Prevent swine flu, the ayurvedic way
Express News Service : 20 Aug 2009
BALASORE: With three persons testing positive for swine flu in the State till today and threat of the disease spreading looming large owing to the home-coming of thousands of Oriyas from affected cities like Pune and Mumbai, Ayurvedic physicians have advocated use of herbal and ayurvedic medicines to successfully battle the disease. The Ayurvedic way can be useful in battling swine flu from further spreading, say the experts.


“Use of tulsi, haldi, neem, bhu-neem (andrographis) and guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) are the best applications to prevent the H1N1 virus,” said Santanu Das, a visiting Reader in the department of Toxicology and Applied Medicine in SD Ayurvedic Medical College at Ranchi. “As a precautionary measure anyone can take Sudarshan Phanta (Sudarshan Churna in boiled water to be taken like tea),” he said.

Correlating the swine flu to ‘Vata Sleshmika Jwara’ from its signs and symptoms, Das who is the chief consultant of Narayani Ayurvedic Research Centre at Nayabazar here said, though there is no pharmacologically established drugs in Ayurveda to cure the disease, some immuno-modulating drugs will help in containing it.

“Consumption of 10 to 20 Tulsi leaves at a time is the most safest drug. Besides, turmeric powder is also useful as it is highly beneficial for the treatment of conjunctivitis which is also a viral disease. Similarly, neem increases Immunoglobulin-M (IgM) and Immunoglobulin-G (IgG) levels and stimulates the macrophage activities. While bhu-neem stimulates antigen and nonspecific immune response increase CD4 lumphocyte level, Guduchi increases IgG antibodies and is effective for strengthening the respiratory system,” he informed.

“While the available allopathy medicine Tamiflu is taken only after the disease is detected, Tribhuban Kirti Rasa, Dasamula Kwatha, Sudarshan Ghana Bati, Tulsi and Guduchi Kwatha, Sansaman bati are best medicines in Ayurveda,” said Rabi Narayan Acharya, Reader in Drabyaguna department in Institute for Post-Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurvedic University.