Study on Ayurveda for pulmonary tuberculosis therapy

Pulmonary tuberculosis has been known in Ayurveda for thousands of years(Yakshma, Rajayakshma); Ayurvedic treatment was used in India until the mid-1990s. After the discovery of streptomycin and later other anti-tuberculosis drugs, allopathic medication became established. The recent resurgence of pulmonary tuberculosis in developed countries such as the USA posed a challenge due to resistant strains of the pathogen, prompting the WHO to turn to traditional medicine.

The aim of the clinical study conducted by seven experts from different universities in India was to reduce the toxicity of the antituberculosis drugs and promote the healing process by increasing the bioavailability of the active ingredients of the antituberculosis drugs through concomitant Ayurvedic medication.

99 pulmonary tuberculosis patients were treated with antituberculosis drugs and additional Ayurvedic remedies (especially Ashwagandha, Chyavanprash) for 28 days . Before and after treatment, the blood count, the bacterial count in saliva, the immunoglobulins IgA and IgM, blood sugar, liver functionality, serum creatinine as well as the isoniazid and pyrazinamide content in the blood were tested.

After treatment, symptoms had decreased, body weight had normalized, erythrocyte sedimentation rates were normal; there was a notable change in IgA and IgM levels and a significantly increased bioavailability of isoniazid and pyrazinamide.