Covid 19 An Ayurvedic Perspective

The ancient knowledge of Ayurveda has reemerged, offering a revitalizing and holistic approach to skincare in a world dominated by modern beauty products and invasive surgeries. The traditional Indian medical system known as Ayurveda understands that true beauty comes from taking care of the body from the inside out. Ayurveda offers a time-tested treatment for aged skin that values authenticity and sustainability by utilizing natural treatments and antiquated traditions. Aging skin requires care, especially natural solutions that don't let your skin give away your age. Let's explore the various herbs that help achieve a youthful glow, better known as the age-old Nani ke nuskhe: Turmeric: A Golden Treasure for Skin Enhancement This radiant spice has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Create a golden paste by mixing turmeric powder with honey or milk, and gently apply it to your face. Let the transformative magic unfold as the paste reduces inflammation and reveals a newfound radiance. Simply apply the turmeric-infused paste on your face and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off the mask with warm water and unveil an improved complexion that beams with natural beauty. Aloe Vera: Nature's Soothing Elixir for Skin Known for its soothing and healing properties, aloe vera replenishes lost hydration and leaves your skin soft, supple, and glowing with vitality. Simply apply fresh aloe vera gel directly to your skin and experience its refreshing and nourishing effects. Gently massage the cool gel onto your face. Regular use of aloe vera gel can even help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving you a youthful and radiant complexion. Neem: Nature's Shield for Clear and Healthy Skin Neem, within the realm of skincare, is known for its potent antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it a remarkable guardian for your skin. This extraordinary plant offers a natural solution for treating acne and combating various skin infections. Harnessing its power is as simple as creating a paste by grinding neem leaves with water and gently applying it to the affected area. Allow the paste to work its magic, leaving it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing it off. Experience the transformative effects of neem as it revitalizes your skin, providing a natural solution for clearer and healthier skin. Sandalwood: A Fragrant Marvel for Rejuvenating Skin Sandalwood is versatile, catering to different skin types. For dry skin, create a paste with sandalwood powder, honey, and olive oil. It soothes and moisturizes skin, revealing a refreshed complexion. For oily skin, mix sandalwood powder, fuller's earth, and lemon juice. It absorbs excess oil and unclogs pores, leaving a fresh, matte finish. Apply the mask to your skin and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. After the mask has dried, rinse it and experience the transformative effects of sandalwood for radiant and balanced skin. Rosewater: A Gentle Elixir for Skincare Revitalize your skincare routine with the enchanting properties of rosewater. This gentle elixir effortlessly harmonizes with your skin, maintaining its pH balance and providing hydration. Experience its calming effect as it reduces redness and reveals a refreshed complexion. Enjoy the convenience of using rosewater as a natural makeup remover, allowing your skin to breathe freely and luxuriate in the soothing essence of roses. Let rosewater be your go-to elixir, infusing your skincare ritual with its delicate and transformative touch. Shatavari: Nourishing Elixir for Skin Health In the realm of Ayurvedic skincare, Shatavari, though not traditionally used directly on the skin, holds incredible potential to nurture your skin's health through internal consumption. Available in various forms, such as powder, capsules, or liquid extract, Shatavari is often consumed as a dietary supplement. Indulge in the timeless ritual of taking Shatavari orally, either with warm water or milk, to unlock its holistic benefits. In a world where quick fixes and instant results often dominate, Ayurveda offers a profound reminder to slow down, connect with nature, and prioritize our inner health. The Ayurvedic beauty secrets for aging skin provide a natural and sustainable path to achieving youthful, glowing skin that radiates from the inside out. It's the perfect time to incorporate the goodness of Ayurveda into our daily beauty regimes. (Dr. Kriti Soni) Read More►Stress and Ayurveda

Varanasi (UP) - A study conducted by the Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (IMS-BHU), has found that Ayurvedic medicines started giving relief to around 4000 patients suffering from various common diseases within three days and 8000 patients within seven days. The Faculty of Ayurveda conducted the study to assess the impact of Ayurvedic medicines on 13,936 patients in eight government Ayurvedic college hospitals and certain dispensaries across the state between June 2022 and February 2023. "The patients suffering from fever, cough, cold, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, jaundice, and other common diseases were surveyed to assess the impact of Ayurvedic medicines on them," said Vaidya Sushil Kumar Dubey, professor, Faculty of Ayurveda, BHU. Dubey along with former dean of the faculty Prof Yamini Bhushan Tripathi had planned the study in April 2022. The vaidyas (Ayurveda practitioners) gave medicines to the patients and recorded their impact on them when they visited hospitals for follow-up after a week. (Agency) Read More►Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates Six New Buildings of the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda

