Ayurvedic Medicine for Sore throat
Sore throat – This is a condition characterized by pain or irritation of the throat which makes a difficulty in swallowing usually or commonly sore throat is caused by viral infection. Sometimes it may cause buy bacteria’s- strep throat (streptococcal infection). Among these variations, the viral one subsides but its own, whereas bacterial requires treatment.
Causes
- Viral infection:
- Common cold
- Flu
- Mono (mononucleosis)
- Measles
- Chicken pox
- Corona virus
- Croup – a childhood illness
- Bacterial infections – Commonly affected by streptococcus Group A bacteria.
- Allergies – Dust pollen, pet dander etc., can also create sore throat in association to allergic reaction.
- Dryness created by dehydration or due to mouth breathing in cases of chronic nasal congestion.
- Irritants- The factors which makes the soreness of throat likely, tobacco, betel leaf, chewing, spicy food, alcohol consumption etc.,
- Strain to the muscles of throat by over using for prolonged duration.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) – a disease in related to digestive system in which the HCI in stomach reflux through the Oesophagus.
- HIV infection – As the early stage of infection patient may experience sore throat.
- Tumors – The Cancerous growth affects on throat, tongue or vocal cord.
These above-mentioned reasons are enlisted for sore throat and are characterized by Hoarseness, swallowing difficulty, noise while breathing, burning pain in throat, blood stains in saliva / phlegm.
RISK FACTORS
Sore throat can be considered as the common symptom and can be seen in most of the people in relation to any illness or irritation. Among these some groups are more prone to advanced symptoms of sore throat. They are: –
- Age – Among the age groups, children are most likely to develop sore throat. It falls in 3 to 15 years of age.
- Smoking – If the person is smoking regularly or exposed to smoke regularly may develop sore throat easily.
- Allergy – The people who are proned to allergy or they already have an allergy may develop sore throat in advanced or prolonged.
- Exposure to irritants – When gets exposed to chemical irritants or frequent exposure to irritants may cause the sore throat.
- Chronic sinusitis – The persons with chronic sinus infection may lead to sore throat.
- Very crowded places or closed rooms may increase the chances of infection and there by – sore throat can be manifested as a symptom.
SYMPTOMS / CLINICAL FEATURES OF SORE THROAT
The symptoms can be vary according to the cause, body constitution, load of infection, immunity of body etc.,
- Pain or burning sensation of throat region
- Pain which aggravates with swallowing or talking.
- Swallowing difficulty
- Difficulty in movements of jaws.
- Swollen or red tonsils.
- Hoarseneur of voice.
Symptoms which can be associated:
| · Fever | · Cough | · Sneezing |
| · Body ache | · Head ache | · nausea |
Symptoms that can be taken as a warning sign, which requires immediate doctor consultation
- Sore throat which lasts more than a week
- Swallowing difficulty
- Breathing difficulty
- Difficulty in jaw movements
- Joint pain
- Ear ache
- Rashes on body
- High fever
- Blood stains in saliva or phlegm
- Frequently recurring sore throat
- Hoarseness lasting more than two weeks
- Swelling in neck or face
TYPES OF SORE THROAT
Simply, sore throat is an acute upper respiratory tract infection that affects the respiratory mucosa of the throat. Based on the area of throat got affected.
- Pharyngitis
- Tonsilitis
- Laryngitis
The above-mentioned conditions are explained below with its ayurvedic correlation and treatment methods.
- PHARYNGITIS – It is a sore throat caused by inflammation of the back. This is most common symptoms which is seen usually in children and adult. Throat may be itchy and cause pain while swallowing.
The illness concerns clinicians because not only is it an acute illness for an individual patient, but the potential spread of the organism and the resulting public health implications cannot be ignored either.
The sore throat can usually be seen more as a symptom of another illness and arises as a result of inflammation in the sensitive tissues of the throat. The body responds by increasing the rate of circulation of blood in the throat as soon as the initial inflammation or irritation has begun. Therefore, the swelling and the pain felt in the throat and the subsequent reddening of the tissues is an actual reaction of the immune system.
- Causes:
- Viral infections – Rhinovirus, adeno virus & influenze
- Bacterial infections – Streptococcus, chlamydia gonorrhea
Risk Factors:
- Allergic history
- Sinus infections
- Smoking or second-hand smoke exposure.
- Pathogenesis:
Infection results when an exogenous or when an endogenous agent is introduced into a host from the environment or when the endogenous agent overcomes the innate host immunity to cause disease.
