Recently, swine flu has spread like an epidemic in some parts of our country, and you can protect yourself and your family by taking a few precautions.
- Swine flu is a highly contagious and rapidly spreading form of the common flu that can even prove fatal, so it is just as important to take precautions against it.
- The basic symptoms of flu are cold, cough and fever, and some flu is common every year during this season — but since this time it involves swine flu infection, staying alert is equally essential. The symptoms of this disease appear suddenly, and initially include headache, restlessness, fever, cough, throat swelling and difficulty in breathing.
- It is also necessary to understand the guidelines issued by the State Government regarding swine flu, which classify it into four categories: A, B1, B2 and C.
Category A: Such patients show symptoms like ordinary fever, cough, sore throat, body ache, diarrhoea and vomiting. These patients do not need swine flu testing. They should avoid gatherings and crowded places.
Category B1 and B2: In such patients, body temperature rises above 100.4°F. In this situation, especially children, pregnant women, elderly citizens, or patients suffering from heart, lung, liver or kidney disease, diabetes or HIV, can start the Tamiflu medicine dose as advised by their doctor and receive treatment by setting up an isolation ward within their own home. As per the guidelines, such patients also do not need a swine flu test.
Category C: Patients falling under category C show symptoms such as breathlessness, chest pain, low blood pressure, blood in the sputum, and nails turning bluish in colour — for such patients, a swine flu test becomes mandatory.
Preventive Measures
1. Diet
- Eat only easily digestible, fresh, light and warm food.
- Boiled water is beneficial in phlegm (Kapha)-related disorders, so use only boiled water for now.
- Take timely meals of warm foods such as moong, moong dal, khichdi, dal-rice, bottle gourd, brinjal, bitter gourd, pointed gourd vegetable and bajra rotla.
- Avoid sweets, cheese, paneer, dairy products, bread, biscuits, buns, outside snacks, oily foods, and foods with colours and preservatives, as well as non-vegetarian food, as far as possible.
- Completely give up stale food and junk food.
2. Lifestyle
- Keep a handkerchief over your mouth while sneezing or coughing; use disposable paper napkins if possible.
- Avoid touching the nose, mouth and eyes, as this prevents the further spread of the disease-causing virus.
- Wash your hands with soap frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing; an alcohol-based sanitiser can also be used to clean the hands.
- Avoid unnecessary travel and crowded places, and wear a mask if you must go to such places.
- Good sleep and a healthy lifestyle can help you avoid this disease.
- Maintain your immunity and stay physically active.
- Stay away from addictions and avoid drinking alcohol.
- Wash your hands properly with soap and water after touching everyday household items or surfaces.
3. Dhoop (Fumigation)
In any infectious disease, and especially in viral diseases, Homa-Havan-Dhoop (fumigation) helps purify the atmosphere, and during such times it is necessary to do dhoop in the house twice daily, such as:
- Ashtang Dhoop is the best type of dhoop described in Ayurveda. Besides guggul, it contains purifying and auspicious medicinal substances such as agar, tagar and jatamansi, which work to purify the atmosphere.
- Guggul Dhoop – dhoop can also be done by putting guggul and pure cow’s ghee on burning coals.
- A home fumigation can also be done using cow dung cakes, cow’s ghee, cinnamon, coriander, sesame seeds, sandalwood, camphor, mace (javantri), lesser galangal (kapur kachli) and cardamom, finishing with guggul dhoop at the end.
4. Precautions
- As per WHO guidelines, it is mandatory for a swine flu patient to be treated only while staying in an isolation room.
- If you are unwell, stay at home.
- Keep a suspected patient in a separate room.
- Maintain distance from anyone who is unwell, has a cold, or is coughing, otherwise you may catch the infection.
- Keep those around you informed, and stay away from false rumours.
5. Preventive Ayurvedic Treatment
For those who have no symptoms, along with the above precautions:
- Chew five Tulsi leaves with two black peppercorns, or grind them and lick with one teaspoon of honey, twice a day.
- Mix half a teaspoon of turmeric in warm water and drink one glass every morning.
- Prepare a decoction of Bharangyadi Kwath and drink 10 ml every morning, or take two tablets of Bharangyadi Ghanvati (one tablet for children).
- Drink milk boiled with a pinch of dry ginger (Sunth).
- Take two tablets of Sudarshan Ghanvati every morning.
- Lick 2 grams of Sitopaladi Churna with honey.
- Give young children Ayurvedic cough syrup, Bal Chaturbhadra Syrup, regularly during the epidemic period.
If you have cold, cough or restlessness, or get phlegm (Kapha) frequently, start treatment with Ayurvedic medicines — medicines should be started only on the advice of an Ayurvedic physician. These include Vyoshadi Vati, Sitopaladi Churna, Lakshmivilas Ras, Bharangyadi Ghan, Gudduchyadi Ghanvati, Haridrakhand, Tribhuvankirti Ras, Bhagottar Ras, cough syrup, etc. — take only what is needed, and only as advised by your physician.
Note: During the swine flu epidemic, all consultation related to it and its prevention is free of charge, and related medicines prepared in-house at our clinic are available at a 20% discount.
What are the main symptoms of swine flu?
Headache, restlessness, fever, cough, throat swelling and difficulty in breathing — these symptoms appear suddenly. If severe symptoms (chest pain, low blood pressure) appear, it becomes mandatory to get tested immediately.
What dietary care should be taken to prevent swine flu?
Eat easily digestible, fresh, light and warm food, drink boiled water, and completely avoid sweets, dairy products, bakery items, stale food and junk food.
What precautions help prevent the spread of swine flu?
Keep a handkerchief over your mouth while sneezing or coughing, avoid touching the nose, mouth and eyes, wash your hands frequently, wear a mask in crowded places, and keep a suspected person in a separate room.
What is the preventive Ayurvedic remedy for swine flu?
A person without symptoms can, as a precaution, take remedies such as Tulsi leaves with black pepper and honey, warm water or milk with turmeric, or Sitopaladi Churna — but as soon as symptoms appear, treatment should be started only as advised by an expert Ayurvedic physician.
Dr. Nikul Patel (B.A.M.S.)
307, 3rd Floor, Shalin Complex, Above Farki Lassi, Krishnabaug Char Rasta, Maninagar, Ahmedabad – 380008
Timings: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM | Saturday–Sunday: Closed
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