Government looks at Ayurveda,Unani medicine to prevent flu

State Health Secretary,Ravi Saxena,said: “The government has accepted some ayurveda recipes that have certain preventive capacities but not curative capacities. The Health Department will check with the Department of AYUSH and come out with an official version after consulting the Centre. A statement from the government to use ayurvedic combinations as preventive medicine will be issued thereafter.”

On Wednesday,people made a beeline at the local ayurveda and unani stores,while the principal of a private school in the city advised parents to protect their children by using ayurvedic medicine. “Worried parents kept asking for advice as to what should be done to prevent swine flu. Therefore,after watching Baba Ramdev on television,I advised them to use tulsi paan [basil leaves and Sudarshan Ghanvati pills. These medicines can be used as preventive measures,” said Principal of Navarachna School,Bijoya Bakshi.

Meanwhile,in Raopura,which is close to the walled city of Vadodara,ayurveda and unani medicine stores are witnessing a steady flow of visitors since the outbreak of swine flu in the city. “We are getting about 35 customers daily,who ask for medicines such as Vanslochan (a bamboo extract),Lindipeepli (extracted from bell pepper),Yashtimadhu (a mixture of honey and basil leaf),Taj (clove extracts),elaichi (Cardamom) and sakar (candy sugar mixed with herbs such as basil leaves),” added Ganibhai Hakim from G Y Hakim and Sons in Macchipeeth,Raopura.

On the other hand,Ganesh Maharaj of Zandu Dawakhana,an old ayurveda shop,said five to 10 people like local autorickshaw drivers and shopkeepers ask for basil leaf extracts and soonth powder (ginger powder) after flu scare was rife in the area. “This is just a preventive measure. Allopathic treatment is the only way to tackle the flu,but ayurvedic and unani medicine can be used as pro-eclectic treatment,” added a private ayurveda practitioner,Vishal Pathak,who runs a small yet busy clinic near the Clock Tower of Raopura.

What is Swine flu?

Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by influenza virus that infects the respiratory tract of pigs and results in nasal secretions,bad cough,decreased appetite and listless behaviour. Swine flu virus may mutate so that they are easily transmissible among humans. The 2009 outbreak is due to the H1N1 virus and was first observed in Mexico

Symptoms

Symptoms of swine flu in humans are similar to most influenza infections: fever (100F or greater),cough,nasal secretions,fatigue and headache

Signs of warning in children

* Fast breathing or troubled breathing

* Bluish skin color

* Not drinking enough fluids/eating food

* Not waking up or not interacting

* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and bad cough

* Fever with rashes

Signs of warning in adults

* Difficulty in breathing

* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

* Sudden dizziness

* Severe or persistent vomiting

Treatment

Two antiviral agents,zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu),have been reported to help prevent or reduce the effects of swine flu if taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms

Is H1N1 contagious?

CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious

How does swine flu spread?

Spread of H1N1 virus is thought to be happening in the same way as that of seasonal flu. The virus spreads mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing,or by touching any surface that has the virus and then touching the mouth or nose.

How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?

Infected people should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possibly for up to 7 days following onset of illness.