3/28/2020 CoronaVirus: Ayurvedic Analysis, Possible Prevention, Treatment Principles, Remedies

CoronaVirus: Ayurvedic Analysis, Possible Prevention,

Treatment Principles, Remedies
By Dr Sandeep Bekal and Dr Janardhana V Hebbar Disclaimer: This is a theoretical article
about how far can Ayurveda be useful in preventing or treating the symptoms of
CoronaVirus. We are not claiming to prevent it or cure it. Do not follow any advice given in
this article (or any part of this website) without consulting your doctor. We have not cured or
prevented any patients of Coronavirus with below treatment, neither do we claim that below
mentioned treatments cure it or prevent it. Consider it as a mere conceptual article without
any value. Do not try any home remedies or treatments discussed below.

Important tips
1. If you are running short of hand sanitizer, just use soap and water to wash your hands. It is
equally effective to kill the virus. 2. Some say that the Indian government is over-reacting.
Corona is not lethal for most, we should get exposed to Corona to develop immunity
etc.Suppose you get infected, your children, parents, grand parents will also get
infected.Mortality rate (death rate) of corona is 8% for people above 70 and 22% for people
above 80 years.If you are of the opinion of the first paragraph, you do not mind losing your
parents and grand parents. Good luck with that. But do not kill parents and grand parents of
your neighbors, co-workers, friends and other family members.Keep yourself and your
excessive thoughts quarantined. Please follow the government directive.

3. Possible remedies –

Use more spices in diet – turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, Chew Tulsi leaves, herbal tea of
Tulsi, Licorice, neem, turmeric, long pepper, ginger is a good preventive remedy. 4. Apply a
thin layer of ghee to the inner side of nostrils. Use eye drops, oil pulling etc explained in the
below paragraphs.

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What is CoronaVirus?
It is a large family of viruses causing illness from the common cold to more severe diseases
like the MERS-CoV – middle east respiratory syndrome AND Severe acute respiratory
syndrome SARS-CoV. Novel corona virus is a new strain that has not been previously
identified in humans. This is transmitted from animals to man.

Symptoms
Three important symptoms are – Dry cough Fever Chest pain, breathing difficulty

Recently many Covid 19 positive patients are complaining about loss of taste (anorexia) and
lack of smell (anosmia). These two symptoms stay longer in the patients, even after fever and
other symptoms have subsided.

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Other symptoms Stuffy nose Pharyngitis Malaise Myalgia Diarrhea Headache, bodyache,
finger joints, joint pains especially associated with fever Shortness of breath

Symptoms In severe cases Pneumonia Severe acute respiratory syndrome Kidney failure
Death Generally more than 80% of the infected lot develop only mild form of the disease. A
little above 10% develop severe form.

Ayurveda – Epidemic Diseases

Concept of Epidemic Diseases in Ayurveda: Ayurvedic scholars and exponents of
antiquity like Sushruta and Charaka recorded communicable and epidemic diseases in their
works as aupasargika roga and janapadodhvansa respectively.

The concept of janapadodhwamsa mentioned in Ayurveda refers to the situation where there
is wide spread damage to environment as well as life forms. Janapadodhvansa literally
means destruction or annihilation of communities or settlements. Epidemics and outbreaks
of highly communicable diseases have blighted mankind since time immemorial.

Charaka Samhita’s reference about highly communicable diseases, prevention tips Charaka
Samhita, Vimana Sthana 3rd Chapter.

Thought provoking questions by Agnivesha

How do all individuals having different physical constitution etc., suffer from the same
diseases, due to the same set of causative factors? •common factors which often get adversely
affected, resulting in simultaneous outbreak of diseases having similar symptoms that
destroy communities. The common factors which affect mass population
are vayu (air), udaka (water), desha (land) and kala (season).

