder
Monitoring BP and pulse
Procedure (Pradhankarma):
After proper preparation of the part and draping under all aseptic precautions, glass van is filled with
20ml of lukewarm mixture prepared. By holding the glans penis with the thumb and the index finger,
nozzle of the syringe is inserted gently into the external urethral meatus and slight pressure is applied to
fix the junction. The mixture is administered with slight pressure and slowly over a period of 30
seconds. Care is taken to avoid air entry into the urethra. Penile clamp is applied just proximal to glans
penis and patient is kept in situ for 15mins. Female patients were advised to constrict urethral sphincter
by tightly holding one leg over another. The procedure is repeated at an interval of seven days.
Post procedure (Paschatkarma):
Penile clamp is removed after 15mins.
Monitoring of BP and pulse
Patients were advised not to micturate for a couple of hours

7. Patients were advised to avoid undue straining and unsafe intercourse
Procedure is repeated in the same way up to the complete relief of the symptoms.
Profile of patients:
Incidences of urethral stricture in relation with –
Sex: More common in males (96.67%) and very less in females (03.33%).
Age: Most common in sexually active persons. 96.67% cases were of age group between 16 and 45
years and least common in children (no case recorded).
Table 2: Age profile
Age Number of patients
00-15 years 00 (00.00%)
16-30 years 98 (46.67%)
31-45 years 105 (50.00%)
46-60 years 07 ( 03.33%)
Marital status: 70% cases were married while 30% cases were unmarried
Aetiological factors: 70% cases had history of exposure to unsafe sexual intercourse and urethritis was
found as cause of stricture. The incidence was followed by instrumental cause which was 16.67%
(Incidences shown in table 3).
Sr. No. Aetiological factors No. of patients

8. 01 History of exposure (post 147 (70.00%)
gonorrheal)
02 Instrumental (Indwelling 35 (16.67%)
catheter)
03 Traumatic (Rupture urethra) 21 (10.00%)
04 Post surgery (Renal calculi) 14 (06.67%)
05 Meatal ulcer 07 (03.33%)
06 Post meatectomy 07 (03.33%)
07 Post circumcision 07 (03.33%)
Prakruti: 83.33% cases were of vat-kapha prakruti and 16.66% of vata-pittaj prakruti
Site of stricture:
Membranous urethra – 119 (56.66%)
Junctional urethra – anterior and posterior – 56 (26.66%)
Prostratic part of urethra – 21 (10.00%)
Penile urethra – 14 (06.66%)
Recurrence: No recurrence was observed
Number of uttarbasti for complete relief –
Table 4: Number of uttarbasti required for complete relief

9. Number of uttarbasti Number of patients (%)
05 147 (70.00%)
07 56 (26.67%)
11 07 (03.33%)
Results and Discussion:
Effect of the subjective parameters has been shown in table 1. The age profile of the patients is shown
in table 2. Results observed in this study are encouraging, which are 100% as noted at the end of
maximum 11 uttarbasti (table 4). Pre and post procedural urethrography was carried out in all patients.
Findings of urethrography revealed increase in the caliber of urethral lumen. Pre and post procedural
urine flow rate was recorded. Pre procedural average urine flow rate was 30-50ml/10sec while after
completion it improved to 140-160ml/10sec. No post procedural complications, delayed complications
and adverse effects were observed.
Probable mode of action of Uttarbasti:
As per ayurveda-
Til tail possesses ushna, teekshna, sukshma, sara, vikasi, mrudukara, lekhan, vat-kaph prashamak,
krumighna and vranaropak qualities. It softens tissue, increases elasticity, penetrates up to deep tissue,
heals and promotes regeneration.
Saindhav lavan has chhedan, bhedan, margavishoshankara and shariravayav mrudukar qualities. So it
softens the fibrosed hypertrophied tissue and also increases the penetration of til tail. The saindhav acts
as sandhankar and anulomak for dosh and ultimately mutramarg vishodhan results.

10. Madhu possesses lekhan, vranashodhan, ropan, srotovishodhan, yogvahi, kshtkshayaghna property. It
is synergistic to til tail and saindhav lavan.
Thus the mixture acts as lekhan on local soft tissue and pacifies vat and kaph. By snehan it produces
mardavata in tissues.
Ultimately this results in not only healing and regeneration of urethral mucosa but increases the
elasticity of the urethral and periurethral tissues as well.
The mode of action of uttarbasti is irrespective of the site and the length of the stricture and the present
study confirms the curative role of uttarbasti in urethral stricture (mutramarg sankoch). It shows better
results as compare to present common techniques and could prove a blessing to the patients of urethral
stricture (mutramarg sankoch).
Acknowledgement:
The author is grateful to late Dr. V.S. Amravat for his enthusiastic inspiration throughout the whole
period of study he is also thankful to Dr. Sunil Kadam M.S. (Uro.), as without his guidance the work
would have remained incomplete.
References:
Ayurvedic classic by sushrut-1000 B.C. chikitsasthana-ch-1/110.

11. Ayurvedic classic by charaka-400 A.C. siddhisthana-ch-9/64.
Ayurvedic classic by Vagbhata-800 A.C. Sutrasthana ch-19/70
Ayurvedic classic by sushrut- 1000 B.C. sutrasthana-ch-45/132
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