Ayurveda primarily aims at maintenance of health and secondly at the cure of diseases.it narrates the lifestyle in terms of healthy food,healthy surroundings,proper behavioral regimen & code of conduct for an individual and a society. Traditional Indian systems of medicine such as Ayurveda should be explored for their potential role in improving host immunity and reducing severity of the infection.
According to Ayurveda classics,the term Janapadodhwamsa (epidemic diseases)has been used to describe epidemics/pandemics which manifest due to polluted Vayu,Bhumi,Jala & Kala.These are considered to be a result of Prajnaparadha & Adharma. Ayurveda classics have described the concept of Sukshma krimi/Bhuta(organisms invisible to the naked eye). The term Bhutabhishanga (exogenous cause)has been used to describe diseases caused by them. Fever due to Bhutabishanga is similar to the conditions explained during the epidemics /pandemic.
In the Ayurvedic context of epidemic diseases,terms such as samsargaja & upasargaja have been used to indicate transmission from infected to the healthy through contact including exhaled air.Susruta has also described a condition that mimics all symptoms of an influenza like illness such as the current covid 19.
Jwara( fever),swasa(difficulty in breathing),kasa(cough),shiroruk(headache),pratisyaya(common cold),Gandhajnana( anosmia),Brama(giddiness) & vamathu(vomiting).
Clinical symptoms from heavily affected places of COVID -19 suggests that 98% had mild to moderate fever(Jwara) , 76% had cough (kasa) & 44% had myalgia (angamarda) & fatigue(tandra).
Considering these factors COVID 19 can be considered as a kapha-vata samsargaja jwara( a febrile condition with predominance of kapha & vata) with pitta association in the initial stages.At advanced stages it acquires the status of sannipataja jwara ( a febrile condition with predominance of all tridosha(vata, pitta & kapha) which has been described in Ayurveda as difficult to cure.
Natural herbs like Guduchi,Kalmegh,Shunti,Tulsi,Yashtimadhu,turmeric & Aswagandha acts as strong immune modulator to build deeper long lasting immune power in the body & eventually protecting us from any viral infections, relief from frequent cough,cold,allergies & will surely help us in these tough times.
To boost one’s immune system,one can follow this home remedy:
- 3 glasses of water
- Pomegranate peel _1 whole
- Fresh ginger_ 1 inch
- Fresh turmeric – 1 inch
- Fresh Basil leaves/Tulsi-10 leaves
- Guduchi powder-1 tsp
Stir it well,boil for 5 to 10 min.strain out the ingredients and let it cool down.
Hindi
Gujarati