Dr H N Patwari
The Coronavirus pandemic is affecting 216 countries including India around the world with more than 47 million confirmed cases and about 1.2 million deaths till 6th November. The unprecedented pandemic of novel Corona virus disease (COVID -19) is symbolised by severe acute respiratory syndrome largely with fatal consequences. Ironically enough, despite worldwide efforts to contain it, the pandemic is continuing to spread for want of a clinically proven prophylaxis and therapeutic strategy which is still in research and experimental stage. Notwithstanding the fact that no system of medicine has any evidence based cure for COVID 19 as yet, Ayurvedic interventions become even more relevant and accordingly therapeutic efficacy of various classical Ayurvedic formulations has been established with encouraging data.
There are 3598 Ayush Hospitals available in the country including 2818 Ayurvedic hospitals . Similarly there are 25723 Ayush dispensaries including 15291 Ayurvedic dispensaries. There are total 7.73 lakh Ayush practitioners including 4.28 lakh Ayurvedic practitioners. It is indeed a matter of great satisfaction that department of Ayush in close collaboration with department of health has established many action plans on national level in order to utilise said vast professional resource without any traditional prejudice in an meaningful and purposeful manner.
Ayurveda,the ancient medical doctrine , does not really have minute special tributaries as compared with modern medicine but many concepts described in classical Ayurvedic texts ,are comparable with the concept of modern medicine and holds equal importance.The concept of Pandemic in Ayurveda, conveys the message that whenever an effort is made to disturb the nature ,it has a tendency to destroy it back.
An entire chapter has been devoted in Charak Samhita under the title of Janapadodhvamsa (Sutr sthan 6/19) and Viman sthan 3/1-4) (Janapada =large human settlements, Udhvamsa=to be effected/to be destroyed) raising the question as to why people of different body constitutions , lifestyle,diet and genetic inheritance become afflicted with the same disease. It has vividly described mechanism of causation (Nidana) factors affecting severity and actions complicating illnesses,their management and prevention. A detailed description of 20 types of Krimi (micro organisms) is given in various Ayurvedic classics. Aetiology (Nidana) habitat (sthana) nomenclature (nama) description/colour (varna) clinical features (samsthana) special effects (prabhava) and treatment (chikitsa) have been described in Viman sthana of Charak Samhita.
Janapadodhvamsa can approximately be compared with Pandemic and its several variants based on the degree and intensity of the event due to vitiation of Vayu, Jal, Desh and Kala. This concept can very well be compared with environmental pollution or the individual form of pollution such as air and water pollution. The role of environmental pollution in causation of human disease is indisputable. It further explains, how climate, water,air and land can become a common medium through which the same disease can effect a large and diverse human settlement ?
Sushrut Samhita , classical text of surgery in Ayurveda too has described ailment symbolised as Pandemic largely affecting the respiratory system presenting with symptoms of fever,cough,breathing difficulty, influenza etc etc often leading to fatal consequences. Acharya Dalhana ,the well known commentator of this text has specified that causative agent of such disease enters the human body through the nasal passages.
While describing the modes of contagion, Acharya Sushrut has said that ailment spreads by repeated physical contact, by inhalation,by eating together,by sleeping and sitting together,by contact with clothes, garlands etc etc. The relevance of social distancing to prevent further spread of Pandemic has been described under Sthanparityaga or abandoning the place of ailment by Acharya Sushrut as the most significant measure in mitigating an Pandemic. The concept of social distancing today resembles more or less with what Acharyas have pleaded in ancient texts.
It will be very pertinent to mention here that Acharyas have advised to use rejuvenators (Rasaynas) for boosting one’s immune system ,besides routine medication.
India is the country where the world’s oldest living health care system originated and therefore it is carefully being watched by the world community for how it handles the crisis using its own resources. China has done it and it is India’s turn now to show its traditional healthcare might.
(The author is former Deputy Director Ayurveda)
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