Coronavirus and Ayurveda Medicine

Many people are concerned about the causes and therapy of COVID-19 disease. How does Ayurveda medicine view COVID-19 disease? What prophylaxis and treatment options offers Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is based on the principle that the patient’ s innermost being has to be considered and cause and disease examined in detail before therapy is carried out. Ayurvedic medicine always proceeds holistically and systematically.

Let us therefore look first at the COVID-19 desease symptoms published by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (BAG):

• Cough (mostly dry)
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Fever, feverish feeling
• Muscle aches

Rarely are:

• Headaches
• Gastrointestinal symptoms
• Conjunctivitis
• Rhinitis

The BAG stipulates that the course of the disease can vary. Some people have mild symptoms and others need intensive treatment in the hospital.

Ayurvedic medicine is particularly strong in prevention and after care treatment to strengthen and rebuild the immune system, as well as for mild and moderate disease progression. Very severe complaints have to be treated in a hospital.

The disease symptoms caused by the corona virus mainly affect the respiratory tract and the lungs.

According to Ayurvedic classics, the respiratory tract is assigned to the prāṇa-vaha-srotas, i.e. the transport channels for the air we breathe in and the vital energy (prāṇa). Oxygen and vital energy are supplied to all cells and organs by means of prāṇa through the channels. The most important relating organs are the respiratory tract, the lungs and the heart. Chronic respiratory diseases have a long-term impact on the heart and, conversely, chronic heart diseases affect the lungs. For this reason, it is important that the heart, if necessary, is supported with the Ayurvedic plant Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna).

The main control principles of the respiratory tract are vāta- and kapha-doṣa. If the two are in a balanced state, the respiratory tract and the lungs function well and are protected against disease. If there is a malfunction or aggravation of these two doṣa, they are the source of respiratory diseases.

The respiratory organs, in relation with the gastrointestinal tract and the visceral organs, also belong to the “inner path” of disease development (antaḥ-roga-mārga). From this we recognize, from an Ayurvedic point of view, that respiratory diseases have a good prognosis for healing, since the “inner path” is generally considered to be easily treatable. However, if all three doṣa (vāta, pitta and kapha) are affected and if the symptoms are very pronounced and other organs also affected, especially the vital organs such as the heart, brain and kidneys, treatment becomes difficult.

Another important factor in Ayurveda is āgni, the digestive fire and digestive power. According to Caraka, health, resistance, metabolism, physical strength and length of life depend on a good āgni.  Agni controls all digestive and metabolic processes. If āgni is disturbed, disorders occur in the tissue metabolism (dhātv-agni), in the organs and in the transport system (srotas). In addition, a weakened āgni (mandāgni) is not able to digest food completely. It forms āma, a pathological product being the cause of many diseases.

The signs of a healthy āgni (samāgni) are: good regular appetite, well-being after eating, no feeling of fullness, no belching, no acid reflux, no flatulence and regular bowel movements., Food is digested without any problems within 5 – 6 hours.

The first step in health care is to bring āgni into a healthy state by eating correctly in accordance with the constitution (prakṛti). However, if there is already an outbreak of a disease, the diet must be adapted above all to the Ayurvedic pathogenesis (saṃprāpti) of the disease (vikṛti). In Ayurveda we have many herbs that have a stimulating and supporting effect on the āgni.

• Agni-stimulating (dīpana) remedies that activate the central digestive fire (jāṭharāgni) are for example Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Pippalī (Piper longum), Black Pepper (Piper nigrum), Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum), Calamus (Acorus calamus), Trikatu-cūrṇa
• Remedies that improve digestion (pācana) by increasing the gastric juice and having āma-reducing effects (incompletely metabolized food, and cause of many diseases) include Pippalī (Piper longum), Mustā (Cyperus rotundus), Citrakādi-vaṭī

The first tissue to emerge from the metabolic transformation process of food is the rasa-tissue. Rasa is also called vital juice. Rasa nourishes and builds up the other tissues. From Rasa all further tissues develop.

If on the rasa-tissue-level disturbances are caused by a weak āgni, especially a weak rasāgni (fire of the primary nutritive tissue), it can lead to infections of the upper respiratory tract, rhinitis, bronchitis, sluggish digestion, lack of appetite, lack of energy, phlegm, etc.

The rasa-vaha-srotas are the channels that transport the plasma (rasa). They form the basic network of all channels in the body and according to Caraka have their roots in the heart and blood vessels. If the rasa-tissue is weak, the rasa-vaha-srotas are also affected resulting into weakness of the entire body.

