Abstract

A CLINICAL TRIAL TO ASSESS THE EFFICACY OF HERBAL NEUTRACEUTICALS (WLTH ENERGY FLOW) IN DELIVERING THE PHYSICAL ENERGY

*Dr. Shyam Prasad M., Dr. Ambili Aravind, Bridreth Khokhare, Dr. A. Madhavan, Arshia Pasricha

Abstract

The pursuit of innocuous and effective strategies to enhance physical energy and overall vitality has led to increasing interest in herbal nutraceuticals. The term neutraceuticals was coined from ―nutrition‖ and ―pharmaceutical‖ by Stephen Defelice MD, founder and chairman of the foundation for innovation in medicine (FIM) Cranford, New Jersey, in 1989.[1] According to Defelice ―nutraceuticals are food or part of a food that provides medical or health benefits including the prevention and/or treatment of a disease.‖[2] These plant-based supplements are believed to offer physiological benefits beyond basic nutrition, often drawing on traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda. Despite their widespread use, rigorous scientific validation regarding their efficacy remains limited. There is no uniform, generally accepted definition of fatigue. In one proposed definition of fatigue, it is described as a symptom that cannot be relieved by the usual strategies of restoring energy, and that impairs, to a variable degree, the individual’s ability to carry out his or her usual daily activities.[3] These usual strategies include taking more time to rest and sleep, and reducing or eliminating potential sources of excessive stress. Patients describe fatigue as listlessness, lack of energy, exhaustion, tiredness, early fatigability, sleepiness, a tendency to fall asleep during the day, physical weakness or a feeling of running on empty.[4] Physical fatigue, whether related to lifestyle, occupational demands, or suboptimal health, can significantly impair daily functioning and quality of life even among otherwise healthy individuals. As consumers increasingly seek natural alternatives to synthetic stimulants, it becomes imperative to substantiate & validate the claims surrounding herbal formulations with robust clinical evidence. Even those who have active lifestyles like athletes, personal trainers, policemen, fire-fighters etc need to improve their endurance and recovery at a faster rate for which they are on a constant search for a high yielding supplement. This randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a standardized herbal nutraceutical in improving physical energy among healthy adult volunteers. By using objective and subjective outcome measures, this study aims to contribute to the scientific understanding of how such formulations can support energy metabolism and physical performance in general populations. The current study was registered in the CTRI and was done after getting the ethical clearance from the concerned authority. WLTH Energy Flow contains herbal extracts sourced from various parts of the globe. The ingredients are -: Peppermint Leaf Extract [Mentha piperita], Ashwagandha Extract [Withania somnifera], Licorice Extract [Glycyrrhiza glabra], Panax Ginseng [Panax ginseng], Mucuna Pruriens Extract [Mucuna pruriens], Tulsi Leaf Extract [Ocimum sanctum or Ocimum tenuiflorum], Schisandra Berry Powder [Schisandra chinensis], Eleuthero Extract [Eleutherococcus senticosus], Green Tea Extract [Camellia sinensis], Piperine Extract [Piper nigrum] & Curcumin Extract [Curcuma longa].

Keywords: .