Corona Virus is a powerful biological agent capable of rapidly affecting those with weak immune system bringing massive damage and fatality to human population. The three most important symptoms of corona-virus infection are: Dry cough, Fever, and Difficulty in Breathing. Symptoms which gradually develop include: Nasal congestion, Headache, Phlegm accumulation, Sore throat (pharyngitis), fatigue, muscular aches (myalgias), Diarrhea and Joint pains.

According to Charaka Samhita, epidemics or aupasargika roga and pandemics or janapadodhvansa roga are clearly described. Epidemics are explained as instant and unexpected outbreak of a disease within a fairly local area. Pandemics, in contrast, refer to a very widespread disease that affects an entire nation or the world. Janapadodhvansa literally means “annihilation of society”.

At this Covid-19 pandemic time, for the modern medical science, Ayurveda is a therapy to support patients with Covid-19 by improving standard health care. Ayurvedic measures are neither neglected nor rejected by the medical care units, but experts instruct to use these measures for speedy recovery. Meditation is found to reduce inflammation markers and influence markers of virus-specific immune response. Ayurmanthra recommends simple ayurvedic meditation and useful home-based practice for the prevention and post-recovery management of COVID-19.

MODES AND MEANS OF TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19

Ayurveda points out that pandemics spread through the following four modes—all of which are capable of affecting the mass population: vayu (atmosphere); udaka (water); desha (land); or kala (season).

Furthermore, pandemics and epidemics were observed to be transmitted by any of the following means:

  • Physically close interaction or Prasanagat
  • Physical contact with diseased individuals or Gatra samsparshat
  • Inhalation of infected respiratory droplets or Nishwasa
  • Sharing of food or Sahabhojanat
  • Sleeping together or Sahashayya
  • Sitting close together or Asana
  • Sharing the same clothing or Vastra
  • Sharing of handkerchief and towels or Malya

 

HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEM AND CORONA VIRUS: THE WARFARE  

The best way to prevent and manage diseases is through strengthening the human immune system which is best possible through the use of herbs. Combination of herbs promotes multi-factorial and complex immune response required to resist bacteria and viruses. For the better functioning of the immune system balance and harmony between mind and body is must. The immune system stands for a collection of cells, chemicals and their interconnected processes that function to protect the skin, respiratory passages, intestinal tract and other organs and tissues from foreign antigens, such as microbes (organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and parasites), viruses, cancer cells, and toxins. The immune system can be simplistically viewed as having two types: innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity represents the first line of defense to an intruding pathogen. It is an antigen-independent (non-specific) defense mechanism that is used by the host immediately or within hours of encountering an antigen. Adaptive immunity, on the other hand, is antigen-dependent and antigen-specific and, therefore, involves a lag time between exposure to the antigen and maximal response. Human beings require both of these mechanisms to operate efficiently and in synergy in order to protect against COVID-19.

Viruses like Corona, Nipah, etc. fights the immune system and breaks through to infect the tissues. They spread to different vital tissues and causes immense damage in several forms. To retain immune system severe and multi-faceted measures are required, including belief of recovery. While medication and mental strengthening are equally important, herbs acts as harmonizing catalysts to achieve better immune system. Recovery is easy and simple when followed in a systematic way.

 

THE WAY AYURMANTHRA HELPS TO BETTER IMMUNE SYSTEM TO PREVENT COVID-19

Ayurmanthra follows some of the basic Principles of Ayurvedic Prevention and Management of Diseases to handle Corona virus. Shvasaroga stands for aggravated and accumulated Vata and Kapha doshas. For any condition affecting pranavaha srotas or respiratory channels one should apply the treatment protocols recommended for Shvasaroga Chikitsa—treatment instructed for breathlessness, cough, and related disorders, which is intended to purify rasavaha srotas (blood plasma), to purify and unblock pranavaha srotas, and to optimize agni- here refers to bodily heat.

Ayurmanthra insists on the concept of building strength of mind and body to cope with various stressors as the corner stone of Ayurveda practice. Ayurmanthra provides ayurvedic way of bettering the health through personalized interventions based on the host and environmental factors. These interventions are primarily focusing on bettering the body immunity and mental strength.

To increase the immune system of the body, the following measures are utilized:

  • Abhyanga (full body external friction-type oil massage) with Dhavantaram taila, Dashmooladi taila, or karpooradi taila with added lavana (crushed rock salt).
  • Ruksha sweda (dry heat)
  • Nadi sweda (steam administered locally through tubes)
  • Pinda sweda (boluses of hot herbalized rice balls) applied to chest and back
  • Vamana (physician-assisted gentle vomiting) using Madanaphala decoction + yastimadhu + vacha = salt; this is to purify or clear the stomach.

 

POINTS TO NOTE FROM AYURMANTHRA

Ayurveda basically relays on the fact that “prevention is better than cure”. Ayurmanthra not only never reject the fact that Ayurvedic treatments will not help in curing corona virus infection, but also stress that ayurvedic measures are time consuming but very effective measures. Ayurmanthra stress and support the reality that Ayurvedic measure follows holistic approach to health which focuses on prevention as the key to managing this outbreak. Ayurveda emphasizes avoidance of causative factors and enhancing immunity through diet, herbs, sleep, lifestyle, and (extremely important) managing anxiety.

Medical herbs used by Ayurmanthra include Ashwagandha- which is now scientifically tested to have several properties to fight illnesses causing enzymes in the body. Ashwagandha is a common ingredient in the medication involving Shvasaroga Chikitsa as it increases immunity against fatigue and breathing illnesses including asthma. Apart from Ashwagandha, regular use of cinnamon, black pepper, shunthi, tulsi and raisins help to increase body immunity.

It is highly recommended to consume a glass of black tea/coffee made of boiled water with a leaf of tulsi, 3 to 5 black pepper, a pinch of cinnamon powder, two pinches of shunti (dried ginger powder or a small piece) and honey. This is advised to be consumed twice a day for adults, and for children dilute with twice the boiled water.  This is one form of medicated water.  Another form of medicated water is dilute vegetable soup with carrots, beetroots, drumstick, trigonella leaves, coriander leaves, ginger-garlic paste and black pepper powdered. These medicated waters are for bodily rejuvenation and acts as a first protective phase of adaptive immune response.

Author 

Sanjay Shenoi Dhanwanthari Madom