The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside a Gujarat High Court order, holding that Ayurveda practitioners working in government hospitals should be treated at par with doctors holding MBBS degrees and they are entitled to equal pay. A bench of Justices V. Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal said: "Even while recognising the importance of Ayurveda doctors and the need to promote alternative/indigenous systems of medicine, we cannot be oblivious of the fact that both categories of doctors are certainly not performing equal work to be entitled to equal pay." The bench said it is common knowledge that during out-patient days (OPD) in general hospitals in cities/towns, MBBS doctors are made to attend to hundreds of patients, which is not the case with Ayurveda doctors. "Section 176 of Cr.P.C deals with inquiry by Magistrates into the cause of death. Sub-section (5) of Section 176 uses similar words namely civil surgeon or other qualified medical man. We do not think that the AYUSH doctors are normally notified as competent to perform post-mortem," said the bench. The top court judgment came on a batch of appeals challenging a 2012 Gujarat High Court order, which held that Ayurveda practitioners are entitled to be treated at par with doctors with MBBS degrees. The bench said: "By the very nature of the science that they practise and with the advancement of science and modern medical technology, the emergency duty that allopathy doctors are capable of performing and the trauma care that they are capable of providing cannot be performed by Ayurveda doctors." "It is also not possible for Ayurved doctors to assist surgeons performing complicated surgeries, while MBBS doctors can assist. We shall not be understood to mean as though one system of medicine is superior to the other." The bench said it is not its mandate nor within its competence to assess the relative merits of these two systems of medical sciences and as a matter of fact, "we are conscious that the history of Ayurveda dates back to several centuries". "We have no doubt that every alternative system of medicine may have its pride of place in history. But today, the practitioners of indigenous systems of medicine do not perform complicated surgical operations. A study of Ayurveda does not authorise them to perform these surgeries." Also, Read in Hindi► आयुर्वेद चिकित्सक एलोपैथी डॉक्टर के समान वेतन के अधिकारी नहीं - सुप्रीम कोर्ट

Even as the world gets into recovery mode post-pandemic, many people are still grappling with the symptoms of long Covid. According to the WHO, if you have recovered from Covid-19 but some symptoms stay stubborn, such as shortness of breath, brain fog, and fatigue, the condition is known as long Covid. Long Covid symptoms also include palpitations, insomnia, gastric problems such as bloating, acidity, irritable bowel, muscle weakness, and mobility issues. Any microbe that enters the body causes toxicity, resulting in the imbalance of Doshas or bio-energies of one's body. Our bodies are prone to infectious diseases when we have a weak immune system, and Panchakarma along with other curative Ayurveda treatments helps to strengthen the immune system. In Ayurveda, the Panchakarma procedure is used as a prophylactic to prevent infectious diseases and incidentally can also help to prevent a relapse. In the case of a Covid patient who has tested negative for the virus, the Vaidyas (doctors) at CGH Earth recommend the Panchakarma procedure to strengthen and fortify the body. However, such procedures cannot be administered soon after recovery, though other Ayurvedic treatments for insomnia, anxiety, stress-related disorders, and immune boosting can be done. To do the Panchakarma cleansing procedures, it is recommended to allow the body to heal itself -- for up to say two months in order for the energy levels to get back to normal or near normal. This is the same recommendation that Ayurveda would give for a person who has undergone surgery or some serious illness; a gap of two or three months before undergoing the Panchakarma. Meanwhile, the degree of long Covid symptoms varies from patient to patient and therefore the treatment protocols vary as well. The doctor will need to watch and assess when the patient is ready to undergo only one or multiple karmas which are part of the Panchakarma procedure. Long Covid patients suffer from respiratory problems and also issues related to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, cardiac-related conditions, neurological conditions, and brain and kidney issues. Covid also affects the sense organs wherein some people lose their sense of smell, taste, hearing, and vision for an extended period of time. Many, post Covid suffer from insomnia, brain fog, and anxiety. Although Panchakarma has immense health benefits, it is critical that for post-Covid patients the energy level is checked prior to putting them on any treatments, as they are tiring processes that do initially lower one's energy. Panchakarma procedures include detoxification of the body. This is a necessary stage of treatment as the disease-causing microbes bring a lot of toxins into the body and if they remain in the body, Ayurvedic treatments cannot address the conditions that have manifested internally. For Kapha-related lung infections, chest pain, and infected pleural cavities the patient is treated with Herbal drug-induced vomiting or Vamana (one of the deep cleansing Panchakarma procedures). Likewise for gastric infection or if the liver or pancreas is affected purgation is advised. Meanwhile, the main procedure for problems related to sensory organs like loss of smell or taste is Nasya i.e.: nasal treatment. For those affected by arthritis, degenerating muscles, or skin lesions; Vasti or medicated enemas are prescribed. It is to be noted that this is not merely Colon cleansing but the administration of special medicines into the colon and rectum where the medications in them are easily absorbed internally. Alongside the Panchakarma procedures, secondary treatments or "Upakarmas" are also administered to the patients. "Tharpanam" which is administered for the eyes and "Karnapuranam" for the ears are treatments that Ayurveda prescribes for patients who have long Covid conditions related to these sensory organs. Treatments like "Njavarakizhi" and "Pizhichil" also aid in correcting the Vata, Pitta, and Kapha imbalances and help rejuvenate and rebuild the body from the inside out. Herbal medications are administered to improve the immune system. In particular, those with respiratory tract issues benefit from these prescribed herbal medicines by improving their lung capacity and removal of excess accumulation of phlegm or fibroids. These medicines are beneficial for those with GI tract issues. Regularly strengthening the body with herbal preparations after a course of Panchakarma, helps to keep Covid and other infectious diseases at bay. In Ayurveda, the course of medication can last from three to six months and in some cases where the patient is very weak, it is prescribed for a year. (Dr. Firoz Varun is an Ayurveda Doctor at CGH Earth Kalari Rasayana Ayurveda Hospital) Read More►Is Your Skin Summer-Ready?