Ayurveda alleviates post-9/11 symptoms

50 participants benefited from ayurvedic herbal supplements in a study on stress relief among rescuers, workers and volunteers from the World Trade Center attacks, according to a report in the February 2008 issue of the peer-reviewed medical journalAlternative Therapies in Health and Medicine.

US researchers conducted an in-treatment, web-based survey with 50 people from New York who had used ayurvedic herbs for post-9/11 symptoms, including respiratory distress, fatigue and depression. "Not feeling well," was the leading symptom for which respondents found Ayurvedic treatment extremely helpful, ranking it 4.3 on a Likert scale of 0-5. Difficulty breathing was rated second, at 4.19. Relief from cough, wheezing, concentration problems and sleeping difficulties was at very helpful levels (3.57-4.03).