Haiza (Cholera)

Haiza (Cholera)

Introduction

Haiza (Cholera) is an acute dehydrating diarrheal disease caused by an intestinal infection, through the ingestion of contaminated food or water. It can kill a healthy adult even in hours. It is a disease in which undigested and putrefied food stuff of the stomach and intestine is pushed out through vomiting and diarrhoea. In other words it is caused by fasaad-e- ghiza (Decay of food) and Fasaad-e- hazm (Dyspepsia).

It is a highly contagious disease which immediately leads to diarrhoea, resulting in heavy losses of fluids and electrolytes from the body. This loss can be either through violent vomiting or through stools.

Cholera is derived from the Greek word Khole means flow of bile. In Latin, the word Cholera means bilious diarrhoea.

Causes

The main causes of Haiza (Cholera) can be attributed to two main factors:

The existence and spread of the comma-shaped bacterium known as vibrio cholerae which is main cause of Cholera. This virus affects the water absorption process in the small intestine which in turn leads to diarrhoea.
Unhygienic living conditions of affected person, that leads to the growth of such bacteria.

Mostly this diseases spreads by water and food that has been contaminated with human faeces containing the bacteria. Within five days of eating or drinking this contaminated food or water, the person will develop painless but copious watery diarrhoea. In some cases, the diarrhoea is so severe that it cause acute dehydration and requires immediate hospitalization and medical attention.

Because it is a potentially life threatening disease, awareness regarding early recognition of the symptoms is necessary to avoid complications and fatalities.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of the disease may range from none, to mild, to severe, in case to case basis. The classical symptoms include large amounts of watery diarrhoea that lasts a few days, Vomiting muscle cramps and generalized weakness. It can be so severe that it leads within hours to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. This may result in sunken eyes, cold skin, decreased skin elasticity, and wrinkling of the hands and feet. The dehydration may result in the skin turning bluish. Symptoms of the disease start two hours to five days after exposure.

In other words, it is characterized initially by restlessness, excessive thirst, cold sweating, muscular cramps followed by severe vomiting and diarrhoea.

Some other signs and symptoms include dry mucous membranes, loss of skin elasticity, excessive thirst, low urine output, leg cramps and muscle cramps, palpitation of the heart, low blood pressure, exhaustion and weakness, sunken eyes and irritability etc.

Management of Haiza (Cholera)

Principles of Treatment (Usool-e- Elaj)

Evacuation of stomach (Tanqiya-e- Meda): As per Unani Medicine concept, oral administration of lukewarm water mixed with common salt to induce vomiting is useful in early stage of the cholera (Haiza).
Strengthening of natural body heat (Taqwiyat-e- hararat-e- Ghareeziya): This is done after evacuation of stomach from infected materials.
Restoration of body faculties (Inásh-e- Quwá): This principle is adopted after strengthening of natural body heat.
Quenching of thirst (Taskeen-e- Atash): Stepwise it is very helpful in cholera patient.
Strengthening of heart (Taqwiyat-e- Qalb): Stepwise it is also very helpful in cholera patient.
Dietary control (Taqleel-e- Ghiza): As the digestion of the patient is disturbed, it is very important to control the diet and dietary habit.
Control of vomiting (Habs-e- Qai): Stepwise it is very helpful in cholera patient.
Control of diarrhoea (Habs-e- Ishaal): Stepwise it is also very helpful in cholera patient.

Management (Elaj)

Cholera (Haiza) is a water-borne disease which can be checked by regulating the eating and drinking habits of the affected individual. If anyone suffering from cholera, there is really no need to panic as there are several homemade remedies that can help to cure the disease.

It can be managed easily by the ways mentioned below.

Ilaj Bil Tadbeer (Regimental Therapy)- Hammam (Bath)
Ilaj Bil Dawa (Pharmacotherapy)

As per Unani Medicine concept, oral administration of lukewarm water mixed with common salt to induce vomiting is useful in early stage of the cholera. After that

Dropping of following formulation in throat is very effective.

