Expectorant

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.

Joshanda, a polyherbal Unani (Greco-arab) formulation comprising seven herbs is extensively used in the treatment of upper and lower respiratory catarrh. The word “Joshanda” is derived from two words i.e. "Joshanidan” which means boiling and “Andah” which means “prepared by” thus Joshanda meaning, “prepared by boiling” (Vohora, 1986). Decoction of Joshanda mixture is prepared extemporaneously by boiling it for a substantial length of time.