Tulasi Himalaya Ensures rapid control of URT disorders Ensures rapid control of URT disorders Relieve cough and cold with... TulasiHimalaya (SYRUP, TABLET) Indications • Upper respiratory tract disorders • Productive and dry cough • Recurrent respiratory infections • As a supportive therapy for chronic lung diseases: – Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – Asthma and bronchitis Ocimum sanctum | Holy Basil Each tablet contains 250 mg extract of Tulasi leaf. Each 5 ml of syrup contains 112 mg extract of Tulasi aerial part. Delicious Honey Flavor Dosage Tablet: 2 tablets twice daily. Syrup: Children: 5 ml (1 teaspoonful) twice daily. Adults: 10 ml (2 teaspoonsful) twice daily. Available in 60s and 200 ml ® Regd. Trademark Medical Nutrition Therapy Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is an age-old concept that finds a place of pride in Ayurveda. In a discussion on the origin of man and the pathogenesis of diseases, Acharya Atreya felt that there is no point in confrontational debate regarding the etiopathogenesis or management of disease.Rather, he felt that aunified theory involving nutrition aswell as other aspects of healthwould serve the purpose of medicine in a better way. Acharya Atreya suggested a unifying concept in Charaka Samhita (Sutrasthana, Ch XXV, v.31): wholesome food promotes growth, while unwholesome food is the cause of diseases. This, perhaps, is the first mention of nutritional theory of diseases as well as the therapeutic role of MNT. The fact that this predates Hippocrates by tens of centuries is a topic for another day. Ayurveda understands the dynamic and personcentered nature of MNT. Apart from the specific food TULASI Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Ocimum Species: sanctum Linn English name: Holy Basil Sanskrit name: Tulasi Morphology and Habitat Ocimum sanctum L is an aromatic herb that grows across India and other countries such as Australia, West Africa, Malaysia, and a few Arab countries.1 It is a branched subshrub that grows 30 to 60 cm tall with hairy stems and purple– red flowers. The leaves are petiolate, ovate, and slightly serrated.1,2 Principal Constituents The main phytoconstituents are methyl eugenol, β-caryophyllene, (E)-caryophyllene, eugenol, β-elemene, methyl chavicol, and linalool.3 Pharmacological Actions O sanctum exerts therapeutic effects through its antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antiallergic, immunomodulatory, antiasthmatic, antitussive, diaphoretic, antistress, antiemetic, antispasmodic, antidiabetic, and antihypercholesterolemic properties.4 In an experimental study, the methanol extract of O sanctum inhibited acute inflammatory reaction by reducing pedal edema induced by carrageenan. The aqueous suspension also reduced the croton oil–induced granuloma and exudate, indicating inhibition of chronic inflammation. This study also showed its analgesic and antipyretic effects.5 O sanctum L seed oil has been shown to lower lipid peroxidation and increase reduced glutathione levels.6 In a randomized controlled trial, ethanolic extracts of leaves of O sanctum were administered to 22 healthy volunteers. A statistically significant increase in interferon-γ (P = .039) and interleukin-4 (P = .001) levels along with an increase in the percentages of T-helper cells (P = .001) and natural killer cells (P = .017) was seen after 4 weeks of the treatment, which indicates its immunomodulatory effect.7 The bronchodilatory activity of O sanctum capsules (200 mg) was examined in 41 patients with mild-to-moderate asthma, and its efficacy was compared with that of 2 mg salbutamol tablets for 1 week with a washout period of 1 week between the treatment with the 2 drugs. Treatment with O sanctum significantly improved lung function and symptoms.8 References 1. Verma S. J Phytopharmacol. 2016;5(5):205–207. 2. Bast F, et al. Sci World J. 2014;2014:847482. 3. Joshi RK. J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 2017;6(2):261–264. 4. Cohen MM. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2014;5(4):251–259. 5. Godhwani S, et al. J Ethnopharmacol. 1987;21(2):153–163. 6. Gupta S, et al. Indian J Exp Biol. 2006;44:300–304. 7. Mondal S, et al. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011;136(3):452–456. 8. Vinaya M, et al. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2017;6(3):511–517. item, its quantity, time of consumption, method of preparation, and place of consumption also matter. At the same time, diet should be chosen according to the individual’s constitution (body), pathology (pathophysiology), and condition (medical status). Understanding the intricacies of nutrition has always been a challenge as Agnivesa (Sutrasthana, v.34) says: “Sir, but the instruction (imparted) in this way would not be understood by the majority of the physicians.” Acharya Atreya replies (v.35) that an understanding of nutrition will help in understanding of medicine as well. This reminds modern physicians of the need to be well-versed with the science of diet and nutrition. In today’s scenario, nutrition forms the basis of metabolic syndrome, a confounding factor in its presentation, and a contributor to the comorbidities and complications. Nutritional therapy is necessary to care for persons with metabolic syndrome and has the potential to cure some aspects of it. The wide spectrum of malnutrition also has to be understood: protein– energy malnutrition, overweight/obesity, and hidden hunger (vitamin/mineral deficiency) are equally significant. Each individual is unique, and MNT must be crafted to suit the person’s needs and requirements. MNT is complex too: Acharya Atreya lists 152 means of alleviating disease, which include foods, beverages, thoughts, and behaviors (v.41). He also teaches how to choose person-centric MNT and explains the possibility of food–drug and food–food interactions. Alloveda shall continue to explore the age-old wisdom of Ayurveda and highlight its relevance to modern medicine. Dr Madhur Verma Department of Community/Family Medicine All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bathinda, Punjab, India
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