Ayurvedic management of Allergic rhinitis with Shirisha avaleha and Anu taila pratimarsha nasya: A case report

Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated disease of the nasal mucosa which is triggered by the inhalation of seasonal or perennial allergens. It is characterized by watery nasal discharge, sneezing, and itching in the nose. A 27-year-old male patient came to the Shalakya tantra outpatient department with complaints of excessive sneezing, runny nose, headache, and nasal blockage for the last two years. He also complained of itching in the eyes, nose, and palate. The screening was done using the Score for Allergic Rhinitis (SFAR) questionnaire, which was 14 (positive AR) before treatment. The patient was prescribed with Anu taila pratimarsha nasya (~low-dose medication through the nasal route) along with oral administration of Shirisha avaleha for four weeks. The patient showed marked relief in symptoms of AR along with an improvement in IgE level from 334 IU/mL to 42.2 IU/mL. The SFAR score was reduced to 4 after management. The nasal smear microscopic examination was negative after four weeks of treatment, which was positive before treatment. There was no recurrence during a follow-up of four weeks. The treatment reveals that Ayurvedic interventions are effective in the management of ARs quite efficiently.