LOBELIA NICOTIANAEFOLIA- HEYNE A FOLK MEDICINE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF TONSILLITIS (TUNDIKERI): A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Inflammation of tonsils is called tonsillitis and is a highly prevalent in children of age 5 to 10 years and young adult between 15 and 25 years. In ayurveda, tundikeri has been mentioned with features of sthoolashotha (large swelling), toda (pricking type of pain), daha (burning sensation), prapaki (tend to undergo suppuration), avarodha (creates obstruction in throat for respiration and deglutition) and karapasaphala (cotton fruit) similar like swelling in throat. These features can be correlated with tonsillitis which is characterised by pain in throat, difficulty in swallowing, fever etc. Medical management of tonsillitis includes antibiotics, painkiller, corticosteroid and surgical removal of tonsils if not responding to medical management. But these approaches have their own limitations and lacunas such as drug resistance, reduced immunity, high cost etc. The drug Lobelia nicotianaefolia- Heyne is not explained in classics. The drug is acclaimed to be beneficial in Tundikeri by folk practinationers in certain parts of Karnataka. In present study, a 32 year old female patient presenting with the clinical feature of chronic tonsillitis visited department of ShalakyaTantra, AIIA, New Delhi. The drug administered was Lobelia nicotianaefolia along with classical medicines i.e. Dashamula kwatha, Amritarista and Khadhiradi vati. The condition of the patient was improved markedly.