Guidelines for Naturopathy Practitioners for COVID-19

The Ministry of AYUSH has laid down the following guidelines for Naturopathy practitioners for prophylaxis and symptomatic management of COVID-19 –

PROPHYLAXIS & PREVENTIVE CARE:

Measures for Preventive Care & Immune Enhancement:

SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT:

Measures for Symptom Management:

S.No.	Symptoms	Measures
1.	Cold, coryza – running nose, nasal congestion	Steam inhalation with tulsi, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil. Nasal irrigation with warm saline water or Neti kriya – Jalaneti followed by kapalabhati. Hot foot immersion.
2.	Sore throat, Hoarseness of voice	Hot saline water gargle. Gargling with neem water decoction with honey. Coriander and turmeric kashayam with black pepper.
3.	Expectorant Cough	Chewing ginger. It is rich in 1,8 cineole which is an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antitussive, expectorant.
4.	Dry Cough	Ginger kashayam with honey, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric and pepper for dry cough in milk.
5.	Headaches	Hot foot immersion for headaches with cold compress on head. Aromatherapy with tulsi and lavender.
6.	Wheeze, Chest Congestion	Cold chest pack, Hot fomentation to chest and upper back, hot foot immersion Chair breathing to reduce respiratory effort. Steam inhalation with tulsi or eucalyptus oil.
7.	Malaise and fatigue	Nutrition rich in plant proteins, Natural vitamin C, glucose and Vitamin D. Lemon water with honey to boost immunity.
8.	Fever	Cold compress, cold pack for pyrexia
9.	Stress, Anxiety and Depression	Aromatherapy with lavender oil, basil or lemon grass oils. Yoga Therapy Module: Hands in and out breathing, Hands stretch breathing, Bhujangasana breathing, Shalabhasana breathing, Tiger Breathing. Asanas – Suryanamaskar – 2-6 rounds depending on fatigue status. Padahastasana, Ardha chakrasana, Trikonasana Sulabha Matsyendrasana, Makrasana, Bhujangasana, shalabhasana. Ardha matsyendrasana, shashankasana with M kara chanting. Chair breathing (for respiratory distress). Pranayama – Bhastrika – 9 rounds, Ujjayi – 9 rounds, Nadishodhana – 9 rounds and Bramari – 9 rounds. Yogic relaxation techniques – Muscle relaxation, breath awareness relaxation, deep relaxation.

GENERAL AWARENESS:

Naturopathy Nutrition:

Good nutrition boosts immunity. "Feed a cold and starve a fever" an old adage has been proven in clinical experiments on animal models and human studies. Food rich in proteins, glucose, vitamin C and D are recommended for faster recovery from viral infections. The dos and don'ts of Nutrition are outlined as under:

What to Have

What to Avoid

Drink plenty of warm water, Lemon or fresh citrus juices with honey or Jaggery. Add spices in your daily food (Jeera, turmeric, Ajwain, Cinnamom, cloves, cardamom etc.). Prepare foods that are low on oils and fats (Dhalia, Idly, Kichdi). Have a balanced diet. Have protein rich (Dal Kichdi, boiled legumes) and fiber rich foods, millets, (vegetable soups). Have plenty of colored fruits and vegetables. Wash them thoroughly, have boiled vegetables as curry or sambhar. Consume alkaline rich foods. Have Zinc and Selenium rich foods- Oats, spinach, beans, milk, cheese, pumpkin seeds, cashews etc. Drink at least one glass of Yogurt/day (probiotics) to improve gut flora.

Avoid Cold beverages, Canned juices and aerated drinks, Coffee. Avoid refined sugars. Avoid confectionary and bakery products. Avoid sweets, chocolates, ice creams. Avoid snacking on oily and junk foods Reduce salt intake Reduce the amount of trans- and omega - 6 fatty acids in the diet (Vegetable oils) Food in eateries Smoking and alcohol

Accupressure:

Applying manual pressure with the thumb to certain points in the body is known to confer immunity and improve respiratory effort. Individuals should be taught to apply intermittent pressure over acupressure points LI-4, LI11, SP6, TW 5, CV17, ST36(29) .

Heliotherapy:

Exposure to the sun and air in the morning and evening hours is known to reduce stress and confer immunity by improving Vitamin D metabolism. This will give a change from confines of indoors and has been shown to be useful in managing flu symptoms . Following a healthy regimen is very important to boost one's immune response. The following lifestyle practices have evidence to prevent one from getting infected with flu. Exercise: Regular exercise of moderate-intensity is associated with a reduced incidence of upper respiratory tract infection. The recommended means of aerobic exercise is walking, with an optimal frequency of three to five days a week and an optimal duration of 20 to 30 minutes of continuous activity(30) .

Sleep:

Sleep and the circadian system exert a regulatory influence on immune functions. Sleep deprivation can affect immune function in several ways that lead to enhanced susceptibility to the common cold and pneumonia with poor sleep efficiency.

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