Fever is named Jawara in Ayurveda. Fever is the condition in which the body temperature rises beyond the normal 98 degrees Fahrenheit. Fever may be accompanied by soar throat, headache, body ache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, etc. Fever may be due to bacterial or viral infection, any other disorder, or wrong medication.
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Symptoms
The general symptoms include high temperature, general ache and soreness at the joints, loss of appetite, excess production of saliva, and phlegm.
Causes
According to the Ayurveda concept, fever occurs due to disruption to one of the three energy fields called doshas in the body. Dosha disruption may be caused by insect or other bites, bodily injury, bacterial or viral infection, or reaction to incorrect medication like injections. Fever may also be the outcome of some ailments that cause an imbalance in the doshas like jaundice, bronchial disorders, measles, and influenza as the toxins produced by these make the body temperature rise.
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Malnutrition or mental worries may also cause fever in some people. Eating foods that are incompatible with each other and unsuitable to their body constitution also causes fever.
The imbalance in the doshas is due to improper diet and irregular lifestyle. Obesity, hormonal disorders, genetics, irregular food, and sleeping habits also contribute to fever.
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Ayurvedic Remedies for Fever
According to Ayurveda principles, the accumulation of impurities in the body leads to various disorders and in order to make the body’s ability to accept treatment, the body needs to be purified. Panchakarma is the process of purification recommended by Ayurveda. This therapeutic process involves different procedures to purify the body of impurities and toxins. It is followed by a light diet and light yogic exercises to help the body regain strength and immunity.
Types of Fever
Ayurveda classifies fevers according to the disturbance in the three doshas namely Vata, pitta, and Kapha. It may be due to the aggravation of any of the dosha individually or due to the combined effects of all three doshas. Generally, the vitiation of pitta, namely Agni in the body manifests as fever.
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Rheumatic Fever
Ayurveda attributes this fever to the presence of a toxin (Ama) called ‘Rheuma’ in the body. This causes fever and pain in the joints. Rheumatic fever is known as Ama Vata in Ayurvedic texts and may be characterized by swelling in the joints. This condition may also be due to the disturbance of the digestive fire namely Jathar Agni. This leads to indigestion or constipation that may result in other illnesses manifesting in the form of fever.
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Viral Fever
The Ayurvedic medicines that work well for viral fever are Amritarishta, Sudarsanam Gulika, and Vivaldi Gulika. Punarnavasana is also prescribed. The painful joints can be given fomentation using a heated husk in a cotton bag. Inthukantham Kashaya and Vivaldi Gulika are effective in preventing a viral fever.
Ayurveda also suggests fasting as it strengthens the digestive system by normalizing the aggravated doshas. Some bitter drugs such as Anand Bairav, Jwarhar Vati, Sanshamani Vati, and Laxmi Vilas Ras are given to increase the white blood cells to build immunity in the body. Meditation is advised to help the mind to remain calm.