- Clinical features:
- Viral Infection:
| Typcial | Alypical |
| · Coryza | · Mouth breathing |
| · Conjunctivitis | · Nausea |
| · Malaise / Fatigue | · Vomiting |
| · Hoarseness Mucosa | · Abdominal pain & diarrhea |
| · Low -grade fever |
- Bacterial infection:
- Sore throat
- Swallowing difficulty
- Fever
- Head ache
- Cervical lymph node tenderness
- Inflamed and edematous Pharyngeal
- Diagnostic Criteria:
- Bacterial Pharyngitis –
- Absence of cough
- Discrete patchy exudate
- Fever
- Palatine petechiae
- Scarlatiniform rash
- Strawberry tongue
- Tendor anterior cervical nodes
- Tonsillar swelling
- Viral Pharyngitis:
- Anterior stomatitis
- Conjunctivitis
- Coryza
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Discrete ulcerative lesion
- Hoarseness
- Investigation
- Complete blood count
- Throat culture
- Rapid antigen detection testing
- Anti-streptococcal antibody titers.
- Management – Generally the treatment is based on the cause of pharyngitis:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Steroids
- Viscous lidocaine
- Anti-biotics
- Oral analgesic solutions
- Saline gargling
AYURVEDIC CONCEPT OF PHARYNGITIS:
As per the clinical features this condition can be correlated with kaphaja rohini or Kantasaluka.
Both the conditions are explaining about the sore throat and associated symptins which are manifested due to the dosha vitiation, mainly kapha dosha in association vata and pitta.
Characterized by:
- Swollen
- Red
- Painful
- Rough
- Hard
| Pittam | Kapham |
| · Redness | · Itching |
| · Burning sensation | · Swelling |
| · Tenderness | · Whitish patches |
| · Pain | · Hoarseness of voice. |
- Management: The treatments mainly consist of external and internal medication (bahya & abhyantara)
Bahya Kriya:
- Gandusha and Kavala – Gargling
- Triphala Kashya
- Haridra Kashaya
- Yestimadhu kashya
- Sundi Toyam + Honey
- Ushnajala
- Steam inhalation: It soothe the airways reduce infection, loosens phlegm in throat.
- Pratisaranam: Herbal paste applied locally to relieve pain, swelling and inflammation.
- Amla powder + water
- Turmeric + Honey
- Neem leaf paste + Honey
- Ginger paste + Ghee
- Salt + Honey
- Laksha churna
- Charvanam – Chewing medicine:
- Triphala churna, bakula bark, Elengi, trikatu chrna – the paste of these drugs can be used for chewing.
- Khadiradi vati, lavangadi vati, Eladi vati
- Combination of yestimadhu, Cinnamon clove, sundi pepper.
Abhyantara Prayoga – Medicines:
- Lavangadi vati
- Thaleesapathradi churna / sithopaladi churna
- Gorochanadi Gulika
- Kanchanaraguggulu gulika
- Arogyavardhini vati
- Sarivadi vati
- TONSILITIS
- Definition: This is an inflammation of the tonsils in the upper part of the throat. It can be of acute or chronic based on the duration of manifestation. This can be infected by viral (most common) or bacteria (5- 40%).
- Cause: Mainly the condition is caused by (a) viral infection (b) bacterial infection.
- Clinical features:
- Sore throat
- Painful swallowing
- Malaise
- Fever
- Red and swollen tonsils with white discharge.
- Tender and swollen cervical lymph node
Added symptoms: –
Viral – Cough, runny nose, hoarse voice or blistering in the mouth or throat
Bacterial – Scarlatiniform rash, vomiting and tonsil or spot or discharge.
- Diagnosis: Five major criteria of Modified centor score.
- Presence of tonsilor exudate
- Painful neck lymph nodes
- History of fever
- Age between 5 and 15 years
- Absence of cough
- Prognosis:
Complications may occur are-
- Dehydration and kidney failure- due to difficulty in swallowing
- Blocked airways due to inflammation
- Pharyngitis due to spread of infection
- Peritonsillar abscess
- Thrombophlebitis
- Management:
- Medicines to reduce fever and pain
- Warm saline gargle
- Lozenge
- Honey or warm liquids
- Antibiotics
- Non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Cortico steroids
Surgical correction: Cases of recurrent tonsilitis or much difficulty in swallowing and painful – TONSILECTOMY– Surgical removal of tonsils.
AYURVEDIC CONCEPTS OF TONSILITIS:
As per the Ayurvedic point of view, the tonsilitis can be correlated with a disease condition called Tundikerika. As per the references, it is manifested due to the vitiation of kapha and raktha. It is manifested and characterized as swelling, pricking kind of pain, burning sensation, suppuration.
