Ayurvedic Treatment of Strongyloides Infection

Abstract

In countries like India, there is a great forfeiture of proper sanitation and hygiene in certain parts of the country, disease caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa and other parasites are quite common. We need to keep our surroundings immaculate, only then we can stave off the diseases caused by poor hygiene and sanitation. One such ailment is strongyloides infection and in this article it is going to be our main topic of discussion. We will scrutinize about how ayurveda will help you in manifesting such parasitic induce disease. Ayurveda is the ancient system of medicine which works on the tridosha theory (three principle energies of our body- vata, pitta & kapha) and panchamahabhuta theory (five basic elements of life)- akash (sky), vayu (air), agni (fire), jal (water) and prithvi (mother earth) they works on the base level of every pathology to combat disease like strongyloides infection.

Introduction

Strongyloides infection is caused by a parasitic roundworm known as Strongyloides stercoralis. This disease mainly affects humans when they come in contact with contaminated soil. The spread of this ailment occurs mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. Infection is transmitted through direct contact with the contaminated and affected soil during domestic and agricultural activities.

Etiological Factors

These are the main causes (nidan as per ayurveda) that results in formation of an ailment. As discussed earlier this ailment generated by a roundworm named S.stercoralis. Most of the humans get the infected by coming in contact with the contaminated soil.

As per ayurveda the causes of infectious disease are:

• Being in close contact with diseased person
• Through inhalation
• Eating food & sleeping together
• Sharing your used clothes.

Pathogenesis (Samprapti)

It means the complete process that leads to formation of an ailment starting from an etiological factor to the generation of disease. When a person comes in contact with S. stercoralis (a parasite), the life cycle of the worm gets started in the body and undergoes different stages as mentioned in below listed points.

• Firstly when a person comes in contact with soil infected with S.stercoralis, these tiny worms penetrate the outer layer of skin and enter into the bloodstream.
• Via bloodstream it moves and passes into the small intestine and their worm lays eggs and after that eggs hatch and become larvae.
• These larvae are expelled out from the body via fecal route and then it again infests the soil and this cycle continues and repeats itself by causing infection in other individuals.

Clinical Features

It includes the signs and symptoms. A symptom means the general complaints along with patients present in front of the physician. Signs: It means what a physician notices himself by observing the patient’s condition. In strongyloides infections following below listed symptoms are present.

• Intermittent diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Anorexia (loss of appetite)
• Emesis
• Presence of red rashes near the anal region
• Weight loss
• Bloating
• Heartburn
• Constipation
• Chronic bronchitis
• Urticaria
• Rashes.
• Fever
• Polydipsia
• Malaise and fatigue

Risk Factors

Risk factor means the causative agents that will boost up the spread of disease in a person. In strongyloides infection risk factors are related to poor sanitary, low hygienic conditions.

• Travelers who travel to various places thus might eat the contaminated food.
• People who are working in a child care home.
• Being in close contact with contaminated soils.

Diagnosis

It means how we can identify the disease. There are various methods:

1. Detailed physical examination of the patient
   • Inspection
   • Palpation
   • Auscultation
   • Percussion
2. Thorough and detailed history taking.
3. Blood test.

According to Ayurveda

The two most preferred diagnostic procedures used by a physician are as follow:

1. Trividh pariksha (Group of 3 diagnostic procedures)

• Darsha- Diagnosis is made by visual examination of the symptoms.
• Sparshan- Physician uses tactile examination to evaluate whether skin is cold/hot
• Prashan– Physicians ask direct questions from the patient, to evaluate the root cause of the disease i.e. history taking.

2. Asthavidh pariksha (set of 8 examination procedure)

• Nadi pariksha– By palpating the pulse rate of the patient.
• Mutra pariksha– By examining the urine of the patient.
• Mal pariksha– By stool examination.
• Jivha pariksha– By examining the tongue whether coated or not.
• Shabad pariksha– By listening to the natural sounds within the body like intestinal sound (peristalsis) sounds of moving body fluids.
• Sparsh pariksha– By observing the patient skin texture whether it is cool, wet or dry.
• Drik pariksha– When a physician inspects patient symptoms through his/her eyes.
• Akriti pariksha– When a physician evaluates the general appearance of a patient whether he/she looks dull, lethargic or fatigued etc.