Najeel Daryaie (Lodoicea schellarum, Comm. & Labill.), Oóde Saleeb (Paeonia emodi, Wall.), Jadwaar (Delphinium denudatum, Wall.). All powdered and mixed with Arq-e- gulaab.

Some Common Unani Prescriptions

Oral Administration of following mixture

Papita (Carica papaya Linn.), Filfil siyah (Piper nigrum Linn.)/ Najeel Dayaie (Lodoicea schellarum, Comm. & Labill.), Filfil siyah (Piper nigrum Linn.)/ Delphinium denudetum, Wall.), Filfil siyah (Piper nigrum Linn.)/ Papita (Carica papaya Linn.), 2 gm., with Arq-e- Gulaab.

Oral administration of the following decoction

Post-e- ilaichi safed (fruit peel of Ellataria cardamom, Maton) 12-24 gms. boiled in Arq-e- Gulaab is highly effective in haiza (cholera).
Oral administration of mixture of Papita (Carica papaya Linn.) with Arq-e- Keora is also very effective in haiza (Cholera).

Unani Homemade Remedies for Haiza (Cholera)

Drinking lots of water effectively helps to get rid of cholera. It is vital for everyone including cholera patients to keep their body hydrated. This is one of the best home remedies that can prevent cholera.
Add some pieces of clove in approximately three litres of water and boil it. Drink this mixture every few hours. This is one of the best home remedies for cholera.
Drinking a mixture of water and basil leaves also effectively helps to cure cholera.
Drink buttermilk; add some rock salt and cumin seeds to it. This is one of the best home remedies for cholera.
The use of lemon for example is very popular in reducing the levels of cholera bacilli in the intestines and digestive system. Lemon juice drunk either sweet or salted can help.
Onions and fresh black pepper ground together is another easy home remedy for cholera to treat restlessness and thirst.
Mix equal quantities of coconut water and cucumber juice to relieve excessive thirst and prevent dehydration.
Steep half a nutmeg in half a litre of water and make an infusion. Add to this infusion half a litre of coconut water. Administer this 15ml at a time to lessen cholera symptoms.
Rough chaff also known as Achyranthes aspera should be mixed with half cup of water and given to the cholera patient daily.
Drink a mixture of coconut water, fresh lime juice and add some cucumber leaves to it. Drink at least one glass of water every day. This is one of the best home remedies for cholera.
Grind some onions and add some black pepper to it and drink the extract on a regular basis. This is one of the proven home remedies for cholera.
A mixture of orange juice and lemon juice are also effective in treating cholera. Drink at least one glass of this mixture on a regular basis to get rid of cholera.
Black herbal tea made with adding black pepper, holy basil, ginger and mint when consumed also effectively helps to get rid of cholera.
Drink a mixture of white onion juice and bitter gourd juice with an added a tinge of 1tsp of lemon juice to it. This is one of the proven home remedies for cholera.

Dietary Recommendations for Haiza (cholera) patients

Dehydration caused by cholera leads to malfunctioning of organs in the body. Therefore prompt replacement of fluids and salts (lost from the body by vomiting or diarrhoea) to rehydrate the patient must be the first step towards combating Cholera (Haiza).

A diet for cholera patients starts with replacing lost fluids and reducing excessive thirst. Patients are strongly advised to drink lots of water, soda, and coconut water throughout the day. Keep in mind that taking too much liquid at a time can cause vomiting, so only small amounts should be drunk at a time. Patients can even be given cubes of ice to suck on.

As the patient’s recovery progresses, from watery diarrhoea to a semi solid stool stage, buttermilk can be added to his/ her diet. Even semi-soft boiled rice can be introduced as well. The diet after recovery from cholera should include a glass of warm water with lime and honey as soon as the patient gets up. Breakfast can consist of fresh fruits and milk. Variations of steamed vegetables or salads for lunch and dinner. Proteins and carbs can be added in his/ her diet in the form of cottage cheese and whole wheat tortillas. Fresh fruit juices can be had as mid-morning and evening snacks.

