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How do I Choose the Best Chikungunya Treatment?

Sonal Panse
Sonal Panse

Chikungunya is a viral disease that manifests itself in the form of a high fever, headache, swelling and aches of the joints, severe muscle pains, nausea and vomiting, and body rash. The chikungunya virus is transmitted to humans by mosquito bites, and it can take up to seven days for the infected person to fall sick. The fever may last for several days or even several weeks, and the patient may continue to experience fatigue and joint pains for many more months afterwards. While there have been no reported fatalities from this disease so far, it is a debilitating illness and, unfortunately, there is no surefire treatment as yet. For most part, treating chikungunya is more about treating the specific symptoms, and as these can vary from patient to patient, the treatment may be accordingly variable. The best chikungunya treatment is, of course, the one that brings you a certain amount of relief.

There are no specific antiviral medicines for chikungunya. Your medical practitioner may prescribe a medication like paracetamol for joint pains and crocin for the fever; aspirin, being an anticoagulant, is not to be taken for chikungunya treatment. There do appear to be more effective treatments in Ayurveda and homeopathy. Ayurveda practitioners recommend medicines such as Amritarishta, Sudarsanam Gulika and Vilvadi Gulika for treating the fever, Inthukantham Kashaya to bolster the immune system, and Panchathikta Kashayam for pain relief. In homeopathy, remedies using Arnica, Bryonia and Rhus Tox have been found to be rather useful in chikungunya treatment.

Some people use basil and other herbs to treat chikungunya.
Some people use basil and other herbs to treat chikungunya.

The main thing in the treatment of chikungunya is that the patient should get as much rest as possible and drink plenty of fluids. Adequate rest and intake of fluids are two things that will assist the immune system in fighting off the virus. Fresh grape juice and coconut water are particularly recommended, and eating carrots and herbs like basil may also help.

It may also help do some yoga breathing exercises as part of the chikungunya treatment. Performing yoga may aid your immune system and offer some relief from the joint pains. It is important to keep the exercises gentle and low-key though.

Performing yoga can help aid the immune system and relieve joint pain.
Performing yoga can help aid the immune system and relieve joint pain.

Preventing the disease is really the best chikungunya treatment. As the disease is spread by mosquitoes, it is advisable to put up mosquito door and window screens, and to make sure that there is no standing water in your area where mosquitoes might breed. It is also essential to isolate the patient to keep the disease from spreading.

Discussion Comments

anon965428

@SteamLouis: Steroids are a big no no. Try the papaya leaf. Cut the stem and remove central veins.Blend the leaf or grind it to a paste and add water then drink it. Bottoms up, nose sealed tightly with fingers because it's an awful taste. It's best to drink it early in the morning. Drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest.

The Chinese have also advised drinking lots of coconut water since it has antiviral fighting properties. Chikungunya isn't fatal because our immune system has adapted to it this time around.

discographer

@Simrin-- Natural spices and herbs with antiviral properties might help. Have you tried things like garlic, oregano, ginger, basil or black pepper?

ZipLine

@simrin-- Chikungunya is very common in Southeast Asia. My family is from India and my cousin caught chikungunya during his last visit. He went to a homeopathic doctor there and they gave him some remedies. He said that he started feeling better immediately and was completely better after a week.

I don't remember all of the remedies he was given but I believe one was called polyporous pinicola.

If you can find a homeopathic practitioner in your area, you should go. Sometimes, homeopathic treatments are better than allopathic treatments.

SteamLouis

I was infected with chikungunya in Bangladesh. By the time my symptoms became full-blown, I was back in the US. I've been on pain relievers for the past several months. I've even had steroid injections to relieve my muscle aches and pains. I felt better for a few days afterward but the symptoms returned soon after. I don't know what to do. I'm miserable and my doctor can't do anything other than give me more pain relievers.

I'm considering looking into homeopathic treatments. Has anyone tried a homeopathic treatment for this illness? Did it work?

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    • Some people use basil and other herbs to treat chikungunya.
      By: Natika
      Some people use basil and other herbs to treat chikungunya.
    • Performing yoga can help aid the immune system and relieve joint pain.
      By: Deklofenak
      Performing yoga can help aid the immune system and relieve joint pain.
    • Classic symptoms of chikungunya include high fever, nausea, and joint pain.
      By: Ocskay Bence
      Classic symptoms of chikungunya include high fever, nausea, and joint pain.
    • Getting rest and drinking fluids will help the immune system fight off chikungunya.
      By: nikomi
      Getting rest and drinking fluids will help the immune system fight off chikungunya.
    • Symptoms of chikungunya may include fatigue.
      By: zonch
      Symptoms of chikungunya may include fatigue.
    • Chikungunya can be transmitted through mosquito bites.
      By: Dmitry Knorre
      Chikungunya can be transmitted through mosquito bites.
    • Chikungunya treatment will include rest.
      By: jeep5d
      Chikungunya treatment will include rest.
    • Eating carrots may help to treat chikungunya.
      By: LoloStock
      Eating carrots may help to treat chikungunya.
    • Vomiting may occur with chikungunya.
      By: Tatty
      Vomiting may occur with chikungunya.