Trikatu
powder
for common
cold
Common cold or coryza is a common respiratory
problem caused by a variety of viral infections; commonest among them
is the influenza virus and its variants. Individuals show
considerable variation in susceptibility and environmental exposure
is a contributory factor.
The word “cold” is a catch-all term that
describes symptoms such
as
sneezing,
wet nose,
running
nose,
scratchy
throat,
heaviness in head, body ache, headache,
indigestion, nausea, stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhoea and
fever.
Frequent
attacks of cold are a reflection of a temporary dip in immunity
that is
most often
caused by
insufficient
rest; too
many rich
foods, stress
and
exposure to
cold and
dampness
can also
precipitate its occurrence. Frequent
colds can make the individual vulnerable to secondary lower
respiratory tract infections. Early and consistent attention,
along with
adequate
time for
convalescence,
keeps all
colds from becoming
problematic.
Trikatu is
a simple herbal preparation with which common cold can be managed
successfully taking prescribed
precautions:
- Patients suffering from common cold should prevent direct exposure to cold wind, intake of heavy meals, drinking of cold water, suppression of natural urges of stools, urine and flatus, sleeping on the floor and during daytime.
- Light meals with spicy, sour and salty taste, curd, garlic, frequent drinking of warm water, fresh radish, brinjal (eggplant), and hot soup of green gram are helpful in common cold.
- Covering head with cap or any warm cloth, steam bath, head massage, gargles with warm water and avoidance of anger facilitate recovery from the common cold.
Trikatu
powder
Trikatu
powder
is a
simple
formulation
made by
mixing fine
powders of
three commonly used herbal drugs in equal quantity namely dry ginger
(Shunthi),
black pepper (Maricha)
and long pepper (Pippali).
Trikatu,
literally means ‘three pungents,’
because all
the three ingredients
are predominantly of pungent taste. All the three are spices used
commonly in the kitchen and traded widely from India since ancient
times.
Composition
Trikatu
powder
consists of fine powder of three pungent drugs viz. Shunthi,
Maricha and
Pippali
in
equal proportion. Shunthi
is
the dried rhizome of ginger.
Maricha
is
the dried fruit of black pepper and Pippali
is
the dried fruit of long
pepper.
Name
|
English
Name
|
Latin
Name
|
Family
|
Part
used
|
Shunthi
|
Dry
ginger
|
Zingiber
officinale
Rose.
|
Zingiberaceae
|
Rhizome
|
Maricha
|
Black
pepper
|
Piper
nigrum
Linn.
|
Piperaceae
|
Fruit
|
Pippali
|
Long
pepper
|
Piper
longum
Linn.
|
Piperaceae
|
Fruit
|
Main
chemical constituents of Shunthi1:
Essential oil, pungent constituents (gingerol and shogoal), resinous
matter and
starch.
Main
chemical constituents of Maricha2:
Alkaloids (piperine, chavicine, piperidine and piplartine) and
essential
oil.
Main
chemical
constituents
of
Pippali3:
Essential
oil
and
alkaloids
(piperine, sesamin and
piplartine).
Quality standards
Ingredients
|
Total
ash
|
Water
soluble
ash
|
Alcohol/
ethanol soluble extractive
|
Water
soluble extractive
|
Foreign
matter
|
Shunthi4
|
Not
more than
6%
|
Not
more than 1.7%
|
Not
less than 4.5%
|
Not
less than 10%
|
Not
more than
2%
|
Maricha5
|
Not
more than
6%
|
Not
more than 1% (acid soluble
ash)
|
-
|
-
|
Not
more than
2%
|
Pippali6
|
Not
more than
5%
|
Not
more than 6% (acid soluble
ash)
|
Not
less than 12%
|
Not
less than
11%
|
Not
more than
2%
|
Method
of
preparation
- Take 50 grams of each of the three ingredients, dry them further to remove the moisture for easy powdering.
- Take an equal quantity of each drug of Trikatu and mix well in a dry container.
- Grind the mixture in a grinder or pulverizer till fine powder is obtained.
- Sieve the powder through 85 size mesh to remove the coarse fibers and other particles if any.
- Keep Trikatu powder in an air-tight dry container of glass or food grade plastic; store in a dry cool place away from direct sunlight. It is good to use the powder within one year.
Dosage
form: Blackish-brown
fine
powder.
Therapeutic
properties:
Anti-inflammatory,
analgesic,
expectorant,
digestive,
carminative.
Dose and mode of administration
Adult dose of Trikatu
is 2 grams given three times a day
preferably with warm milk or water or honey.
In children the dose may be reduced
according to the age and can be given in a dose of 125 mg to 500 mg
thrice a day. Another
way is – add Trikatu powder
to one cup of milk, boil it for a few minutes and take it
warm.
Indications and uses
Trikatu
is
used in combination with honey to alleviate diseases such as colds,
rhinitis, cough, breathlessness, asthma, dyspepsia and obesity7.
It also improves the digestive
power.
Precautions
and safety
aspects
- No side effect or toxic effect of Trikatu has been mentioned
in
the classical literature. Clinical studies have also shown no adverse
effects in patients treated with recommended dose of Trikatu
powder
alone as well as in combination with other herbal
preparations.
- Since Trikatu powder is hot in nature, large dose should be
avoided
as the patient may complain of burning sensation, burning
micturition, etc. In such conditions, the use should be stopped
immediately
and
the
patient
should
be
advised
to
take
cooling agents and milk in plenty till the complaints subside
completely.
- Take simple diet with warm, light, soft and liquid foods. Avoid cold drinks, cold juices, ice cream, spicy, oily and too dry foodstuff. Stay in a warm and well ventilated room.
- Warm saline gargles, steam inhalation and fomentation help in relieving cold symptoms.
- Medication with Trikatu is not advisable for pregnant women. However, it is safe for the baby if a nursing mother is taking this medication.
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