What folk medicine says: In Ayurvedic practice, tinospora is classified as a rasayana herb (rasayanameans “circulation of the nutrient” in Sanskrit). These herbs are said to enhance longevity, promote intelligence, and prevent disease. What we know: In 2004, a lab study conducted at Miami Children’s Hospital showed that tinospora contains a special polysaccharide, or carbohydrate, that triggers activity of macrophages, the white blood cells that play a key role in immunity. What new research shows: Scientists at Indira Gandhi Medical College in Nagpur, India, recently investigated 71 people with allergic rhinitis—hay fever. Participants took 300 mg of tinospora or a placebo three times a day for 8 weeks and recorded how much sneezing, nasal discharge, itchiness, and congestion they experienced. By the end of the study, 83% of the tinospora group had stopped sneezing, and more than two-thirds said their noses had stopped running or cleared completely; 71% said their noses were no longer itchy. In the placebo group, just 11% reported less sneezing. Sinuses had cleared in 17%, and only 12% recorded itch-free sniffers. Pre- and postresearch blood tests and nasal swabs confirmed that allergic response had calmed in those taking tinospora. What to take: Researchers used the supplement Tinofend (300 mg, three times a day). Visit www.balanceayurvedic.com for more information. More from Prevention: 4 Hidden Allergy-Related Problems