This shows that the human system is very complex. All processes are closely related and interdependent. This has to be taken into account for all disease processes.

Let us now look at the individual COVID-19 disease symptoms published by the BAG on the basis of the classical works of Ayurveda, Caraka- or Suśruta-Saṃhitā.

Symptom 1: Dry cough (kāsa)

Ayurvedic Pathogenesis (saṃprāpti)

The pathology of coughing is described in the Caraka-Saṃhitā as follows:

Since the vāyu (wind, air) is blocked in the lower part of the body, it moves upwards, attacks the transport channels in the upper part of the body, takes over the function of udāna-vāta (i.e. the function of breathing) and settles in the neck and chest. This vāyu enters the head (infects) and fills all channels (cavities =srotas) of the head to cause bending (breaking) and stretching of the body, the jaws, the sides of the neck (sterno-mastoid muscle) and the eyes. Then, this vāyu, after causing the contraction and stiffness of the eyes, the back, the chest and the sides of the chest, leads to coughing (kasanāt), which can be dry or mucous and is therefore called kāsa. (Ca.Ci. 18.6-8)

Our breathing is controlled by prāṇa-vāta, the breathing energy. Prāṇa corresponds to the Chi of Traditional Chinese Medicine. People with a strong prāṇa have a strong will, good nerves and a good charisma. A weak prāṇa leads to fears, worries, sleep disorders, diseases of the lungs, heart and nervous system.

In the case of coughing (kāsa), prāṇa-vāta and udāna-vāta are disturbed, which manifests as an increased cough reflex. In the further course of the disease, kapha (e.g. mucous sputum) and pitta (e.g. fever, thoracic burning) may be involved in the disease process.

Causes for disorders in the prāṇa-vaha-srotas are: heavy cold, greasy food, cold, cold food and cold drinks, overexertion, hard physical work, fasting, alcohol, smoking, viruses, bacteria, etc.

Symptoms of disturbed prāṇa-vaha-srotas are: respiratory distress, shortness of breath (dyspnea), hyperpnea, obstruction of breathing, painful breathing, pathological breathing sounds, coughing, asthma, throat, nose, ear disorders.

Remedies that support the prāṇa-vaha-srotas: Haridrā (Curcuma longa = turmeric), Śuṇṭhī (Zingiber officinalis = ginger), Pippalī (Piper longum), Yaṣṭīmadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra = liquorice), etc. but also Maṇḍūkaparṇī (Centella asiatica), Brāhmī (Bacopa monieri), Aśvagandhā (Withania somnifera).

Exercises: Pranayama exercises regulate the breath, balance the prāṇa-vāta, strengthen the prāṇa-vaha-srotas, soothing the mind, emotions and nervous system.

Classical Reference

Caraka points to the following causes that lead to dry cough:

Causes (Ca.Ci. 18.10)

• Intake of dry, cold and astringent food
• Food in small or insufficient quantities (pramita) or no food at all (anaśana)
• Suppression of natural body needs, especially sneezing and coughing stimuli as well as strenuous breathing
• Excessive physical stress

Symptoms (Ca. Ci. 18.11-13)

• Unbearable pain in the heart region, on the side of the chest and in the chest and headaches
• Severe hoarseness
• Dryness in the chest, throat and mouth
• Dry cough
• Goosebumps and fainting
• Loss of strength
• The mucus that comes out with the pain is semi-solid (dry)
• The ascending vāyu (which is the cause of this suffering) gets worse after digestion of the food, etc.

Symptom 2: Respiratory distress and shortness of breath (śvāsa)

Causes of coughing (kāsa) and shortness of breath (śvāsa) are very similar and have already been mentioned. (Ca.Ci. 17.10-16)

Ayurvedic Pathogenesis (saṃprāpti)

The pathogenesis of shortness of breath, dyspnea is based on the fact that vāta and kapha are aggravated with the tendency to connect and block the respiratory tracts (prāṇa-vaha-srotas) leading to shortness of breath. In the long term, dyspnea has a weakening impact on the heart (hṛdaya), but also on all tissues (“drying out”). For this reason, the heart should be supported with appropriate remedies (Arjuna, Crataegus marianus, etc.) at this stage.

Symptoms 3: Fever, muscle pain and sore throat

Summary: BAG published COVID-19 disease symptoms

The Ayurvedic pathogenesis (saṃprāpti) shows that mainly an aggravated vāta-and kapha-doṣa as well as the prāṇa- and rasa-vaha srotas are involved in the COVID-19 disease process. If, additionally, fever and signs of inflammation occur, an aggravated pitta-doṣa and āma are also involved.

