Effect of ayurvedic interventions in the management of allergic rhinitis - An open label multi-centre single arm clinical study

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND: The symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis,resemble the clinical presentation of Vataja Pratishyaya, a type of Pratishyaya, narrated in the Ayurveda classical texts. An exploratory clinical study was planned to assess the the safety and potential effect of a combination therapy of Ayurveda interventions, viz., Ayush VPR (a coded Ayurvedic formulation), Shirishadi Kwath (Anubhoota Yoga), and Nasya (intranasal drug administration) with Anutaila. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was an open-label, multicenter, prospective clinical study with pre-test and post-test design. Sixty participants aged between 18 and 65 years with the symptoms of AR were enrolled in the study as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The interventions given to the participants were Ayush VPR (3.5 g) powder, twice a day with honey and ghee after food, Shirishadi Kwath (20 ml) twice a day, orally on an empty stomach, and Anutaila Nasya (intranasal drug administration) for 7 days for two consecutive cycles with an interval of 7 days. The participants were assessed weekly for a total duration of 28 days. This was followed by a 28-day follow-up period, with assessments conducted at intervals of 14 days. The primary outcome was change in the CARAT (Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test) score. RESULTS: Data of 60 participants were used for analysis. The mean age of participants was 35.8 ± 12.12., and the proportion of males and females were comparable with 51.7% females among the total participants. The mean CARAT score improved from baseline to the subsequent follow-ups at 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days. A significant improvement in the mean total CARAT score (P < 0.001) was observed after the 28th day of treatment and also at the end of the 56th day in comparison to baseline. CONCLUSION: The Ayurvedic formulations, Shirishadi Kwath, Ayush VPR, and Anutaila, are safe and significantly reduce rhinorrhea, nasal itching, sneezing fits, nasal congestion, and nasal obstruction. The present study reveals that the Ayurvedic treatment provided highly significant relief from AR.