Ayurvedic Cure For Chikungunya

Introdutionof the severe symptoms of the condition.
Chikungunya has become the biggest scare in theAyurvedic Treatment for Chikungunya
world currently. After the epidemics of dengueThe fever of chikungunya normally comes back
and SARS, now chikungunya has grabbed theto normal within two to three days, but the other
attention of people of the world. In some parts ofsymptoms persist for over a week or more. The
the world, chikungunya is also called as Chickenfever is quite different from normal fever since it
Guinea, though this is a misnomer as chikungunyais accompanied by chills and feelings of nausea and
has nothing to do with chicken. Chicken Guinea isvomiting.
just an Anglicization of the word chikungunya.There is no drug prescribed for chikungunya from
The word chikungunya is etymologically rooted inthe World Health Organization until now. Doctors
the Makonde language of Tanzania, where itare using aspirin, ibuprofen, combiflam,
means 'that which bends up'. This name isparacetamol, etc. to reduce the pains and the
because of the painful symptoms which cause thefever, but there is no universally acceptable
patient's joints to curve in an upwards position.treatment in allopathic medicine yet. Some people
The origins of chikungunya can be traced to 1952are benefited by some medication, while others
in central Africa from where it has becomeare not. Some chikungunya people get healed on
rampant in Asia currently. The disease manifeststheir own after a few days. Hence, medical
itself as an epidemic, and if uncontrolled, it mightscience is not trusted enough where chikungunya
turn into a pandemic.is concerned.
The latest epidemic of chikungunya is currentlyThis has led many people with chikungunya to
going on in South India. The heavy floods in Southturn to Ayurveda for seeking out treatment.
India in the monsoon region have been responsibleAyurveda also may not be able to treat the
for the widespread outbreak of the disease.condition of chikungunya completely, but it
Southern states of India such as Andhra Pradesh,provides the necessary resistance for the body
Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been the mostto combat with the disease.
drastically hit. A lot of research is going on in IndiaSince there is no medicine for Chikungunya in
with respect to chikungunya, in both the allopathicallopathy, people increasingly turning to traditional
and the Ayurvedic fields. Most people have foundindian medicines (ayurveda). Ayurveda treatment
Ayurveda to be a solution for chikungunya.of Chikungunya uses herbal drugs. Some of the
Definition of Chikungunyakashayams (concoctions) prescribed are
Chikungunya is a viral disease that is very similarAmrutharista, Mahasudarshana Churna,
in symptoms and etiology to the more popularpanchathiktha kashayam, Sudarshan Churnam,
disease, dengue fever. The virus responsible forDhanvantaram Gutika and Amruthotharam
chikungunya is alpha-virus, which belongs to theKashayam. Ancient ayurveda describes a similar
togoviridae family. This virus is transmittedcondition called Sandhijwara which is similar to
through mosquito bites. Only a specific type ofChikungunya in its symptoms (joint pain). Hence
mosquito is a vector, i.e. carrier for chikungunya.some of the medicines can sooth joint pain. At
This is the aedes aegypti mosquito, which isthe same time there are reports of fake
active only in the daytime. The aedes aegyptimedicines in which steroids are added. These can
mosquito is the same mosquito that is responsiblecause severe side effects in long term. Hence the
for the transmission of dengue fever amongbest advice is to take rest and drink plenty of
humans. The condition of chikungunya is generallyfluid food!
not fatal, and it can be remedied within five toPrevention of Chikungunya Fever
seven days with proper treatment. The basicCurrently there is no vaccine for Chikungunya.
characteristic of the disease is a fever along withThere is only way to prevent Chikungunya fever
an arthritic-type of pain in the joints (which has- don't get bit by a mosquito! This is easier said
given it its Sanskrit name).than done in a tropical area such as India. Some
Causes of Chikungunyaof the following precautions can help reduce the
Chikungunya has become the biggest scare in therisk of mosquito bites,o Use mosquito net when
world currently. After the epidemics of denguesleeping during daytime.o Wear dress which
and SARS, now chikungunya has grabbed thecovers most of the body. Also there are
attention of people of the world. In some parts ofrepellents available which can be applied on dress
the world, chikungunya is also called as Chickenmaterials.o Use mosquito coils or repellents(which
Guinea, though this is a misnomer as chikungunyacontains Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or DEET).
has nothing to do with chicken. Chicken Guinea isBut you should be aware that prolonged use of
just an Anglicization of the word chikungunya.these are not recommended. Also ensure
Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted throughadequate ventilation when these are used.o Use
the agency of mosquitoes. The responsiblecurtains or window nets which prevent entry of
chikungunya virus is the alphavirus, which is carriedmosquitos to the house.o Use of cream or spray
by the aedes aegypti breed of mosquito. Hence,that can be applied on skin. This masks body
after malaria, filaria and dengue, chikungunya hasodour and effectively you are invisible from
become one more reason to exterminatemosquito. Very handy if you are visiting an area
mosquitoes.where Chikungunya is reported.
The prime method of spread of chikungunya isSummary
through stagnated water. The aedes aegyptiChikungunya is an arboviral disease transmitted by
mosquito lays its eggs only in stagnated water.aedes mosquitoes. The virus was first isolated in
This explains why there is a widespread outbreak1953 in Tanzania. Chikungunya virus is a member
of chikungunya in India currently, which has justof the genus Alphavirus and the family
recovered from heavy floods in July-August.Togaviridae. The disease typically consists of an
Symptoms of Chikungunyaacute illness characterised by fever, rash, and
Chikungunya symptoms begin almost immediatelyincapacitating arthralgia. The word chikungunya,
after the viral infection. Some of the symptomsused for both the virus and the disease, means
are:-o Fever with very high temperatureo Acute"to walk bent over" in some east African
pain all over the bodyo Sharp pain in the jointslanguages, and refers to the effect of the joint
accompanied by swellingo Severe headacheopains that characterise this dengue-like infection.
Profuse rasheso Conjunctivitiso Loss of taste inChikungunya is a specifically tropical disease, but it
the tongueo Mouth ulcersis geographically restricted and outbreaks are
The following Ayurvedic preparations have beenrelatively uncommon. It is only occasionally
found to be effective against the symptoms ofobserved in travellers and military personnel. More
chikungunya:-o Sudarshan choorna - Twothan 266 000 people have been infected during
tablespoons of this choorna must be taken perthe ongoing outbreak in Réunion, in which
day.o Yogiraj guggulu - Two tablets per day areAedes albopictus is the presumed vector. In the
to be taken.ongoing Indian outbreak, in which Aedes aegypti is
Here it is important to mention that there isthe presumed vector, 1 400 000 cases of
currently a debate going on about thechikungunya were reported during 2006. The
effectiveness of Ayurvedic medicines in thereasons for the re-emergence of chikungunya on
treatment of chikungunya, for which no otherthe Indian subcontinent, and for its unprecedented
form of treatment has been found yet. Almost allincidence rate in the Indian Ocean region, are
Ayurveda exponents are of the opinion thatunclear. Plausible explanations include increased
chikungunya may not be treated by Ayurvedatourism, chikungunya virus introduction into a naive
alone, but the herbs are effective in allaying somepopulation, and viral mutation.