Vol. 8, Issue - 1, Part A (2024)

Nazla, often referred to as common cold, acute viral rhinopharyngitis, nasopharyngitis, acute coryza, or just cold, is an upper respiratory tract viral infection that mostly affects the throat, nose, voice box and sinuses and is primarily caused by rhinoviruses and corona viruses. Nazla-o-Zukām is described in the literature of Unani medicine as a catarrhal fluid flow towards the throat and nose from the anterior ventricles of brain. At the Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine (CRIUM), Basaha, Lucknow, a clinical study was conducted from 2017 to 2019 to scientifically establish the safety as well as efficacy of the Unani pharmacopoeial formulation "Laooq-Khayar-Shambar" for the symptomatic relief of patients having Nazla (common cold). Eighty-four patients out of all the cases who registered for the study completed the trial. After a seven-day course of treatment, the symptoms of the disease, including Khushūna al-Halaq (sore throat), Buhha al-Sawt (hoarseness of voice), Utās (sneezing/nasal irritation), Rhinorrhoea/runny nose, Sudā (headache), Su‘āl (cough) and I‘yā (malaise) were found decreased 62.63%, 62.65%, 65.68%, 65.61%, 67.39%, 59.25% and 59.54% respectively as compared to the baseline. It was found that the variations between the values of the kidney function test (KFT) and liver function test (LFT) before and after the treatment were within normal limits. The experimental medication was found to be well-tolerated, and no adverse effects were observed during the trial. The results of the study validate "Laooq-Khayar-Shambar's" safety and efficacy in treatment of Nazla, or common cold.