Treatment of common fever in ayurveda possesses its own idyllic idioms, referred to by those ancient Indian sages, who also had been successful to even nominate a separate name for fever itself. In the world of ayurvedic medicine, this very ordinary ailment, i.e., common fever or common cold, is referred to as Pratishyaya. All the three doshas in ayurveda are responsible for the occasional occurrence of cold, which however provides effective treatment in common fever. Vata dosha common fever has dry coughs, small amounts of discharge of mucus, a gruff voice, headache accompanied by runny nose. People with pitta dosha who have common colds is sure to have fever, with symptoms like an aching throat, yellowish nasal discharge and continuous snarl of the nasal passage. People with kapha dosha common fever have thick mucus discharges with deadening headaches and heaviness of the head.
Treatment of common fever in ayurveda and its medicines teach that the ailment results from a terrible disparity of the kapha and vata doshas. A cold develops within the body, when one has a surplus of kapha`s cool, accompanied by too much of sneezing. Excess vata energy dilutes agni, or gastric fire, as a result one feels the chill inside the body. Ginger has the property to lessen excess kapha and refurbish agni, making it the best medicine for common fever and influenza. There are two main strategies to balance Kapha. Common fever or Jwar is one of the most systematically delineated entities in Ayurveda. Thirteen types of common fever and its treatment are described hence.
Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja, Vata-Pittaja, Vata- Kaphaja, Tridoshaj (intrinsic fevers), Agantuja (extrinsic fever), Kamaja (associated with sex), Shokaja (induced fretfulness and uneasiness), Vishama jwar (malaria), Krodhaja (anger induced) and Bhuta-vistha (of unknown origin) are some of the few common fevers described in ayurvedic treatment and medicine. Depending on the doshic connection or other factors, supplementary symptoms besides rise of temperature are observed on the patient suffering from the illness.
Various herbs available in the market can repair the perfect balance to Kapha fever, especially ginger; however, spices like cinnamon, liquorice, basil and cloves also prove effective in the treatment of common fever in ayurvedic medicine. A patient is advised to take 1 to 4 grams of any of these herbs in a powdered form (four grams equals approximately 2 to 3 teaspoons). Then, the herb needs to be added to 1 cup of boiled water, stirred until it has turned cool before drinking the decoction in full. Practitioners however also recommend that one can have the herb powder together with honey for further warmth in the throat.
Another recipe of ginger tea almost always testifies to be much comforting and valuable while common fever and cold, treated in the ayurvedic format. He/she is suggested to just add under half teaspoon each of ginger powder, fennel seeds and cinnamon and a pinch of clove powder to one cup of hot water. Then, the herbs need to be allowed to absorb for approximately ten minutes, after which they require to be filtered out of the tea before drinking thoroughly. Due to aspirin and ginger serving as both blood dilutants, one is warned to not drink ginger tea within two hours of consuming aspirin.
Herbal Combinations in treatment of common fever in ayurveda
Aconitum Fever Remedy
This ayurvedic herbal remedy is useful for treatment in common fever, accompanied by diarrhoea.
Aconite-Mustaka Home Remedy
This remedy is exceedingly useful for fever, diarrhoea and peevishness of the stomach.
Balachatur bhadraka
This ayurvedic herbal remedy also proves useful for treating common fever, together with diarrhoea.
Hriveradi
This ayurvedic herbal remedy also is very much effective for common fever with diarrhoea.
However, besides these above mentioned treatment of common fever in ayurveda and the traditional way of cure, this specific domain also resorts to some widely selected and chosen processes readily available in a household. For instance, sponging the forehead and the body with lukewarm to cold water is a much commonly recommended ayurvedic practice in instances of high common fever due to sunstroke. In order to achieve more healthier results, one can also add 1 teaspoonful of rose water to the cold water prior to sponging. The rose water could also be poured into an ice-bag and made effective usage for sponging the heated body. The patient is advised to take approximately 20 fresh leaves of holy basil (tulsi) at the onset, after which he/she should also make use of a small piece of ginger and approximately 5 grains of black pepper. All the ingredients then needs to be boiled together in the tea, after which it is necessary to drink the warm liquid as soon as possible, avoiding to let the decoction to cool.
Useful herbs in ayurvedic treatment of common fever
Bishop`s Weed (Trachyspermum ammi) - Bishop`s weed possesses the prowess to verily open up congested nasal passages while treating common fever. The seeds are generally tied in a cloth and inhaled directly to unclutter congestions. Bishop`s Weed has proven to efficiently work in treating nasal blockages in children.
