CLINICAL EVALUATION OF OPUNTIA ELATIOR MILL. (NAGAPHANI) FRUIT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PANDU WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO GERIATRIC ANAEMIA

摘要

Anaemia is one of the very common dietary deficiency diseases characterized by reduction of red blood corpuscles and haemoglobin in the blood. Prevalence of geriatric anaemia is on increase in India (17.7–89%). Among traditional systems, Ayurveda mentions a disease condition named ‘Pandu’ which has a close resemblance to anaemia. Fruits of Opuntia elatior (Nagaphani) are being used by the local people of Gujarat, irrespective of age to combat anaemia and general debility irrespective of age. There is a need to validate this traditional practice to manage anaemia. The present open label clinical study was carried out on 31 patients of geriatric population diagnosed with Pandu. The patients were administered with fruit juice of O. elatior in a dose of 20 ml twice daily before meals for 30 days. The test drug was found effective in the management of Pandu by significantly relieving the cardinal symptoms of Pandu like Bhrama (giddiness), Panduta (pallor), Shwasa (dyspnoea on exertion), Daurbalya (weakness) and Pindikodwesthana (cramps in calf muscles). Statistically significant increase in Hb% level of these patients was also reported.