Effect of the Sampurna Hriday Shuddhikaran (SHS) Model in Heart Failure Patients in India: A Prospective Study

Background and Objectives: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an increasingly widespread, costly and deadly disease, frequently named as an epidemic of the 21st century. Herbal treatments may provide promising & beneficial treatment for heart failure. But unfortunately there is no promising report that shows herbal treatment is effective treatment for chronic heart failure. In that context we planned present study. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of the herbal procedure Sampurna Hriday Shuddhikaran (SHS) model in improving the left ventricular (LV) structure & function and exercise tolerance capacity in patients with heart failure.
Methods: 133 patients (107 male & 26 Female) were selected for study. A prospective interventional study with novel noninvasive intervention SHS consist of the 4 pronged interventions of Snehan, Swedan, Hrid Dhara and Basti was used in each patient who received twice daily sessions of 90 mins each for 6 consecutive days. Preintervention 2 D echo & 6 minute walk test in meters were done on first day of admission. Postintervention 2 D echo & 6 MWT were done after 30 days and 6 days respectively.
Results: Preintervention mean Ejection fractions was 39 ±, 14.6 & after intervention ejection fraction was 45 ±13.6. This difference was found to be highly significant (p<0.001). Preintervention Interventricular septum (IVS) was 9.2 ±2.8 & Post intervention IVS was 9.7 ±3 (p<0.05). Preintervention mean of 6 MWT in meters was 395 ±93.3 & after intervention 510 ±123.3 found to be highly significant (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Herbal treatment procedure SHS is associated with improvements in ejection fraction, myocardial thickness and exercise tolerance.