Bird Flu: Ayurveda to the rescue

Ayurvedic experts say their project will check spread of disease among humans.

Melvyn Thomas

Jamnagar/Surat, March 3:  HIRAL DAVE/

EXPERTS from the Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, have come up with a project to control and prevent bird flu among humans. Following a nod from the State Health Ministry, the project will be implemented in the bird flu-affected areas in Gujarat with the help of the Surat Ayurvedic College.

   
  A kit with three items two disinfectants and a medicine to enhance the power of the immune system against the virus will be distributed under the project specially designed by the Gujarat Ayurved University to prevent and control bird flu among human beings, said S Sarvikar, vice-chancellor of Gujarat Ayurved University.

According to the Pharmacy Department, the disinfectant in powder form can be used for fumigation. When burnt with neem leaves, this disinfectant can clean and clear the air, killing bacteria and viruses found in the air. Besides, the kit would include shadbindu oil, five to six drops of which when poured in the nose, kills bacteria and viruses that may enter the body while breathing.

Also, the Gujarat Ayurved University has prescribed rasayab churna to enhance the power of the human immune system.  The formula for the disinfectant has been derived from the Kashyap Shahitya, authored by Maharshi Kashyap, an ancient Ayurved scientist, said Sarvikar. The composition of the disinfectant includes medicinal drugs like hing, rai, pilu, badri and neem.

The project has been designed following instruction from State Health Minister Ashok Bhatt during a meeting held on February 20 at Gandhinagar.   The disinfectant can be used in two ways. We suggest to people that they can do a yagya at the chowk in their village. Besides, they can also do fumigation using neem leaves at home, added the vice-chancellor.

According to the Gujarat Ayuerved University, officials of the Surat Ayuerved College have been given the responsibility to execute the project.

Surat Ayurvedic College authorities say that special emphasis has been given on dhoopan (fumigation) in the bird flu-hit villages of Uchchaal taluka. A local pharmacy (Parmanand Saraswati Pharmacy) at Varachha has been asked to prepare a standard dhoopana powder form having 18 to 20 different species like neem, loban, gugad, sarsav, chandan etc which will be distributed in each and every house in the 22 villages of Uchchaal taluka.

Principal of Surat Ayurvedic College, Dr Nanu Harkhani said Ayurveda advises the burning of special herbal preparation for many different purposes, including viruses and infections. The fumigation method is mainly aimed at sterlising the environment in the bird flu-hit villages of Uchchaal taluka.

Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of the Ayurvedic college, Dr Dinesh Bhatt said the dhoopan would release medicated fumes and sterilize the air for prophylactic and curative purposes.

He said An order has already been given for about 600 packets of dhoopa which will be further distributed in the villages. Our staff members would be visiting the villages for disseminating necessary information on fumigation.