European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF OSIMUM SANCTUM (HOLY BASIL) OIL ADMINISTRATION IN PATIENTS WITH ALLERGIC RHINITIS

Ruchika Sharma (BNYS)*, Shashikiran H.C. (BNYS, MD), Prashanth Shetty (BNYS, Msc, Phd), Shrikrishan Sharma (ND, MD, PhD)

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: Naturopathy being a drugless system of medicine is practiced since ancient times and is being recognized as a cost effective and evidence-based medicine by providing its efficacy in alleviating various ailments. Administration of basil oil therapy is a part of naturopathy-based intervention and is being practiced since long time as a home remedy for allergic rhinitis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of administration of basil oil in patients with allergic rhinitis. Materials and Method: A total 120 Subjects who were having allergic rhinitis were recruited for the study. Subjects who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were apprised about the purpose of the study and their rights as a research subject. The subjects will be taken from in-patient of Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Yoga & Nature Cure Hospital, Shantivana, and Ujire. 160 participants were screened from the population, among which 120 participants met the inclusion criteria and were selected for the study.60 patients each were included across two groups i.e., group one received administration of mixture of 5 type of basil oil called panch tulsi oil treatment for case group and group two being control group received no treatment. Assessments were made on the two groups immediately after 10 minutes of oil administration. The assessment tools included were 22-item Sino nasal outcome test (SNOT -22), Quality of life. Results: On comparing the outcome measures of the two groups, collected for baseline, a significant reduction in the symptoms in experimental group compared to control group. And it is highly significant in reduction of symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Conclusion: Results say on comparing the outcome measures of the two groups, a significant reduction in allergic rhinitis is shown in experimental group compared to control group. Thus, administration of basil oil directly into the nostrils for allergic rhinitis was found to be very effective in patients suffering from allergic rhinitis by reducing the nasal obstruction, fullness, sneezing, cough, facial pain pressure, nasal congestion, and improvement in the quality of sleep.

Keywords: Osimum sanctum, Basil oil, allergic rhinitis, Sino nasal symptoms; Sino- nasal outcome Test- 22 questionnaire, quality of life.