Pathogenesis: Due to aharja and viharaja nidana jataragni (digestive fire) get reduced (agni mandhya) which in turn vitiate kapha dosha, leads to ama formation (indigestion), there by occurs raktha dushti, later sthanasamsrayam of these in talu or Kantha Pradesha (throat or palatine area) – produce- swelling, inflammation, called Tundikerika.
- Treatment:
Clinical features:
- Toda (pricking pain)
- Daha (burning sensation)
- Paka (suppuration)
- Sopha (inflammation)
- Sore throat
- Swelling in lymph
- Management:
- Nidana parivarjan
- Bahi parimarian Chikitsa
- Antah parimarjan chikitsa
- Sastra pranidhan
- Nidan parivarjan – This is primary preventive aspect of treatment. Really helps to prevent the recurrence or arrest the further progression. It includes avoiding of all types food & activities which triggers or aggravates the condition
- Bahi parimarjana / External treatments –
- Kavala
- Gandusha } gargling /oil pulling
- Pratisarana- application of medicated paste
- Anta parimarjana / Internal administration
Sodhana (purifactory) :
Dhumapana (herbal smoke)
Pradhaman nasya (Nasal errhine with herbal powder)
Virechana (purgation)
Varmana (vomiting – induced)
Rakthamokshana (bloodletting)
- Samsamana (pacifying):
Internal medication in different Kalpana (formulation)
Churna – Pippalyadi churna, kalaka churna, Peetaka Churna.
Gulika – Shiva gulika, kshara gulika, panchakola gulika, kanchanara guggulu
Kwatha – dasamoola kwath, patolodi, panchavalkala
Eka dravya – daruharidra hareetaki
Nimba Mustaka
Ativisha Patha
Katuki Vacha
Sundi
- Sastra pranidhana- (surgical correction)
- bhedana (incision) 2) chedana (excision)
- LARYNGITIS
This is the inflammation of the larynx (voice box), characterized by hoarse voice, fever cough, pain in front of neck, and difficulty in swallowing. It can be chronic and acute based on the duration of persistence. Anyway, the causes for both acute and chronic are different.
Causes of Laryngitis
This can be Infectious or non-infectious based on the cause.
- Acute laryngitis – < 3 weeks
- Bacterial
- Viral
- Fungal
- Trauma
- Chronic laryngitis –
- Allergies
- Reflux
- Auto immune disease
- Related to chronic smoking / alcohol
- Clinical Features:
- Hoarse voice
- Dry or sore throat
- Cough
- Increased salivation
- Dysphagia
- Swollen larynx
- Globus pharynges
- Lymph node enlargement
- Fever
- Myalgia
- Shortness of breath
- Diagnosis:
- Detailed case history
- Acute characterized by lower vocal pitch as well as hoarser.
- Fungal laryngitis may need biopsy and culture in case of abnormal lesion
- Clinical examination: –
- Globus pharyngeus, Hoarseness, Erythema (Redness) and
- Edema- both conditions need Laryngoscopy
- Redness of laryngeal tissue
- Dilated blood vessels
- Thick and dry laryngeal tissue
- Soft vocal fold
- Mucous secretions
- Signs for referral –
Dysphagia
vocal stridor
Ear pain
Recent weight loss
Professional voice user
H/o Radiotherapy
H/o Neck Surgery
- Treatment
Always management is depended on the severity of condition. Aimed at behavior modification, hydration and humidification. Vocal hygiene (care of the voice)
Resting of voice
Drinking adequate water
Reducing caffeine
Limiting throat cleaning
reduce alcohol
Stop smoking
- Acute Laryngitis
- Vocal hygiene
- Pain killer / Analgesics
- Humidification
- Antibiiotics
- Oral solutions
- Chronic laryngitis
- Laryngopharyngeal reflux treatment
- NSAIDS
- Anti-histamine
AYURVEDIC CONCEPT OF LARYNGITIS:
Based on the clinical features laryngitis can be correlated with the disease in Ayurveda swara bheda means deformed voice which includes Hoarseness of voice and loss of voice also.
- Nidana / reason for swarabheda:
Swarabheda can be caused by speaking loudly, effect of toxins, over use of vocal cord, and trauma.
- Samprapti (Pathogenesis)
Due to above mentioned nidana dosha like vata, pitta and kapha get vitiated and enter into the svaravaha srotas (Channels responsible for producing and Transmitting the sounds) and causes this condition by destroying the voice.
- Management
As per the samhitha svara bheda is of 6 types: namely- 1) Vataja 2) