A comparative clinical study to evaluate the efficacy of Abhay lehya and sitopaladi lehya in the management of pratishyaya in children

Respiratory diseases are quiet common especially in pediatric population. There are innumerable factors either exogenous or endogenous responsible for respiratory disease in children. In Modern science the common cold also known simply as a cold, is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract (URTI). Among these different diseases Pratishyaya (Rhinitis) is highly prevalent in all seasons especially in children. According to Ayurveda “pratishanam shyayate iti pratishyayas†it means continuous outward movement of doshathough nostrils*.* Because of dushti of doshas patient having complaints like, Nasasrava, Nasavarodha, Kshavathu, Shirashoola, Netrasrava and Netralalima etc. In most of instances change of season or exposure to the causative factors are the responsible etiological factors in the pathogenesis of Pratishyaya.

Abhay ghrita is an Ayurvedic medicine that has been described in Kashyap Samhita chikitsasthan, pratishyayeadhyaye composing of Bhrahmi, Sasharp, Kushtha, Sariva, Vacha & Pippali. In Ashtanga Hridaya the grita having same ingredients has been mentioned by  the name of Bhrahmyadi Ghrita. Considering the difficulty in the administration of ghrita due to less palatability, same ingredients will be modified into Lehya form.

According to classical reference as well as the experience of use of drug by different Ayurveda practitioner; Sitopaldi Churna explained in Charaka Samhita has good result in treating Pratishyaya. Considering the palatability, changing the form may make it easy to administer Sitopaldi Churnaa as Sitopaldi Avaleha in children. In this study Pratishyaya has been treated with division of two groups providing 1st group with Sitopaladi Avaleha & 2nd group with Abhay Avaleha .