Efficacy of Ayurvedic medications over contemporary management in Dengue

Abstract

Dengue is a fast emerging pandemic prone viral disease in many parts of the world. This mosquito borne viral infection, having a prevalence up to 50-100 milion annually among 100 endemic countries, putting almost half of the world’s population.The typical features of this fever includes sudden onset of fever, frontal headache, retro orbital pain, back pain, myalgia and transient macular rashes in first day. In a small number of cases, the disease develops into the life threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and plasma leakage or into dengue shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs. In Ayurvedic perspective, Acharya Caraka has explained Abhishangaja Jwara, one among the Agantuja Jwara, in which Bhutas are told to be one of the cause. Acharya Madhavakara has mentioned Vishama Jwara is having Bhuthanubandha. Agantuja Jwara is mostly Dhatu Ashraya. Hence Koshtasrita Dosha Chikitsa alone cannot give success. In the case of dengue, Rasa and Rakta Dhatu are mainly affected. Also the signs and symptoms are more or less similar to these Dhatu Vikara. Hence the aim of the treatment is to restore the Prakrita Karma of these Dhatu.