chicken pox

What is chicken pox and causative factor for that

Chickenpox is a very contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

It mainly affects kids, but adults can get it, too. The telltale sign of chickenpox is a super-itchy skin rash with red blisters.

Over the course of several days, the blisters pop and start to leak.

Symptoms appear within 10 to 21 days after you’ve been in contact with someone who has the virus. Most people recover in about 2 weeks.

That's some information about the chicken pox, but today I'll discuss on the Ayurvedic perspective of chicken pox and Ayurvedic management of chicken pox.

Ayurvedic view of chicken pox (मसूरीका, रोमांतिका)

Ayurveda explains the cause of most skin rashes because of unbalanced Vata and Kapha which could happen due to faulty food habits as well as wrong lifestyle. Other factors like mental stress, anxiety & tension also take a toll on the body, especially the skin.

Causes and pathogenesis of masurika according to Ayurveda

कट्वम्ललवणक्षार विरुद्धाध्यशनाशनैः|
दुष्टनिष्पावशाकाद्यैः प्रदुष्टपवनोदकैः ||
क्रूरग्रहेक्षणाच्चापि देशे दोषाः समुद्धताः |
जनयन्ति शरीरेऽस्मिन्दुष्टरक्तेन सङ्गताः||
मसूराकृतिसंस्थानाः पिडकास्ता मसूरिकाः |
तासां पूर्वं ज्वरः कण्डूर्गात्रभङ्गोऽरतिर्भ्रमः|
त्वचि शोथः सवैवर्ण्यो नेत्ररागस्तथैव च ||(M.N)

Causes

Eating spicy, sour and salty foods
Viruddha aahara (that are not according to nature)
Excessive intake of beans, peas, lentils, etc.
Consuming spoiled wind and water

Pathogenesis

Due to all these causes, the vata gets aggravate and mix with vitiated blood and forms the masurika.

Signs and Symptoms of Chickenpox

Characteristic symptoms of chickenpox is red or pink rash that gets turned into itchy, fluid-filled blisters that eventually turn into scabs.

The rash may first appear on the face, chest and back then spreading to the rest of the body, which includes inside the mouth, eyelids or genital area.

Fever
Tiredness and ill feeling
Low appetite
Headache and body pains
Red rashes which develop into the fluid filled vesicles
Vesicles burst opens and heal
Complications like a bacterial infection, pneumonia, dehydration and shock

Ayurvedic management of chicken pox along with some home remedies

1. Neemb (Azadirachta indica)

The herb Neem (Azadirachta indica) has a special mention in management of Laghu masurika (Chicken pox) in Ayurveda. It is highly recommended to use its leaves for fumigation (pest control), bedding, etc for children having the condition.

Boil dry ginger powder, coriander seeds, musta, Tulsi in water and give it for drinking few sips every one hour.

2. Haridra khanda paka

To reduce itching you can give haridra khanda with lukewarm water twice a day.

3. Sudarshana churna & Guduchi

Sudarshana churna, Guduchi will help in managing fever.

4. Topical application of neemb

Take Neem leaves and crush them. Apply the paste to the affected areas. One can also add neem leaves in lukewarm bathwater.

5. Honey

Apply Honey (Shahad) regularly on the affected parts, which helps to heal chickenpox.

6. Soup

Take 100 grams of Carrot (Gaajar) and 60 grams of Coriander (Dhaniya) leaves. Cut into small pieces and boil them in the water for few minutes. Strain and cool the solution and drink the soup once a day for about a month.

7. Ardrak

Take a small piece of Ginger (Adrak), boil it in water. Later strain the solution and drink it.

Pathya Aahara (Food and Regimen For Chickenpox)

Light digestible food with warm water for drinking is recommended.

So During chickenpox, take food that doesn’t hamper the digestive fire or the metabolism.

Eat raw amlaki/amlaki powder, haldi(haridra), pomegranate (dadim), papaya, carrots, bitter gourd, and bottle gourd, sponge gourd.

Eat Daliya, green gram (cook with plenty of water), rice (cook in the open vessel).

Precautions during chicken pox

The affected area of the skin should be open, as much as possible, and apply the antibacterial , antifungal talcum powder Or powder of the aswatth (ficus religiosa), and vata (banyan tree’s bark), helps to reduce secretions and inflammation.
Take a bath with the water boiled with neem leaves.
Avoid taking mid-day sleep (दिवास्वप्न) as well as late-night waking up (रात्री जागरण).
Avoid taking junk food, oily food, bakery, and dairy products.
Isolate the child or infected person from the other children and people.