In Unani literature it is mentioned that, Aghziya Lateefa (Easily digestible liquid diets) and Aab-e- Sard (Cold water) is advisable. It is advisable to include lemon, onion, green chillies, vinegar and mint in the routine diet during an epidemic of cholera.

Dietary Restrictions for Haiza (cholera) patients

Make sure that solid and uncooked foods and uncooked vegetables are avoided completely until there is a complete recovery. Care should be taken to avoid these items until patient has completely recovered from disease.

Tahaffuz (Precaution/ Prevention)

Abrupt arrest of vomiting and diarrhoea should be avoided. People can prevent developing cholera by maintaining good hygienic conditions, washing hands frequently, drinking clean treated water, and eating clean fresh food.

Developing countries have managed to control and end cholera epidemics by offering clean drinking water and food and improving levels of hygiene by providing easy access to clean toilets and hand washing facilities at home, hospitals, offices and other public places.

Cholera Vaccines are also available nowadays. Vaccines are administered orally and offer protection for a maximum of two years. In case anyone traveling to countries with a high risk of cholera, taking such vaccines are highly recommended.

If traveling to a place where cholera is endemic, just remember the CDC motto, which is, Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it. Water should be drunk only from sealed bottles or it should be purified with iodine or chlorine.

Food should be well cooked and heated. Avoid ice, unclean fruits, raw foods, salads, and ice cream when traveling in high cholera areas.

Some commonly used Unani Single Drugs

Barg-e- Rehan/ Tulsi Ocimum sanctum Linn.

Adrak/ Zanjabeel Zingiber officinale Roscoe

Utraj/Lemoon Citrus limon (Linn.) Burm.f.

Sangtara Citrus sinensis (Linn.) Osbeck.

Zeerah Cuminum cyminum Linn.

Karela Momordica charantia Linn.Cloves

Hulba/ Methi Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.

Piyaz/ Unsul Allium cepa Linn.

Filfil Safed/ Siyah Piper nigrum Linn.

Zaed Chob/ Haldi Curcuma longa

Khyar/ Khira Cucumis sativus Linn.

Jiaphal (Nutmeg) Myristica fragrans

Chirchita Achyranthes aspera

Pudina Mentha arvensis Linn.

Zarishk Berberis aristata D.C

Fresh lime juice (several species of citrus trees whose fruits are called limes, including the Key lime (Citrus aurantifolia)

Some commonly used Unani Compound Formulations

Jawarish Safarjali Qaabiz, Jawaarish Anaarain, Sharba-e- Habb-al- Aas, Sharbat-e- Aabresham, Dawa-al- Misk moa’tadil, Jawahar Mohra, Rubb-e- Anaar Tursh, Sharbat-e- Anaar Tursh, Yaqooti, Qurs-e- Ood, Qurs-e- Kafoor etc.

References

https://books.google.co.in/books?id=RA4Npohz4CEC&pg=PA829&lpg=PA829&dq=Cholera+and+unani

https://books.google.co.in/books?id=njLtCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA98&lpg=PA98&dq=cholera+and+unani+medicine

http://unanipathy.com/cholera-prevention-tips-in-urdu/

http://www.thepharmajournal.com/archives/2015/vol3issue12/PartB/4-1-1.pdf

https://books.google.co.in/books?id=njLtCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA98&lpg=PA98&dq=cholera+and+unani+medicine

http://vkool.com/how-to-treat-cholera/

http://www.phytojournal.com/vol3Issue6/Issue_march_2015/3-6-12.1.pdf

http://www.diethealthclub.com/health-issues-and-diet/cholera.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9282393

http://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-cholera.html

http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/5664/1/NPR%207(2)%20176-181.pdf