The number of people contracting the swine flu virus is snowballing into a figure that is too large for comfort. The result deaths are a cause of bigger concern.
In less than 20 days after the first swine flu case was reported in the country, the virus has sniffed life out of more than 40 people.
The vaccine for the dreaded virus is likely to take a few more months; therefore the immediate refuge in sight for the government was ayurveda as these prescriptions can be pretty useful.
Realm of Vaata Kaphaja Jwara
The department of AYUSH, in an endeavor to quell the panic that has spread, urged people to go in for ayurveda and Unani and guard themselves from the influenza.
Such viral epidemics come under the “Vaata Kaphaja Jwara” category mentioned in Charak Samhita and other ancient ayurvedic texts.
The government said, “We had constituted an expert group to suggest AYUSH interventions useful in the prevention and treatment of flu-like disease. The group comprising ayurveda experts, physicians from government hospitals, private sector as well from research councils and the department of AYUSH has said viral epidemics come under ‘Vaata Kaphaja Jwara’.”
As a preventive measure, people have been asked to avoid Kapha provoking diet such as curd, cold food and drinks, fruit juices, fermented food and ice-cream. It is in the interest of the public that they drink hot water and shun cold water.
The clear benefits
Ayurveda experts recommend the use of decoction constituting one of more of the following constituents; tulsi, ginger, black pepper, long pepper and Guduchi. The intake of such a combination in the morning can prove wonderful.
Additionally, the government recommended ayurvedic medicines that make the host defense mechanism more robust. These medicines include Sudershanghana vati, Sudershana churna and Samshamani Vati.
Santanu Das, a visiting Reader in the department of Toxicology and Applied Medicine in SD Ayurvedic Medical College at Ranchi said, “Use of tulsi, haldi, neem, bhu-neem (andrographis) and guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) are the best applications to prevent the H1N1 virus.”
“As a precautionary measure anyone can take Sudarshan Phanta (Sudarshan Churna in boiled water to be taken like tea),” he added.
The department of AYUSH highlighted the benefits of ayurveda and Unani interventions but cautioned the public as well, "These can be adopted by healthy persons as well as those who have mild cold, cough and body pain. However, cases with severe symptoms develop they are advised to go to the designated screening centres for clinical diagnosis."
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