CHIKUNGUNYA : AN AYURVEDIC APPROACH

*Dr. Anurag Dikshit                                                                                                ** Dr Supriya

Chikungunya, a debilitating but non fatal chikungunya viral illness, spreads by the bites of Aedes Egypti mosquito. Though the prime features of the illness is fever and severe arthralgia (Joint Pain) and are accompanied by chills and constitutional symptoms such as headache, photophobia, conjunctival infection, anorexia, nausea, and abdominal pain, Rash may appear at the outset or several days into the illness.

 

Though the fever subsides early, arthritis is one of the persistent symptoms of the disease. Migratory polyarthritis mainly affecting the small joints of the hands, wrists, ankles, and feet, with lesser involvement of the larger joints are encountered.

Epidemic of chikungunya was seen in 2007-08 in the state of Kerala and Karnataka, affecting nearly 20 lakh people. Ayurveda was then proved to be an effective therapy for the successful management of Chikungunya.

In acute phase (2-3 days), sudden onset of fever to 39-40°C Chills headache, nausea, vomiting, joint pain with or without swelling, low back ache, rash, remittance of fever in 1-2 days are seen.

In this stage, effective management by use of Ayurvedic medicine like: Sudarshan Choorna, Amrutarishta, punanavasava, Amruthothatharam Kashayam, Godanti Bhasma, Visamjwarantak Lauha are given for fever and pain.

For Nausea and Vomiting, Bilwadi Gulika, Bilwadi leham Dhanwantaram gulika, Guduchi kanda kwath, trishun tab, bhoonimba swaras, tender coconut water etc are given.

In late Phase, Post fever arthralgia, symptoms are polyarticular, migratory arthritis affecting small joints of hand and wrist etc, pain on movement which worsen in early morning but improve by mild exercise and exacerbate by strenuous exercise, generalized muscular pain, swelling of feet etc are seen.

In this stage, Dashmoola Kashayam, Yogaraja Guggulu, Indukantam Kashayam, Karpooradi Tailam (Local Application), decoction of Guduchi, sunthi, tulasi, haridra are to be given for polyarthralgia with no or minimal inflammation, panchakarma therapies like, upanaha Sweda, Dhanyamla Dhara, nadiswedanam are used to cure the disease.

 

In case of Rashes, restlessness etc, Punarnavadi Kashayam, Chandraprabha vati, Lepa application by Upanaha or Ellumnishadi Choorna is to be applied.

In case of swelling of legs, feet, wrist joint, gulguluthiktakam Kashayam, Varnadi Kashayam, rasana saptakam Kashayam, Gokshuradi Guggula, Simhanada Guggulu etc are to be given along with panchakarma treatment of Dhanyamala Dhara, Naadi Swedanam, Valooka Swedanam.

Diet:

1. Light food like, kanji, yoosha of mudga, kulatha.
2. Vegetables should be prepared in less oil, non spicy, like carrot, lauki, beans, small fished, bread, karela, torai.
3. Drinking water made from the phanta of Sunthi, pepper, dhanya, tulasi.

Don’s:

1. Leafy vegetables, kala chana, curd, banana, sour substances, meat, heavy foods, oily foods.

Prevention

Ayurveda described such diseases under Janpadodhwansa.

1. Increase of Immunity can control such disease, the medication are: Sudarshana Choorna, Guduchi, Tulsi, Chyavanaprash, Bilwadi Gulika etc

2.      Mosquito Eradication:-  Application of Neem oil; bath with neem and soap; Spray of Garlic Juice; Smoking with Mustard, neem leaves and saindha namaka or Guggul, neem leaves, ghee. Chikungunya is one more reason (in addition to dengue and yellow fever) that A. aegypti must be controlled.

3.      Body should be covered by cloths as mosquito in species responsible for the disease bites in day time.

Investigation

1. Complete Blood Count
2. Viral Assay
3. ASLO, RA, TSH, LFT

Word of Caution

Medication indicated above should be taken only under the guidance of Medical Practitioner.

Ayurvedicremedies Lucknow; U.P.; India, Mob: +919415335166

Web: www.ayurvedicremedies.org ; email: drji@ayurvedicremedies.org