Management

Before proceeding to the treatment protocol, firstly we need to know about certain preventive measures we could adapt to stop the advancement of disease into further complicated stages.

Prevention

In ayurveda our main focus is on to prevent the spread of disease by removing the root cause of ailment known as “nidan parivarjan chikitsa”

• By washing your hands frequently and regularly.
• Always opt to drink filtered or boiled water.
• Maintain personal hygiene.
• Avoid untreated & contaminated water.
• Keep your city clean and green.
• Eat food items by washing them properly.

Medication

According to ayurveda it is a “krimijanya vikar” (diseases caused by a parasite) Acharya charaka in viman sthan chapter 7 “vyadhit rupiya viman” explain the treatment of ‘krimi rog’ as:

1. Apkarshan (elimination) by using sheerovirechan(nasya karma), vaman (vomiting induce procedure), virechan (excreting out toxins through anal route).
2. Prakriti Vighat (extinction of etiology) through using rough, hard food substances.
3. Nidan Parivarjana (etiology avoidance) by avoiding the cause. In this disease it means avoiding coming in close contact with soil.

If one needs to take the medication go for natural herbs available in our surroundings. There are numerous herbal medicines manufactured by planet ayurveda, a leading name in the field of medicine, who are serving mankind through their holistic approach.

Some formulations of ‘Planet Ayurveda’ are as follow

1. Wormistop Capsules

This herbal formulation consists of medicinal herbs such as Palaash (Butea monosperma), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Sonth (Zingiber officinale) and vidang (Piper retrofractum). As the name of this herb is wormistop, it signifies its prime role in stopping the growth of worms (parasites) in the body. Vidanga has been mentioned in our ancient classical texts as the best krimighna herb which means it works as anthelmintic in action.

Dosage– 1-2 capsules two times a day with plain water after the meals.

2. Mahashankh Vati

This herbal formulation contains ingredients such as chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica), pippali (Piper longum), shuddha tankan (Purified Sodium Biborate), danti (Baliospermum montanum) etc. All these herbs possess tridosha shamak property that will help in subsiding the symptoms like stomach pain, improves digestion and helps in maintaining healthy metabolism of the body.

Dosage– 1-2 tablets twice or thrice daily after the meals with lukewarm water.

3. Sanjivani Vati

Sanjivani Vati is a diaphoretic and antipyretic ayurvedic formulation which is used for eliminating toxins (Ama Dosha) and alleviating fever. With its diaphoretic action it induces perspiration which is helpful in lowering the fever and eliminating various toxins (Ama Dosha) from the body. It has antimicrobial, antiviral, anthelmintic action which helps to fight against the various infections caused by microbes, bacterias, worms etc. Ingredients included in this herbal formulation are Vidanga (Embelia ribes), pippali (Piper longum), Amlaki (Emblica officinalis), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Shuddh Vatsnabh (Aconitum ferox- purified), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) etc.

Dosage– 1-2 tablets two or three times a day with lukewarm water.

4. Digesto Plan Syrup

This herbal formulation contains various medicinal herbs such as ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi), amalaki (Emblica officinalis), haritaki (Terminalia chebula), sonth (Zingiber officinale), jeerak (Cuminum cyminum), dhanayak (Coriandrum sativum), shatapushpa (Antheum sowa) etc. This syrup piled up with herbs works really well in problems like indigestion, loss of appetite and these are the common complaints of patients suffering from strongyloides infection.

Dosage: 1 tsp two times a day after meal.

Conclusion

We can stop the prevalence of such an infectious disease by staying a little more active and accountable, keeping our environment utterly unblemished and cleansed. For ayurvedic treatment one should go for planet ayurveda as their products are 100% pure and organic, free from harmful chemicals and preservatives. You can approach them by sending your queries on herbalremedies123@yahoo.com or can also visit them at their clinic located at Mohali, Punjab. Feel free to approach us. We are here to serve best to mankind.