Modes of transmission: Sushruta Samhita Nidana Sthana 5th ChapterPrasanagat – close

interaction Gatra samsparshat – physical contact with the diseases individual Nishwasa –

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through inhalation, droplet infectionSahabhojanat – close contact such as sharing

foodSahashayya – sleeping togetherAsana – using same sitting arrangementVastra – using
same clothUsing the same cosmetics Malya – wipes and hand kerchief

Understanding Corona Through Ayurveda

Samprapthi ghatakas – Pathology blocks

Dosa – In severe cases, all the three Doshas are vitiated, with specific aggravation of Kapha
Dosha. Dooshya – Rasa Dhatu – nutritious fluid formed after digestion – Usually in all
fevers, Rasa dhatu is directly involved. Agni – manda – low digestion strength Ama – Sama –
Symptoms of Ama – altered digestion and metabosim are evident. Srotas – Pranavaha srotas
– respiratory tract, Rasavaha Srotas – Rasa channels Sroto dusti prakara – atipravritti and
sangha – Excessive flow, blockage Avasta – atyayika avasta – Requires immediate care Site
of origin – Udhbava sthana – Agantuja – external factor – a virus, Amashaya – Stomach –
usually the site of origin of fever. Spread area – Sanchara sthana – urdhwa shareera – upper
part of the body Symptoms exhibited area – Vyakta – urdhwa shareera – upper part of the
body, where Kapha is naturally dominant.

Treatment for communicable diseases:

Panchakarma – five elimination therapies (viz., emesis, purgation,
enema- niruha and anuvasana types and errhines) are considered the best. Rasayana
chikitsa (rejuvenation treatment with anti ageing, immune boosting
medicines)Symptomatic treatment

Non-medicinal treatment: Truthfulness, compassion for living beings, charity, sacrifices,

worship of God, observance of right conduct, tranquility, prophylactic protection of oneself
and seeking one’s own good, residing in a wholesome country,service to those observing
brahmacharya (celibacy) and following it. Discussion of religious scriptures, constant
association with the righteous, the well disposed and those who are approved by the elders-
all this with a view to protecting life has been termed ‘medicine’ to those who are not
destined to die in that critical time.

Possible Principles of Corona Management with Ayurveda

Principles of management of Corona:For the conditions affecting pranavaha srotas one
has to adopt Shwasa chikitsa – the treatment recommended for Breathlessness and related
disorders.

Principles of management of shwasa

Main emphasis is on Vata Kapha With an emphasis on pitta sthana.

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Treatment:External massage with karpooradi thaila or Lavana Taila – sesame oil mixed
with rock saltFollowed by nadi sweda (sweating treatment through pipes) Prastar (exposing
to hot materials and inducing sweating) and Sankara sweda (bag of heated herbs used for
sweating)

This treatment helps to open up clogged passages of respiratory tract.

This also enables the easy movement of vata Dosha in respiratory tract.

Treatment based on the condition of the patient and Dosha Durbala – with less
strength – improving strength and immunity Balawan – good strength – Panchakarma
detoxification procedure, as the patient strength is good and he can tolerate strong
proceduresKaphadhika – kapha is increased – Vamana Panchakarma Vatadhika – vata is
more – Basti – Enema treatment Kaphadhika and balawan – Panchakarma and rasayana
prayoga (rejuvenating medicines) Durbala and vatadhika – Weak and Vata aggravated
condition – tarpana – nourishing treatment

Management of dry cough: Dry cough is a common manifestation and therefore it has to
be managed with snehana (supplementation of oleaginous material). It is treated with Gritha
– rasna dashamooli gritha, vasa gritha, kantakari gritha, vidaryadi gritha etc.. Basti – Enema
treatment – As relevant – mostly anuvasana Basti – oil or fat enema Ksheera – medicated
herbal milk – Eg: Garlic milk or Long pepper milk Yoosha – soups added with trikatu
(ginger, pepper, long pepper) Fat rich diet mixed with spicesAdminister foods like barley,
kodo millet, finger millet, oats You slightly spice up the dishes that you consume, especially
with trikatu – ginger, pepper and long pepper.

Dhoomapana – herbal smoking:

When the Doshas are aggravated in minute quantity in respiratory tract, then they may
produce a discomfort with mild wheeze (with a block in the air way there is a typical musical
sound that is produced) heard. In such instance herbal smoking is very useful in reliving the
block and congestion in the respiratory tract. Method of herbal smoking: Turmeric,
castor leaves Laksha ( Laccifer lacca)Devadaru ( Cedrus deodara)

Do it yourself –

Take turmeric and neem powder – 1 tablespoon. Mix it with a teaspoon of ghee. Burn it on
hot pan and expose yourself to the fumes coming out of it.

The above are purified appropriately and then powdered and made into a wick with ghee or
oil and then dhoomapana is done.

