Experiential documentation of Trimad for its anti-obesity potential: A survey of Ayurvedic physicians from Pune city

BACKGROUND: Trimad is an Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation consisting of tubers of Mustaka (Cyperus rotundus), fruits of Vidanga (Embelia ribes) and roots of Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica). It is recommended in Ayurveda for the management of obesity. However, there is no documented evidence about its safety and efficacy. Hence, as a first step, we carried out a survey to find out its usage by Ayurvedic physicians and their personal clinical experiences while using the formulation. METHODOLOGY: A questionnaire was designed which included questions regarding the usage, dosage, formulation, safety and tolerability of Trimad. After obtaining Ethics Committee permission, the questionnaire was administered to 86 physicians. Out of 86, the data obtained from 70 physicians who filled the complete information, was analyzed. The data are presented as percentages. RESULTS: Sixty seven percentage physicians were found to use Trimad for management of obesity. The commonly used form of Trimad was churna administered along with luke warm water as an adjuvant. The criteria for selection of drug informed by the physicians were Ayurvedic signs & symptoms followed by conventional anthropometry. The average efficacy rating for Trimad on scale of 1–10 was found to be 5. CONCLUSION: The survey revealed that Trimad is being used by large number of Ayurvedic physicians for the management of obesity.