EXPORT CITATION

Chapter-22 Adaptogens in High Altitude Stress Management

BOOK TITLE: Herbal Drugs: A Twenty First Century Perspective

Author
1. Kumar Ratan
2. Saggu Shalini
3. Gupta Vanita
4. Divekar HM
ISBN
9788180618505
DOI
10.5005/jp/books/10352_22
Edition
1/e
Publishing Year
2006
Pages
8
Author Affiliations
1. Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi-110 054, India
2. Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi-110 054, India
3. Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi-110054, India
4. Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi-110 054, India
Chapter keywords
Adaptogens, Hypoxia, Adaptogens in high altitude stress management, Prolonged stress, Chronic stress, CIHP II, Psycho-physiological deterioration, Hippophae rhamnoides, Rhodiola imbricata

Abstract

Prolonged and chronic stress due to high altitude environment lead to decreased performance and high altitude induced disorders. ‘Adaptogens’ are non-pharmacological natural herbal and mineral substances used for managing stress. An experimental cold (5°C)- hypoxia (428 mm Hg)- restraint (C-H-R) animal model was developed for evaluating adaptogens. Using this model various nutrients and single and composite Indian herbal preparations (CIHPs) were evaluated for their adaptogenic activity. CIHP II, a combination of several plant ingredients and minerals was found to be a strong anti-stress adaptogen. The efficacy of CIHP II, given to soldiers during their induction and stay at high altitude was studied. CIHP II administration, in men who stayed and worked in extreme altitudes (4800-6000 m) for three months, restricted psycho-physiological deterioration, improved indices of oxygen availability to the tissues and fastened recovery in physical performance on return to the plains in comparison to placebo group. A large-scale field trial of CIHP II was conducted on 2,000 clinically healthy male army volunteers, inducted to extreme altitude for three months. CIHP II administration resulted in decreased AMS symptoms during initial period of arrival at high altitude, in comparison to placebo group. In addition to CIHPs some of the plants growing at high altitude, viz. Hippophae rhamnoides and Rhodiola imbricata have been found to possess cytoprotection and anti-oxidative bioactivities which are essential characteristics of an adaptogen. The above studies have indicated that herbal adaptogens help in increasing the stress tolerance in adverse climatic conditions such as high altitude and cold.

Related Books

© 2019 Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.   |   All Rights Reserved