Fighting fever, the Ayurveda way


Close on the heels of Homoeopathy Department distributing preventive medicine for the fever epidemic ravaging the state, the ancient Indian system of medicine of ayurveda has also joined in the battle.


The state-wide network of Ayurveda hospitals and dispensaries have now been equipped with the eight most widely used medicines to fight fever.


“The monsoon is generally a time when the immunity of people go down and the vigour of the microbes go up as there is a reduction in the amount of sunlight reaching the earth. Emphasis has been given on improving the immunity of the people as ayurveda believes that a strong immune system can resist even viruses,” said Indian Systems of Medicine director Dr Anitha Jacob.



The list of eight medicines include, a dhoop packet of Aparajitha dhoopa choornam, the smoke of which will drive away mosquitoes and reduce the potency of other germs, said the ISM director. The Aparaajitha smoking stick contains frankincense (kunthirikkam), the resin of commiphora wightii (guggulu), ‘kottan’, ‘chukku’, sweet flag (vayambu), the bark of neem, the root of Calotropis gigantia or erikku, Deodhar, ‘chenjalyam’ and black mustard. “This is a time when air, water and soil gets contaminated and impure and this has an influence on the human body as well. Traditionally diet, catharsis, body massage and medicines had a major role in seasonal cleansing of the human body,” said Dr Manoj, professor at the Immunity clinic at Kotakkal Ayurveda College.


The list of medicines manufactured by Oushadi and supplied to all the ayurveda outlets include the sookshmachoornam, padhyathi sookshmachoornam, amritaadhi sookshmachoornam, guluchyadi sookshmachoornam, sudharshanam tablet, thaleespathradi choornam and viluadi tablets. Most of these are equally effective as preventive medicine as well.


“Some of these medicines require expensive ingredients such as sandal. Although there was a slight delay for the initial release of funds, Oushadi has been able to manufacture all the medicines just in time. Now the medicines are available for the public,” said Anitha Jacob. These medicines are also stocked in the various district medical offices and supplied to patients through periodical camps organised by the DMO’s office.


Besides the medicines, a pamphlet on how to defend yourself against various epidemics have been distributed to various hospitals and dispensaries. The pamphlet gives information on diet patterns with easily digestible food that should be adopted and those that should be avoided such as freshly prepared ghee, corn and unboiled water.


“Actually, hospitalisation may not be required in all fever cases. So instead of rushing to the nearest medical college at the slightest symptom of a fever, people should give their body a chance to fight the disease with diet, Ayurveda and Homoeopathy,” said Anitha Jacob.

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