Simple combination for herbal smoking:

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If only a few ingredients are available then use them accordingly. •Simple and effectively we
can use turmeric and along with cinnamon, cardamom and clove. •Powder the above and mix
them well and then smear them on a thin cotton cloth dip it in a little of sesame oil or ghee
then use It for dhoomapana.

Swedana – sweating treatment: Local fomentation through various means when there is
a cold nose and chest congestion. Fomentation can be in the form of dhara (pouring warm or
hot liquids or oil).Using kanji( fermented gruel), dhanyamla (fermented liquid), takra for
dhara is ideal.Oil such as karpooradi thaila, chinchadi tahila, marichadi thaila etc is
helpful.Bags of some monocots, dicots and legumes can be used for fomentation.Eg : sesame,
horse gram, black gram, wheat etc they can be used dry or wet immersing them in amla
dravya (kanji, dhanyamla, buttermilk)

Pachana and Agni deepana – treatment to improve digestion: Sanjeevani

vatiSamshamani vati Agnitundi vatiKravyada rasa Chitrakadi vatiShivakshara pachana
choorna

Vamana treatment: Madana phala yoga along with licorice, rock salt, in the form of herbal
paste (lehya) for easy administration or it may be used in the form kashaya or phanta (hot
infusion) Note – if vamana is done in the absence of kapha dosa then it may lead to
problems.

Management of fever: The type of fever considered here is Agantuja jwara – fever due to
external causes, in this case, virus. Here the emphasis is on vata dosha Gritha kalpana such
as the Indukanta gritha Sukumara gritha Kalyanka gritha are used.

Medicines used in pranavaha srotas Taleesadi choorna, Sitopaladi choorna – Both are
very useful against cough, cold and breathing problems Karpooradi choorna – improves
digestion and respiratory health Shatyadi choorna – improves breathing Dhanawantara vati,
Vayu gulika – general supplement for all things related to immunity, digestion, respiration
and metabolismShwasa kasa chintamani rasa – Herbo-mineral preparation, requires
doctor’s prescription to take, useful in asthma, breathing difficulties, shortness of breath.

Elakanadi kashaya – Herbal decoction used in chronic bronchitis, asthma Balajeerakadi

kashaya – useful in cough, cold, asthma. Dahamoolakatutrayadi kashaya – healthy
combination of 10 roots (Dashamoola), Trikatu and Vasa (Adhadota vasica) – useful in fever,
weak digestion and respiratory diseases Dashamoolarista – useful in inflammation, joint
pain, fever and respiratory diseases Kanakasava – good broncho-dilator. Improves breathing
Vasakasava, Pushkaramoolasava – Reduces cough, improves breathing, relieves chest pain,
discomfort Tamboolavalehya – Made of betel nut dashamoola hareetaki – eases breathing
Gomutra hareetaki – useful in fever associated with cold, cough

Fever medicines – Langhana (fasting or light diet) initially Followed by anti-fever

medicines Amritottara kashaya – very useful in fever Drakshadi kashaya – useful in fever
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with very high body temperature. Sudarshana ghana vati Balaguti sanjeevani
vatiAmritharista Sudarshanasava Pariapatadi khada Tribhuvan keerti rasa Mritunjaya rasa
Godanti bhasma etc…

Symptomatic treatment: Headache – steam inhalation with marmani lepa Diarrhea with
fever – Ananda bhairava rasa Body ache – mild sweating treatment Cold – lakshmi vilasa
rasas, pippalyasava, varanadi kashaya, kanchanara guggulu – especially when Kapha is high

Ayurvedic Prevention Remedies For Corona

Common methods to prevent infection spread Regular hand wash –Covering the
mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing Thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoiding
contact with those showing symptoms of coughing or sneezing. Food should be warm and
freshly made.

Precaution for roots of entry The root of entry are suitable for the virus are the exposed
areas. These areas have to be secured and there is primary reference for this in Ayurveda in
terms of dinacharya- healthy daily regimen

Precaution for roots of entry Vamana – kapha kala – spring season Anjana – eye
collyrium Nasya – nasal medication administration Dhooma – medicated smoke kavala
gandoosha – oil pulling or gargle Karna poorana – for the ear Abhyanga – oil massage
regularly Dhoopana – Fumigation for the environment

Vamana – kapha kala This being the vasanta rithu and the time when the kapha dosa
accumulates. As the kapha accumulated in excess can always predispose to the diseases of
respiratory tract and precisely the COVID – 19 has an affinity to respiratory tract. Therefore
if kapha is in excess one has to eliminate the kapha dosha as per the eligibility of the patient.

