Interview of Dr. Vikram Chauhan & Dr. Meenakshi Chauhan
Interviewer: Hello Dr. Vikram and Dr. Meenakshi, these days most of people are afraid of swine flu as it is spreading very quickly. Dr. Vikram was saying that it is scattering in humans speedily and people have become panic. Still in Ayurveda there are some solutions. Firstly we want to know what is this swine flu and how does it effect?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan: Swine is basically related to pig, generally swine flu occurs in pigs especially in winter season. At times this virus gets spread from swine (pigs) to humans under poor hygienic conditions. When swine flu infected person comes in the contact with other people then this virus starts infecting them too. Mode of transmission of virus is sneezing or nasal secretions. Swine flu is like influenza virus so there is need to be afraid too much, by taking the precaution you can protect yourself from this.
Interviewer: Dr. Vikram you have explained that how does this swine flu spread between human but Dr. Meenakshi could you explain something for prevention of this virus. Which common things should be taken care for preventing this virus?
Dr. Meenakshi Chauhan: Its prevention is very important as we are seeing that people have frightened. Whole population of India is suffering and even this virus is spreading very rapidly in outer countries. Every day in the newspaper we read about the deaths of people due to swine flu and people have become panic. So there is no need to be fearful because Ayurveda has a very good treatment. We can’t say it is disease oriented as such there is no particular name has been mentioned in Ayurveda. But its treatment is described like that it is type of flu so we have to work on our body’ capacity that is immune system. Hence in Ayurveda there are very good herbs to boost up the immune system. Moreover home remedies which I used to talk, in this case, we can use Margosa, Holy basil, Turmeric, Asafetida, camphor such common things available in our kitchens or we can easily get from neighborhood shops therefore by using such things we can create a borderline. Proper hygiene levels are significant for instance in our cars we can use the neem based or aloe vera based sanitizers. In the case of school going children small packets can be made by mixing the few drops of eucalyptus oil and powder of neem leaves with one camphor cube. We can keep such packet in their bags and ask them to smell it time to time if they come in contact with one of their swine flu infected friend. Additionally during the sleeping time in your children room you can keep that packet below their pillow by doing this there are not even the chances of flu hence swine is far way.
Interviewer: Dr. Meenakshi in the case of children we can do this but people who are working or go out side or the some people who visit our home so what can be done for prevention from them. Explain some things which should be taken care of?
Dr. Meenakshi Chauhan: Yes definitely, in this case particularly to my ladies listener I want to say that don’t give so much importance to your work. For the continuity of work you are forcing your maid not to take off from work instead ask her to take rest if you observe the symptoms of fever, cold, sneezing or cough. Moreover make some ginger and holy basil decoction for her because it would be beneficial for her and you can also save your family. For outing purpose try to avoid to choose the crowded places in its place you can walk somewhere in fresh air in the garden. Be very careful in crowded malls or watching movies or while travelling in the metro or buses in such conditions always carry a proper cleaned napkin in order to protect yourself or others while you are coughing or someone else is doing. If you have touched here and there so once you reach at home, use the neem soap or something else for maintaining the proper hygiene. Wash your face and hands properly even before drinking water.
Interviewer: Dr. Meenakshi does this virus only transmit with air or it can spread from restaurant where people go for eating or can also spread from utensils usually shared at common places.
Dr. Meenakshi Chauhan: Yes we have seen that too if you are constantly eating something from the roadside vendors. They are serving the same spoons dipped in simple water or offering the water in same glasses. Suppose if earlier a person has suffered from flu and their salvia is present on the same spoons or glasses hence by using the same utensils there are more chances of those symptoms getting transferred into you so you must avoid it.
Interviewer: Dr. Vikram, are there some herbs in Ayurveda which can be taken to prevent this.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan: There are numerous herb in Ayurveda but besides this I will tell you some basic things. Firstly in Ayurveda it has been described that there is need to emphasize on our tendency to fight against disease or bal or ojas.
