Shigellosis - Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Shigellosis is an infestation of the intestines by the Shigella organism, which causes bacillary dysentery. This condition is most common in children aged 6 months to 5 years. Common symptoms include acute bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, tenesmus and passage of mucus.

The Ayurvedic treatment of shigellosis is aimed at treating the symptoms and preventing complications. Medicines like Chandrakala-Ras, Laxmi-Narayan-Ras and Maha-Sudarshan-Churna are used to treat fever. Shankh-Bhasma, Sutshekhar-Ras, Kamdudha-Ras, Vishwa (Zinziber officinalis) and Praval-Panchamrut-Ras are used to treat vomiting. Medicines like Ras-Parpati, Kutaj-Parpati, Panchamrut-Parpati, Kutajarishtha and Bilva-Avaleha are used to treat the shigella infection and symptoms like tenesmus and passage of mucus and blood in the stools. Herbal medicines which can be used in this condition are: Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Kutaj (Holarrhina antidysentrica), Bilva (Aegle marmelos), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Daruharidra (Berberis aristata), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Dadim (Punica granatum), Maiphal (Quercus infectoria), Jaiphal (Myristica fragrans) and Lavang (Eugenia caryophyllata).

In addition to the symptoms of dysentery, long term complications need to be prevented or treated. Bacteremia can be treated using medicines like Sukshma-Triphala, Triphala-Guggulu, Maha-Manjishthadi-Qadha, Gandhak-Rasayan, Panchamrut-Parpati and Suvarna-Parpati. Impending kidney failure can be prevented or treated using medicines like Gokshuradi-Guggulu, Chandraprabha-Vati, Punarnavadi-Qadha and Gomutra-Haritaki. Bleeding from different sites can be treated using medicines like Vasa (Adhatoda vasaka), Naagkeshar (Messua ferrea), Moch-Ras (Salmalia malabarica), Laxa (Purified wax) and Sphatik-Bhasma. Reactive arthritis can be treated using Yograj-Guggulu, Maha-Rasnadi-Guggulu and Vat-Gajankush-Ras. Encephalopathy can be treated using Tapyadi-Loh, Ekang-Veer-Ras, Maha-Vat-Vidhvans-Ras and Bruhat-Vat-Chintamani.

Shigellosis is a self limiting disease and most affected children usually recover within a week. Ayurvedic medicines can be used to speed up the recovery process and prevent or treat long term complications, which may prove to be fatal.