MIST TONICA, A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE BLOOD TONIC
Mist Tonica, one of the several herbal remedies the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM) has produced, has been used as an effective treatment for anaemia and loss of appetite for over 30 years at CSRPM. Individuals and some hospital institutions have claims that this medicine is able to improve on appetite and enrich haemoglobin levels. Patients at Agogo Hospital who needed blood transfusion prior to surgery were given Mist Tonica. They experienced a rapid rise in their haemoglobin levels; so rapid were these that blood transfusions, in some cases, were no longer needed.
Also, it has been reported that some teenagers have been scolded at home because their appetites were so huge that food meant for their siblings had been consumed by them, after taken Mist Tonica. As a result of these reports on the effectiveness of Mist Tonica, the writer undertook a study as part of his M.Phil. programme to validate the claims.
The study was conducted at two institutions. The quality of Mist Tonica was evaluated at the Faculty of Pharmacy, KNUST, Kumasi whilst the clinical evaluation was carried out at the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital (SDA), Kwadaso, Kumasi.At the SDA Hospital, Mist Tonica was given to 45 volunteer patients with varying causes of anaemia, including cases of anaemia due to ruptured ectopic gestation, malaria and helminthes infestations, for a period of two weeks.
The results of the study were remarkable. Haemoglobin levels increased by a minimum of 1.6 g/dl and a maximum of 2.3 g/dl within the two week period. Some patients with haemoglobin as low as 4.9 g/dl experienced rapid rise to the level where they no longer needed transfusion. Most of the patients (88.9%) had an increased appetite for food. Unlike some orthodox medicines that are associated with typical epigastric pains, with Mist Tonica, only few patients experienced epigastric pains. Safety profiles monitored in the patients were within normal range.
Mist Tonica could be said to be an effective therapy for those with poor appetite. The study, however, suggests that diabetics who often, are on restricted diet, may use Mist Tonica with caution.
The present study did not include children and pregnant women. Plans are, therefore, to include these groups of the population in future studies.
(The writer is a Senior Medical Officer at the Centre)
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