Interviewer: Immunity we call it.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan: Yes immunity which has been called. If our immunity is good till any flu or foreign invaders like viruses or bacteria can’t affect us. It is important to take sun bath because we get vitamin D from sun. There is good correlation of our body with this universe as Ayurveda it has been explained “visargadan vishepe somsurya anayatha dharyanti jagdeham kaph pitta anlasthata” which states like sun moon carry this universe in a similar way this vata, pitta and kapha carry our body. If there is the imbalance of vata, pitta and kapha in body then we get illness. So it is important to maintain the balance of vata, pitta and kapha. With seasonal changes, balance of vata, pitta and kapha gets up and down. In the falgun month, 11th month of year as per Hindu calendar sun enters into the sandhikal that is last 7 days of past season and 7 days of upcoming season days of month, at this time sun is in adan kaal which means it is very powerful and tends to take away the strength of people and cooling power of earth, at this time sun rays are very powerful due to that kapha starts melting and virus are very active. Mostly in spring season kapha gets vitiated so all the kaphaz diseases like cough, cold, phlegm especially swine flu start invading us. So it is very important to protect yourself in sandhikal that is last 7 days of past season and 7 days of upcoming season days of month. As in modern medicines it has also been said that we get vitamin D from sun which is not only related to calcium but it is equally important for immunity too. You vitamin levels will be good if you take the sun bath. Instead of this I tell you some herbs mentioned in Ayurveda by regular use of them you will be safe from swine flu. Tinospora (Giloy) is one of them, it is climbing herb, and you can dip the small piece of stem of giloy in water and drink that water on regular bases. You can also take giloy powder or giloy extract. Similarly use the turmeric on a regular basis. Consuming the tulsi (holy basil) tea morning evening or once in a day and you will be completely safe. Burn Guggul dhoop (resin of Comniphora) in your house by mixing the Asafoetida and turmeric and additionally you can add sandalwood in it too. It will create the fragrance and environment pure as it aids to kill the virus also. There are some Ayurvedic medicines as I have told. There is tree shirish (Lebbeck) which is quite effective to diminish the allergy and flu. For swine flu turmeric (haridra), tinospora (giloy) or generally I give the Ayurvedic medicines like Aller-G Care as it contains the extracts of Turmeric/Haridra, Margosa/Neem, Shirish/Lebbeck, Winter cherry/Ashwagandha in concentrated form. Therefore home remedies which I told earlier, to take them in more simple form you can have these Aller-G Care one morning, evening daily. Likewise if you are not getting tinspora naturally you can use Giloy capsules as it contain the extract of giloy. You can take one capsule twice daily. There is Immune Booster also which has Country gooseberry (Bhumi amla) that is beneficial for all type of flu, except this there are also grape seeds, cow colostrum. Cow colostrum (go piyush) is quite good for immunity as it enhances the immunity. Cow’s milk taken by calf generates lifelong immunity similarly mother’s 1st milk’s few drop gives the immunity to baby for whole life. Hence this Immune Booster is made from cow colostrum. These three medicine in Ayurveda can be used for the prevention from swine flu. As Dr. Meenakshi has told that try to stay away from crowded places for some time specially beginning of adan kaal (time when sun very powerful and tends to take away the strength of people and cooling power of earth). Try to maintain a proper hygiene thus you can protect yourself and don’t be afraid.
Interviewer: Dr. Vikram three medicines which you have prescribed, what is duration of regular use of them for enhancing immunity. So that we can escape from the attacks of flu or viruses.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan: Till influence of this swine flu is there or the pandemic is viral. Especially it is self-contained pandemic and gets resolve itself. So you can take medicines for 2-3 months and later with weather change this flu will be disappear itself. Therefore there is no need to be fearful.
Interviewer: Really you have given a great message to our viewers and listeners. Many of people will be able to come out from panic condition. Thank you very much Dr. Vikram and Dr. Meenakshi.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan and Dr. Meenakshi Chauhan: Thank you.