Therapy strategy

The therapy strategy is to reduce the aggravated vāta and kapha by appropriate measures, remedies, nutrition and an adapted behaviour, and, if necessary, an āma therapy. Furthermore, it is necessary to balance the pathological conditions of the transportation tracts, especially the prāṇa and rasa-vaha srotas. Heat, hot food, hot drinks, heat applications and rhythm are especially important.

Therapy

Prophylaxis

• Compliance with hygiene regulations of the Federal Office of Public Health
• Strengthening the immune system: Cyavanaprāśāvaleha or Brahma Rasayana or Amrit Kalash MA 4 – 2 teaspoons 2 x daily, MA 4T (for diabetics), MA 5
• Oil extraction (gaṇduṣa): Take 2 tablespoons of sesame oil or ghee and keep it for about 10 minutes in the mouth.
• Nasal rinsing with lukewarm water in physiological saline solution
• (1 teaspoon salt to 1 l water) prevents colds.
• Nasya: 2-3 drops of sesame oil in each nostril are nurturing the nasal mucous membrane, strengthen the senses and prevent colds and headache.
• Nutrition: Doṣa related food adapted to the individual constitution (prakṛti)
• 1 – 2 x per day warm, cooked, freshly prepared meals; do not overeat
• High quality, organic food
• Warming spices: Curcuma, ginger, pippali, cinnamon, nutmeg, galangal, cardamom, black pepper, ajwain
• Regular meals
• No snacks between meals
• No heavy digestible and srotas-blocking (abhiṣyandī) food (e.g. cheese, yoghurt)
• No unsuitable food combinations: Especially milk should not be combined with acidic and salty foods or bananas, e.g. in the form of fruit muesli with milk.
• Avoid industrial white sugar
• Sufficiently warm drinks
• Conduct: Good daily rhythm, light gymnastics or movement, yoga, breathing exercises, meditation

Supportive therapy for COVID-19 disease

 Medication

• Strengthening the immune system: Cyavanaprāśāvaleha or Brahma Rasayanaor Amrit Kalash MA 4 – 2 teaspoons 2 x daily, MA 4T (for diabetics), MA 5
• Decoction (kvātha): Pathyādī-kvāthaor Daśamūla-kvāthaor Kaṇṭakārī (Solanum xanthocarpum)-kvātha. Dose: 30 – 40 ml 2 x daily.
• Āriṣṭa: Daśamūlāriṣṭa, Vāsāriṣṭa, Drākṣāriṣṭa. Dose: 12 – 24 ml 2 x daily after meal
• Ghṛta: For dry, vāta-dominated cough: ghī (medicated butterfat) or Kaṇṭakārī -ghṛta. Dose: 10 – 20 ml, 1 – 2 x daily until the symptoms subside
• Nasal application: Anu-taila or Ṣaḍbindu-taila or MP16 or Yaṣṭīmadhu taila. Dose: 2 drops in the morning on the palm of the hand and insert with the finger in each nasal opening (nasya)
• Cūrṇa / Āvaleha

Exteral Applications

• Thoracic sesame oil massages with rock salt
• Thoracic heat
• Inhalations: with Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) or MA 634 (Ayurvedic mint oil)

Nutrition

Recommended during the infection:

• Light, warm, freshly prepared and cooked food
• Vegetable soups
• Some sweet fruit
• Preferably vegetarian food
• Warming spices: turmeric, cumin, ginger, saffron, cinnamon
• Honey, raisins, dates
• Hot drinks: warm water, ginger tea, thyme tea, liquorice tea, vanapsika tea

Avoid:

• Vāta– and kapha-aggravating food
• Cold food and drinks
• Cheese, yoghurt
• Heavy digestive and srotas-blocking (abhiṣyandī) food
• No unsuitable food combinations: Especially milk should not be combined with acidic and salty foods or bananas, e.g. in the form of fruit muesli with milk. It is recommended not to consume anything else for 1.5 hours before and after drinking milk.
• White sugar

Conduct

Recommended:

• Breathing exercises (prāṇāyāma)
• Rhythmic lifestyle
• Silence

Avoid:

• Cold
• Humid and cold climate
• Too much talking
• Excessive physical stress
• Suppression of natural cleansing reflexes

Ayurveda is an ancient and complex medicine. If there is not proper expertise, home use is strongly discouraged. In this case, it is best to contact a naturopathic practitioner in Ayurveda medicine in your region.

Contact

Sabine Anliker
Ruopigenplatz 8
CH – 6015 Lucerne
www.ayush.ch