Chikungunya, also known as Chicken Guinea, is a viral infection caused by an alpha virus that is spread by mosquitoes. The name of the disease means ‘that which bends up’, reflecting the physique of a person suffering from this disease. Chikungunya virus is highly infectious and disabling. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, chills, rash, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, and joint pain. The joints of the limbs swell and are painful to the touch. Symptoms usually last 3 to 14 days. Children, pregnant women and stressed people are more prone to complications.
Ayurvedic Chikungunya treatment aims to control the viral infection, treat or reduce symptoms, and prevent complications. For viral infection, medicines like Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Bhumiamalaki (Phyllanthus niruri), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Bhrungraj (Eclipta alba), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Pippali (Piper longum) and Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa). To treat the symptoms, medicines like Tribhuvan-Kirti-Ras, Maha-Sudarshan-Ras, Triphala-Guggulu, Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Kamdudha-Ras and Laghu-Sutshekhar are used.
Muscle and joint pain in this condition can be severe and debilitating. To control these symptoms, medications like Triphala-Guggulu, Yograj-Guggulu, Vish-Tinduk-Vati, Vat-Gajankush-Ras, Maha-Vat-Vidhwans-Ras, Sinhanaad-Guggulu, Punarnavadi-Guggulu, Dashmool-Arishta, Nirgundi (Vitex negundo), Nishottar (Operculina turpethum), Chitrak (Plumbago zeylanica), Tagar (Valeriana wallichii), Guggulu (Commiphora mukul) and Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa). Some patients develop a condition called neutropenia in which there is a reduction in white blood cells. To treat this, medications such as Suvarna-Malini-Vasant, Abhrak-Bhasma, Suvarna-Parpati, Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) are used.
It is important to confirm the diagnosis of Chikungunya through laboratory tests, since the clinical appearance of both Chikungunya and Dengue is similar. Adequate precautions should be taken to prevent mosquito bites, in order to avoid the transmission of this disease.