AYURVEDIC ASPECT OF RABIES AND ITS MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Rabies also known as Hydrophobia is an acute, highly fetal ‘Viral Disease’ of Central Nervous System caused by Rabid Animal Bite that is transmitted by infected secretions. Most commonly, transmission to humans takes place through exposure to saliva during a bite by an infected animal. The rabid virus is belonging from family Rhabdoviridae, with at least seven distinct types within the genus Lyssa virusare responsible for Rabies. In Ayurveda, Rabies is mentioned under the heading of Alark Visha. The infected rabid pet as well as wild animal like Dogs, Jackals, Foxes, Wolves, Bears, Tigers, Mule, Horses, Panther are responsible for Rabies. After bite the Sangyavah Strotas (Central Nervous System) will be affected due to vitiation of Doshas (body constitution). Local feature like penetrating wound with blackish blood along with numbness around the wound while prodromal and encephalitic phase along with Jalsantras (Hydrophobia) will be produced after systemic involvement. Squeeze out the blood from the wound and cauterization by warm ghee just after bite, followed by local application of Agad will be helpful to prevent the rabies. Internal medication after purgation by milk of Calotropis Procera will be helpful to control the rabies. Folk ware medicine are also highly used all over India to treat the rabies. Thus by using the concept of Ayurveda, Rabies (Alark Visha) can be easily prevented by means of first aid just after bite. It can be also treated by giving anti rabies herbal drug (Agadpan) and purification (Tikshna Sanshodhan) which is already mentioned in Ayurveda.