Anjana – eye The eye salve is very useful. You may use the eye drops as mentioned in
ayurveda – souveeranjan. Market available eye drops also may be used alternatively.

Nasya – nasal medicationAnuthaila nasya is mentioned for regular use but one may use
this as per the requirement. •One or two times a day at least.

Dhooma – medicated smoke Medicated smoke inhaled through mouth and exhaled
through mouth is the method mentioned in Ayurveda. Kavala – gandoosha – oil pulling or
gargle •This is a method of mouth rinse or gargle with appropriate material like decoction,
oil, ghee etc.

Karna poorana – for the ear Application of appropriate oil to the ears. Kshara thaila Vacha
lashunadi thaila Marichadi thaila

Dhoopana – FumigationAparajitha (Clitorea ternatea) dhoopa is a very good treatment

for disinfecting the environment. Or, Collect a handful of below items in an iron or steel pan.
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Put it on fire. Expose all parts of your home to the fumes coming out of it.

Garlic skin, onion skin, mustard, rock salt, neem leaves, white dammar, Shallaki, Vacha,
Guggulu, Sarja, Raala (Ral), Agarwood (Agaru), Cedarwood (Devadaru) (Courtesy – Dr
Ajayan Sadanandan).

Abhyanga – oil massage regularlyDoing oil massage regularly is a very important

maneuver which is to be done with slight modification.

Useful Preventive Herbal Tea Combinations

Three herb rule I asked many Ayurveda practitioners the below question: If you were to
pick only three herbs for preparing a Kashaya for corona prevention, what those three
herbs would be? Dr JV Hebbar – Tulsi, Guduchi and ginger. Holy Basil is a potent anti
viral, Guduchi is a potent immunity booster. Ginger takes care of fever and also respiratory
system. So, I am hoping that it will covers most of the prone organs and systems.

Gita, Australia –

Neem, turmeric and amalaki OR

Neem turmeric and trikatu (ginger, black pepper and long pepper)

Neem is good for fever, boosts immunity. Turmeric takes care of allergy and also immunity.
In case of allergic cough and sneezing, unrelated to Covid, this can be useful. Trikatu
promotes digestion strength, good for respiratoy and black pepper is good for Agantuja
fevers – fever due to external factors such as insect bite, poisoning, microbes etc.

Hebbar – If someone uses Neem, turmeric and trikatu, I think it will be good to prepare
decoction of neem and turmeric in 3:1 ratio herbs and then add Trikatu as prakshepa over it
and consume. I propose this formula. Correct me if I am wrong.

10 grams Neem + 3 grams Turmeric + 2 cups of water, boil and reduce to half a cup. Filter.
To this, add 1-2 grams of Trikatu and serve.

Dr Padmavati, Bangalore – Tulsi, Neem and Guduchi – This doubles the fight against the
virus + Tulsi is both anti viral and strengthens respiratory system.

Ossi Viljakainen (Omkarnath), Finland –

Tulsi, Guduchi, haridra, ginger. In the first phase.

If its too much troublesome, the dry powder of all can be made into a mix and served with
honey or hot water.

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Later kantakari, Tulsi, Guduchi. Comments – Kantakari is very good for chest congestion,
dry cough and throat itching, soar throat, voice disturbances etc. So, a very good
combination, here again.

Dr Anil Yadav – Amalaki as good source of vitamin -C and immune booster.

My choice is , Guduchi + Tulasi + Haridra + Kiratikt ( chirayata) + neem + Shunthi ( dry

ginzer) + jaggery and make a decoction. and drink a empty stomach twice a day.

life span 24 hr. we can use upto 48 hrs. by refrigerator.

other choice is take daily giloy ghan vati + tulasi vati. 1 tb twice or thrice a day( 1 gm daily)
and gargle with haridra and salt daily morning and night. u can use also fitkari(alum) for
gargle.

Dr Hiral Vyas – Vasa, turmeric, long pepper.

