Swine Flu and You

There are total 162380 confirmed cases of H1N1 world over which exclude 1154 deaths (MoHFW, 2009 and WHO, 2009). Now, panic about H1N1 or Swine Flu continues in India. Within a span of just a fortnight, H1N1 has already taken away 19 lives. More than 1200 are confirmed cases carrying the virus. Are we really ready to tackle it? Lately, I heard some doctors describing preventive measures on national television and then came some suggestions from few Ayurvedic practitioners followed by Unani, Charaka and others. I am happy to see all the experts of different medicine system on a single platform to protect human race from H1N1.

On one hand, experts from modern science are working hard to invent vaccine to prevent or kill this deadly virus, and the other hand, we have different ancient medicine systems providing preventive and curative measures for the same. As per the experts working on H1N1 Flu research, the virus affects more to those who have poor immunity and resistance power. Kids, elderly, pregnant women, smokers, patients with respiratory disorders, patients undergoing surgery etc are more prone to this virus.

Interestingly, there are many herbs i.e. Giloe (Tinospora cordifolia), Beheda (Terminalia bellirica), Arjun (Terminalia arjuna), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) etc. which can be a boon for making medicines to combat Swine Flu. At this high time, when the whole world is trying to defeat this microbial attack, it is necessary to discuss and put in any information that can lead and support a new drug development. Hence, it is important to discuss traditional tribal´s knowledge about such herbs and their few potential formulations. Tribesmen in remote pockets of India such as Patalkot (Madhya Pradesh) and Dangs (Gujarat) practice few formulations to provide good health and immunity. This article aims to bring out one very interesting and simple formulation commonly practiced by tribal folks in Patalkot. All the herbs mentioned in this article are easily available at your grocer.

Herbs: Withania somnifera, Asparagus racemosus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Tribulus terrestris, Emblica officinalis, Terminalia arjuna and Tinospora cordifolia (Acharya and Shrivastava, 2008).

Formulation preparation: Powder of Withania somnifera roots (90g), Asparagus racemosus root (60g), Glycyrrhiza glabra roots (60g), Tribulus terrestris fruits (45g), Emblica officinalis fruits (75g), Terminalia arjuna bark (75g), and Tinospora cordifolia leaves (45g).

Dosage: 1 teaspoon (around 15g) powder should be taken and mixed thoroughly in lukewarm water and given twice everyday after meals for 15 consecutive days.

Plant Profiles:

1. Withania somnifera Dunal

Sanskrit- Ashwagandha, Turangi-gandha; Hindi- Punir, Asgandh; Bengali- Ashvaganda; Marathi-Askandha tilli; Gujarati- Ghodakun, Ghoda, Asoda, Asan; Telugu- Pulivendram, Panneru-gadda, Panneru; Tamil- Amukkura, Amkulang, Amukkuram-kilangu, Amulang-kalung (root), Aswagandhi; Kannada- Viremaddlinagadde, Pannaeru, Aswagandhi, Kiremallinagida; Punjabi- Asgand, Isgand; Rajasthani- Chirpotan.

2. Asparagus racemosus Willd.

Bengali- Shatamuli; Gujarati- Ekalkanto, Satavari; Hindi- Chatwal, Satawar, Satmuli, Shakakul; Kannada- Aheruballi, Ashadhi, Majjigegadde, Sipariberuballi; Malayalam- Chatavali, Satavari; Marathi- Asvel, Shatavari, Shatmuli; Oriya- Chhotaru, Mohajolo, Sotabori; Sanskrit- Satavari; Tamil- Ammaikodi, Inli-chedi, Kadumulla, Shimai-shadavari; Telugu- Pilli-gaddalu, Toalb-gaddalu; Madhya Pradesh- Narbodh, Satmooli; Rajasthan- Norkanto, Satawar.

3. Glycyrrhiza glabra L.

Sanskrit- Madhuka, Yashti-madhu; Persian- Bikhemahak; Hindi- Mulhatti, Jethi-madh; Bengali- Jashtimadhu, Jaishbomodhu; Marathi- Jeshta madha; Gujarati- Jethi madha; Telugu- Yashtimadhukam, Atimadhuramu; Tamil- Atimaduram; Kannada- Yashti madhuka, Atimadhura; Malyalam- Iratimadhuram.

4. Tribulus terrestris Linn. (Land-caltrops, Puncture-vine)

Sanskrit- Gokshura, Ikshugancdha; Hindi- Gokhru; Bengali & Oriya- Gakhura, Gokshra; Marathi- Lahangokhru, Sarala, Sharatte; Gujarati- Betagokhru, Mithagokhru, Nahanagokhru; Telugu- Chinnipalleru, Chirupalleru, Pallerukayalu (fruits); Tamil & Malayalam- Nerunji, Nerinjeekai (fruits); Kannada- Sanna neggilu; Ladakh- Rasha, Kokulla; Punjabi- Lotak, Bakhra; Rajasthani- Gokhatri, Gokhru-bara, Kanti, Gokhrusdesi.

5. Emblica officinalis Gaertn. syn. Phyllanthus emblica Linn. (Emblic Myrobalan, Indian Goosberry)

Sanskrit-Adiphala, Dhatri, Amalaka; Hindi- Amla, Amlika, Aonla; Bengali-Akla, Amlaki; Gujarati- Amali, Ambala; Telugu- Amalakamu, Usirikai; Tamil- Nelli; Kannada- Amalaka, Nelli; Malayalam- Nelli.

6. Terminali arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn.= T. cuneata Roth

Hindi- Arjuna; Bengali- Arjhan; Marathi- Sanmadat, Sadaru, Vellamarda, Gujarati- Sadado; Telugu- Yerramaddi; Tamil- Vellamatta; Kannada- Maddi; Oriya- Arjuno, Sahajo; Assamiya- Orjun; Punjabi- Arjan.

7. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers ex Hook. f. & Thoms. (Gulancha, Tinospora)

Sanskrit- Amrita, Guluchi, Jwarari; Hindi- Amrita, Giloe, Gulancha, Gulbel, Guloh, Gurcha, Jiwantika; Bengali- Golancha; Marathi & Gujarati- Gulvel; Telugu- Tippateege; Tamil- Amudem chindil; Kannada- Amrutoballi, Madhuparne, Uganiballi; Malayalam- Amrytu, Chittamritam; Oriya- Culochi.

The above mentioned formulation is for information purposes, please consult your family doctor before any application.

This article is co-authored by Dr Anshu Shrivastava of Abhumka Herbal Pvt Ltd- Ahmedabad, India.

Reference

Acharya, D. and Shrivastava, A. 2008. Indigenous Herbal Medicines: Tribal Formulations and Traditional Herbal Practices. Aavishkar Publishers Distributors, Jaipur. ISBN 978-81-7910-252-7.

MohFW, 2009. Information on Swine Flu. http://mohfw.nic.in/SWINEFLU.htm (as viewed on Aug 13th, 2009)

WHO (World Health Organisation), 2009. Pandemic (H1N1) 2009. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html (as viewed on Aug 13th, 2009)