Herbal Remedies for Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease

ABSTRACT

The viral diseases are affecting our day to day a lot these days. You never know when a virus will hit you and you will land in bed with fever, cold, cough and other symptoms. On top of that viral diseases are more contagious than bacterial diseases. The viral diseases can spread from from adult to adult, adult to child, child to child and even child to adult. Moving further the question arises how we are going to stop a virus from entering our body? The quick answer to this question is: We cannot stop anything from entering our body but we can build a strong defence system that will surely help in protecting our body. Coming back to viral diseases, in this article our topics of discussion is Hand, Foot and mouth disease which is caused by the viruses. The article also has information about the Ayurvedic management of hand, mouth and foot disease.

INTRODUCTION

Hand, Foot and mouth disease is also called coxsackie viral infection. The disease is one of the most common viral infections caused by the Coxsackievirus A16. Mostly the children under the age of 10 years are affected but teens and adults can also get this infection. The season for this infection falls in between summer and early fall. The viral disease,  as mentioned above, is highly contagious and spreads from person to person. This infection even passes through stools. But this infectious disease can be prevented. The condition is a bit painful if there is blister formation and there is no specific vaccination to prevent it.

Let's Know More About Hand, Mouth And Foot Disease

CAUSES OF HAND, MOUTH AND FOOT DISEASE

The cause for hand, mouth and foot disease is the virus which belongs to the Enterovirus family. The virus called Coxsackievirus A16 is responsible for causing this condition.

According to Ayurveda, if your body is having a strong defence system no virus can cause harm to you. The viruses are called agantuk karan for the development of disease. But these agantuk karan can only cause harm when your body’s vyadhi shamatv is henna, which means the fighting capacity of the body with the bacterias and viruses is low. This makes the body prone to being attacked by the microorganisms and hence results in dosha imbalance. In this the thermal energy of the body is being disturbed that is pitta dosha.

SPREAD OF HAND, MOUTH AND FOOT DISEASE

The spread of the causative agent Coxsackievirus A16 is through coughs, sneezes, poo and fluid which is secreted from the blisters. One can start spreading this virus even before getting the symptoms. The most common spread routes are as follows:

• A person with infection when sneezing or coughing or blowing their nose near you. The tiny droplets from their mouth can spread the virus, easy and quick.  
• When you touch your nose, eyes or mouth after touching something infectious like a doorknob or a toy.
• If a person comes in contact with an infected person's stool or secretion from blisters.

After discussing the causes and mode of spreading of hand, mouth and foot disease, Let’s discuss its symptoms.

SYMPTOMS OF HAND, MOUTH AND FOOT DISEASE

The viral infection starts with the following symptoms:

• High grade fever, along with a peculiar pink rash on the other parts of  the body especially buttocks and thighs. This is usually seen in small kids. But there might be a case in which a child may not have such symptoms and instead will suffer from just a sore throat and fever of low grade. 
• The blisters which are commonly seen in Hand, mouth and foot disease will also have some particular specifications. The blisters in this condition are small bubbles shaped with fluid on the top. If you peel them off it will leave an ulcer and will be sore with a reddish base. The blisters are common over the feet and palms of the hands. They may appear like red spots or Red rash. 
• These two symptoms are generally associated with muscle aches and total fatigue in the body.
• The person or a child becomes irritable and sleeps more than usual.
• Drooling in very young children may also be seen due to soreness in the throat causing painful swallowing.
• A desire to have cold fluids is consistently present.
• In severe cases mouth sores can also be present which makes the situation worse. They can be present in children, teens or even in Adults.

HOW IS HAND, MOUTH AND FOOT DISEASE TREATED?

• The hand, mouth and foot diseases are treated with certain medications like ibuprofen if the patient is achy or irritable.
• In case of mouth ulcers some topical anaesthetics can be given to the patient to avoid pain and difficulty eating.
• Rest treatment is provided according to symptoms.

In Ayurveda, the treatment is also given according to the symptoms like in case of fever preparations prepared using giloy, haridra are given.

In case of mouth ulcers, gargling with decoction of certain herbs is prescribed.

Blisters over skin like on hands and feet can be well managed using Ayurvedic herbal preparations containing manjishtha, haritaki, bibhitaki, amalaki, vacha, devdaru etc. The ayurvedic herbs work like blood purifiers and help to act as an anti-infective.

RISK FACTORS FOR HAND, MOUTH AND FOOT DISEASE

• The younger children are at risk. Especially children below the age of 5 years.
• Children in child care centres are susceptible to outbreaks.
• The child whose sibling is suffering is more likely to get this disease.
• Even an adult with weak immunity can catch this infection while taking care of the child. 
• Not maintaining proper hygiene is also one of the risk factors for catching this condition.

