Management of Chikungunya According to Ayurveda

Nowadays Chikungunya is playing a havoc in many parts of India. Even though the disease is not fatal, it causes lot of mental and physical agony.

Chikungunya is caused by alpha viruses and transmitted by aedes aegypti, culex fatigans and mansonia mosquitoes." Chikungunya" is a African word meaning "doubling up" or " to bend over". This is because the person affected by this disease experiences excruciating pain in the whole body. These mosquitoes breed in fresh water getting collected in slums, used pots and coconut shells. These viruses spread among arthropods by bites of infected vector. These viruses are present in the intestines and salivary secretions of infected arthropods. They are more active in daytime.

The common symptoms seen in chikungunya are :

-Sudden onset of fever

-Severe myalgia, acute pain in small and big joints

-Severe headache, retro bulbar pain, redness of eyes

-Anorexia, tastelessness, vomiting, abdominal pain

-Rashes over skin with itching and desquamation.

The fever usually reduces in 4-5 days, but the body ache lasts for a week and may take months together to reduce. According to Ayurveda, the treatment used for treating Sannipata JwaraandAmavata are suitable for clinical features of chikungunya.

In each case treated, medicines are chosen selectively depending upon Prakriti, Vikriti of the particular patient.

The commonly used medications are: Godhanti, Guduchi Satwa, Mrithyunjaya Rasa, Tribhuvankirti Rasa, Amavatari Rasa, Hinguleshwar Rasa, Agnitundi Vati, Vishtinduk Vati, MahasudarshanKadha etc.

Incase of patient presenting with edema in either of the limbs, application of Dashanga Lepa,ShothangaLepa is very helpful.

Along with the above prescribed medications it is very much important that the person should be advised to take total bed rest so as to avoid the over use of joints and also strict diet has to be followed like avoiding spicy and oily food and stick to a vegetarian diet as far as possible. They are also advised to refrain from taking fruits.

Note: the above prescribed medications are to be taken under strict medical supervision.