Cassia (Cassis fistula) - Cassia roots are much helpful in treating cold and common fever in ayurvedic treatment. The roots are normally burnt, after which the smoke from them is inhaled for betterment purposes. The mucus discharge, however, is known to increase after such a treatment, which also will stop completely after some time.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) - Cinnamon, always regarded as beneficial for treatment in common fever in ayurveda, has advised to boil one glass of water together with a pinch of pepper and honey. This lessens the aching throat problems and also bars the cold from turning chronic, or germinating into something severe like pneumonia or influenza.
Cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum) - Cumin seeds serves an excellent antiseptics, when treating common fever is being spoken about in the ayurvedic world. These seeds thus have beneficial effects if the cold is accompanied with relentless fever. Cumin seeds are also helpful in curing the throat vexations.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) - Ginger extracts taken several times a day while suffering from bouts of common fever, serve as excellent remedy for treating coughs that accompany common colds. Ginger tea is also extremely efficacious in treating cough and cold, a much acknowledged recipe in ayurveda since long times.
Onion (Allium cepa) - The vegetable onion possesses much power and capability to entirely liquefy the phlegm. This makes the sticky mucus much more dilute, as a result of which it gets discharged out from the nose.
Dietary Treatments for Common Fever in Ayurveda
Patients down with common fever are almost always advised to fast for one day, so that the body toxins get washed out for good; this opens up a healthy passage for the bed-ridden to be treated from fever as soon as possible. Sufferers in such instances generally have to maintain a strict regimen of diet, solely depending upon and following the doctor`s advise. Patients can have steaming vegetable soups, or steamed vegetables with little or no spices in them. Food that is difficult to digest such as cheese, yoghurt, milk, oily and spicy foods and sweets should be avoided at any cost, just to prevent dire consequences of aggravation. Hot food is very much recommended when one is completely down and out with common fever. Hot chicken soup is a traditionally known legendary remedy for treatment of common fever in both ayurveda as well as in every other sphere.
Ayurvedic medicine and its practitioners also advocate dietary changes to treat common fever and cold. A patient is recommended to consume more whole grains and steamed vegetables and fewer meats, dairy products, oily foods, nuts, pastries and sweet fruit juices until the symptoms subside wholly.
Listed down are some well-admired and much accepted strategies to effectively treat common cold and fever through ayurvedic treatment
•A patient suffering from common fever is advised to add a teaspoon of cumin seeds to 1 glass of boiling water. Later, he/she needs to simmer this liquid for a few minutes, filter and allow it to cool. For best treatment in common fever, this decoction must be administered as least 12 times a day. If accompanied by aching throat, one is required to add a few small pieces of dry ginger to the boiling water.
• As an alternative, one can take two garlic cloves crushed and boiled in water, together with half a teaspoon of turmeric powder. This serves as an exceptional antidote for cold.
• Ayurvedic practitioners also recommend patients to grind six pepper corns. This is then required to be added with a glass of warm water, sweetened with 56 batashas (a variation of sugar candy). The decoction must be taken later for a few nights.
• A concoction of ginger juice and honey can also be administered in treating severe cases of common fever, a few times a day. This excellent remedy gives instant relief from cough and cold.
• Lemon serves as an excellent antidote for treatment of common fever, according to ayurveda. As an efficacious measure, a patient is needed to mix the juice of two lemons in 2 and half cups of boiling water dulcified with honey. The solution is best advised to be taken during bed time. It is acknowledged as an incredibly effective remedy for gross bad cold.
• For acute pain and ache in the head, one can boil 1 tablespoon pepper powder in a cup of milk together with a pinch of turmeric. This mix can consequently be taken once daily for the succeeding 3 days.
•In times of severe cold, cough and common fever, one is seriously recommended to take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4th spoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days. This process cures not only chronic cough and cold, but also thoroughly clears the sinuses.
Daily usage and intake of honey and cinnamon powder verily beefs up the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and terrible viral attacks. Scientists have established after much research that honey possesses umpteen vitamins and iron in large quantities. Constant utilisation of honey reinforces the white blood corpuscles to defend against bacterial and viral diseases. If one is susceptible to be attacked from repeated colds, a patient is also advised to take the ayurvedic tonic, chavanprash to aid in building immunity.
Bhringasava is one of the most prescribed and recommended ayurvedic remedy for treatment of common fever. This is normally ordained in quantities of 15 ml thrice a day for seven days. The nasal drops referred to as Anutaila are also prescribed by many ayurvedic physicians. Other common medicines include Vyoshaadi vati, Kantara Arya Ava Lehya, Tribhuvana Keerti, etc. These decoctions and preparations needs to be taken in time, just to avoid the fever and cold from getting reborn into severe influenza. Trikatu powder is also variously proposed to be taken along with honey. This eventually lessens and alleviates inflammation of the respiratory tract. Shadbindu taila can be used as nasal drops while in treatment of common fever. This is recommended to be made use of twice daily, as long as the symptoms of common cold are felt and sensed.