COMPLICATIONS OF HAND, MOUTH AND FOOT DISEASE

The children suffering from this disease may land in some complications if not taken care of properly. The complications are as follows:

• Viral meningitis (Inflammation of brain membranes)
• Encephalitis (Inflammation of entire brain)

PREVENTION FROM HAND, MOUTH AND FOOT DISEASE

The prevention from hand, mouth and foot disease includes:

• Wash your hands properly
• Disinfect clothing, bedding and other things if someone in the house is infected
• Teach your children good hygiene habits
• In case of more than one child in the house, the infected one has to be isolated from the rest. Even if an adult is having Hand, mouth and foot disease then he/she has to be isolated from the rest of the members of the family.

AYURVEDIC TIPS TO BE FOLLOWED IN HAND, MOUTH AND FOOT DISEASE

• Cold things are to be avoided.
• Excessive hot drinks are also to be avoided as there is aggravation of pitta dosha. Eating articles with hot potency is also to be avoided.
• When the body temperature is normal, coconut water can be served. It has pitta pacification properties.
• In case of very high fever, head sponging can be done.

HERBAL REMEDIES FOR HAND, MOUTH AND FOOT DISEASE BY PLANET AYURVEDA

Planet Ayurveda is an ISO certified company. It deals with the manufacturing of different Ayurvedic products. The herbal preparations manufactured are in the form of tablets, capsules, syrups, decoctions, jams and others. The products prepared by Planet Ayurveda are totally herbal and do  not contain any type of adulterants, fillers, dyes, flavour enhancing agents, binders etc. The herbal preparations manufactured or prepared by Planet Ayurveda are potent and are used in various types of conditions. The formulations offered by Planet Ayurveda for Hand, mouth and foot disease are as follows:

1. Septrin Tablets
2. Curcumin Capsules
3. Mahamanjishthadi Kwath
4. Amritarisht

Herbal Remedies for Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

1. Septrin Tablets

Septrin Tablets are a very effective and great formulation manufactured by Planet Ayurveda. These tablets are having ingredients like Guggul (Commiphora mukul),  Haldi (Curcuma longa), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Sonth (Zingiber officinale), Marich (Piper nigrum) and Pippali (Piper longum). These all ingredients in a combination work as an antiviral and give a healing effect inte body. The content of this formulation helps in better digestion and also pacifies the dosha. The virus causes microchannel blockage by aggravation of dosha but with this formulation the srotas are unblocked and hence free flow of bodily fluids happen.

Dosage - Two tablets twice a day after meals with lukewarm water.

2. Curcumin Capsules

Curcumin Capsules are prepared with the potent extract of Haridra (Curcuma longa). The herb is very well known for its anti infectious effects. These capsules are prepared from the standardised extract of haridra that is curcumin. Curcumin is a very popular chemical constituent of haldi and is known for its analgesic effects as well. The capsules also help in the process of detoxification and have antioxidant effects as well. It is a herb which is quite famous in the ayurvedic texts and is known to pacify doshas especially kapha dosha and also has its impact on pitta dosha as well.

Dosage - One capsule twice a day after meals with lukewarm water.

3. Mahamanjishthadi Kwath

Mahamanjisthadi kwath is a classical preparation that helps in the detoxification of the body. The formulation has ingredients like manjistha (Rubia cordifolia), nagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus), kuda (Holarrhena antidysenterica), giloy (Tinospora cordifolia), Akarkara (Anacyclus pyrethrum), snoth (Zingiber officinale), Bharangi (Clerodendrum serratum), Choti kateri (Solanum surattense) and many others. The formulation has its impact on reducing the inflammation and it also helps in the blisters present over hands and feet. It improves the quality of overall circulation in the body and prevents further complications as well. Aforementioned, this formulation helps in blood purification and also has its impact on reducing the fever.

Dosage - Two tsp twice a day after meals with lukewarm water.

4. Amritarisht

Amritarisht is also a classical preparation. The amritarisht has ingredients like amrita (Tinospora cordifolia), Bilva (Aegle marmelos), Shyonak (Oroxylum indicum), Gambhari (Gmelina arborea), Patla (Stereospermum suaveolens) and many others. The amrita is a very great herb and is commonly known as giloy. This herb is the main constituent of this formulation. The formulation works really well in subsiding the fever and also has its impact on pacification of pitta dosha in the body. It is known to boost the immunity of the body so that the body can fight various types of infections by building a strong immune system.

Dosage - Two tsp twice a day after meals with lukewarm water.

CONCLUSION

Hand, mouth and foot disease is a condition that can spread from one person to another. So, one can protect themselves by building a strong immunity so that even if you catch an infection your body should not suffer a lot. This can be only done by you because you are the master of your body. In the case of children this responsibility is to be fulfilled by parents because they are the one who are serving everything to their children. In case of any query kindly visit www.PlanetAyurveda.com