I advise fresh kashayam(To make at home) to my patients using fresh vasa leaves, ajwain,
Ginger, salt, lemon, turmeric and black pepper. This gives instant relief in cold cough fever
breathing difficulties….have seen quick results with this in n number of cases so far

Comments – Thank you for putting your trust on Vasa. When it comes to antipyretic bitter
herbs, I just concentrate on neem, turmeric and guduchi but Vasa is also a very good
Jwarahara – anti-fever herb and is also useful in relieving difficulty in breathing.

Turmeric and long pepper both are useful in preventing fever and respiration disorders.

Honorable mentions – Kalamegha – Andrographis paniculata – It is a good antipyretic, no

doubt. But it is more related to fever- rakta vikaras, liver and skin issues and less related to
respiratory issues. It has immunity promoting effect as well. So, can be used, no
problems.Yashtimadhu – Licorice

Dr Achyuth Bharadhwaj –

Anupana – co-drink plays a major role in further acting as a catalyst for these drugs.In my
opinion, honey would seem ideal. Because of it’s Kapha hara, sukshma marganusari –
penetrates deep channels and it is a yoga vahi (catalyst) – improving the effectiveness if the
drugs multi-fold.Honey is essential Anupana here. Corona is more related to Kapha Dosha.
Honey also improves the taste of the combination, especially when we are using so much
bitter herbs.Just we need to make sure that Honey is not added directly to the hot herbal tea.
At least we should wait for it to become lukewarm.

Mona Bhatt

I usuually do a simple one from my grandfather, as soon as I feel any minor symptoms boil
water with clove, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, Himalayan black salt( helps in relieving the

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congestion) , black pepper and before drinking I add honey and fresh lemon juice. It has
already helped me.

Dr Gururaja MB, Shimoga – Neem, Guduchi, Aranya jeeraka (Centratherum

anthelminticum), Holy basil, ginger, turmeric, Eucalyptus. Eucalyptus would open up the
respiratory tract.

Aranya jeeraka is one of the ingredients of grany’s recipe of olden days…. It is antibacterial as
well as anti viral … One of the potent tikta rasa dravya and immunomodulator….

In olden days grandma use to prepare a decoction made out of kalamegha , saptaparna, and
aranya jeeraka with little bit of jaggery , it was the preventive measure in those days for any
seasonal viral or bacterial infections …. And it was highly bitter but quiet effective

Ayurvedic Medicines For Corona Prevention

Rasayana – anti aging medicines working on respiratory tract: Agastya rasayana
Chyavana prasha Tamboolavalehya Bramha rasayana Sarpiguda Kamsa hareetaki
Dashamoola hreetaki Eladi lehya Chitraka hareetaki

Immune boosters Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) Amalaki ( Embelica officinalis) Yasti

madhu ( Glycyrrhiza glabra) – Licorice Ashwagandha (withania somnifera) Vidari kanda
There are many more herbo-mineral preparations that are useful.

Tulsi Ashwagandha Guduchi Kirata Tikta parpataka Kantakari Brihati Dashamoola Neem
Turmeric Most of the spices spices

Avaleha – herbal jam Chyawanprash •Agastyaharitaki Rasayana Shwasahara leham

Vasaveha

Churna – herbal powders Sudarshana Churna Talisadi Churna, Sitopaladi Churna

Arishta – Fermented liquids Amritarishta Dashamularishta Parpatakarishta

Nimbamritasava Kanakasava Bhunimbadi Kada

Kashaya – herbal teas/ decoctions |Guduchyadi Amrutottara Gopanganadi

Nimbamritadi Panchatikta kashaya Nagaradi Kashaya Dashamoola Katutraya Kashaya
Panchatikta kashaya Tiktaka kashaya Mahatiktaka kashaya

Tablet options – Vyaghradi gulika Gopichandanadi gulika Kombanchadi gulika

Panchanimbadi vati Agasthyavyoshadi vataka Tulsi Ghanavati Sudarshan vati Samshamani
vati Trishun tablet Vilwadi gulika Vettumaran Gulika

Hebbar’s preventive Medicine Choices

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Dr Hebbar’s personal choice of prevention medicines 4 Tulsi leaves per day

Nimbamritadi panchakatikta kashaya fever – anti viral / immunity bosoter – Guduchyadi
kashaya / Amrutottara kashaya For prevention against respiratory symptoms:
Dashamoolarishta / Dashamoola katutraya kashaya, Shwasahara Leham, Chyawanprash.

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