Report on Experience of NIS in treating  Chikungunya

During 2006-07, the sporadic occurrence of Chikungunya in Tamil Nadu has created panic among the people. Many cases reported to OPD of NIS. The details regarding Chikungunya mentioned in Siddha literature and experience of NIS in treating the cases are as follows:

 Chikungunya:

 Chikungunya is a contagious disease caused by a  virus (Polymorphic) and spreads through aedes agypti mosquitoes. It creates intensive pain in the joints with high temperature in humans. Originally non-fatal; but it may lead to fatal in a few cases. There is no specific treatment in modern medical system. The symptomatic treatment for mitigating pain and fever is anti-inflammatory Drugs in modern system.

 Siddha System:

 The clinical features of Chikungunya are similar to those of Vali Churam mentioned in the ancient scriptures of Siddha system of Medicine (Reference - Yugi Vaidhya Chindhamani Peru Nool). The following Drugs are used to control the acute conditions:

1)     Nilavembu Kudineer

2)      Amukkura Churanam

3)      Bramanandha Bairavam Mathirai

4)      Chitramutti thylum

5)      Karpoorathy thylum

 These Drugs are prescribed for 7 days initially. If necessary, the same treatment is continued for 7 more days. No deleterious effects are observed in treating the Chikungunya cases by Siddha system.

        For Chronic conditions or recurrent cases, in addition to the above mentioned Drugs, the following few Drugs are also added depending upon the severity of the disease.

        1)      Thirithoda Mathirai

2)      Linga Boopathi Mathirai

3)      Karuppu Vishnu Chakkara Mathirai

4)      Vatha Ratchasan Mathirai

5)      Rasa Ganthi Mezhugu

6)      Kunthirikka Thylum

7)      Myana Thylum

8)      Vatha Kesari Thylum

Treatment of Chikungunya at National Institute of Siddha

The Chikungunya cases began to report at NIS from the month of July 2006. In view of visiting of large number of Chikungunya cases in the general OPD of NIS, a special OP clinic for Chikungunya was started on 30^th September 2006. A total of 7118 cases (New cases - 4225, Old cases – 2893) were treated during September 2006 to April 2007.

Month wise details of cases reported were: 

         Most of the cases reported in our special OP were those who did not have satisfactory results in Modern medicine. Ninety percentage of cases treated with Siddha medicine at NIS got relief within 7 days and resumed their normal activities. The remaining cases were given treatment for a further period of one week. Almost all patients were satisfied with the relief given by Siddha system.  The Nilavembu Kudineer and Amukkura Churanam were prescribed during the convalescent period.

Nilavembu Kudineer and Amukkura Churanam were also prescribed as a preventive measure for the disease and they were also found to be very effective as no fresh cases reported from this group.