Home Remedies for Treating Chikungunya

Chikungunya which is a viral disease that is transmitted through mosquito bites has taken its place among the common ailments that bog the population down. Though it is rarely fatal, the extreme symptoms associated with it weaken the body for a long time, even after the disease itself has been cured. There is no cure for Chikungunya as such but the various symptoms associated with the onset of Chikungunya can be treated individually. And, the following can be done by following a host of Chikungunya home remedies. Before, we delve into some of the most effective Chikungunya treatment home remedies. Let us first understand the typical Chikungunya symptoms:

• Fever
• Joint pain
• Swelling
• Muscle pain
• A headache
• Skin Rashes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue

Also, read about the difference in symptoms of: Chikungunya vs Zika Virus. Once a person has been bitten by the Aedes aegypti mosquito which is the Chikungunya carrier, it takes almost 3-7 days for the first symptoms to appear. Allopathic doctors usually prescribe a variety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and fever-reducing drugs. These medications give an intermediate relief from fever and the swelling that appears during this phase. Several Homeopathic medications are also available. However, the difficult and painful after-effects can be alleviated by resorting to chikungunya treatment home remedies. Even during the treatment, chikungunya home remedies accelerate the recovery process to some extent.

Most Effective Chikungunya Home Remedies

Some of the popular and widely followed Chikungunya home remedies for reducing the symptoms of the disease are as following:

I. Chikungunya Home Remedies For Fever

Below are the home remedies for chikungunya that bring down the temperature of your body.

1. Giloy or Guduchi

Several herbal medications for fever have Giloy as an active ingredient. Giloy is generally used as a remedy to cure fever when it is a symptom of another disease. It's anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-microbial, anti-pyretic, and immune-modulatory properties help in reducing any infection in the body. Giloy can be consumed in the form of capsules, powder known as Giloy Satwa or in a juice form. The daily dosage should not exceed 250 g in case of children above 5 years of age and 3g in case of adults.

2. Tulsi or Basil Sat

Tulsi leaves can be boiled in water till the water quantity reduces to half. Sipping through this sat or concoction during the day brings down fever. The anti-microbial properties of Tulsi improve the immunity of the body as well. The answer to the most asked question: Is Chikungunya Contagious? Find out.

3. Grapes with Cow's Milk

Seedless grapes when taken with cow's milk alleviate the fever and bring down the pain being experienced during and after a bout of Chikungunya.

II. Chikungunya Home Remedies For Increasing Platelet Count

In order to increase the platelet counts in your body, following are the home remedies for chikungunya i.e. things to eat:

1. Papaya leaf juice

Drinking two tbsp of papaya leaf juice every two hours for a week when one is down with Chikungunya, does wonders. Papaya leaves increase the platelet counts in the body which helps in curing Chikungunya. If there is no access to fresh papaya leaves, it can be substituted with the papaya tincture available in pharmacies. Papaya leaf juice is one of the most popular Chikungunya treatment home remedies along with Giloy Juice.

III. Chikungunya Home Remedies For Joint Pain Relief

To relieve yourself from severe joint pain, make sure you eat the following things as these are one of the most effective home remedies for chikungunya.

1. Garlic paste

The anti-inflammatory properties of garlic provide relief from joint pains which accompany Chikungunya. Therefore, for chikungunya treatment home remedies, a paste made by grinding some peeled and chopped garlic pods can be applied to joints twice a day.

2. Turmeric Milk

Turmeric is a wonder spice that has the ability to cure a number of ailments from cold and cough to fever and inflammation. Having warm turmeric milk twice a day can bring down the swelling and act as a pain reliever.

3. Cold Compress

Most doctors prescribe a cold or ice pack for joint pains and any form of inflammation in the body. Ice packs are easily available at any pharmacy but in the absence of one, crushed ice in a towel can be used as well. This therapy can be done several times during the day until joint pain persists

4. Castor Oil Massage

Two tbsp of warm castor oil mixed with a pinch of cinnamon powder makes for an excellent massage oil to alleviate joint pains occurring during Chikungunya. This oil massage can be done two to three times a day as a substitute to chikungunya treatment for joint pain.

5. Coconut water

This healthy drink is packed with anti-inflammatory benefits along with several other advantages like detoxification of the liver. Three to four glasses of fresh coconut water during the day keeps the overall health better too. Know more about: What To Eat & Avoid During Chikungunya. Note: All the above Chikungunya treatment home remedies can be used along with the OTC medicines without the risk of any side effects.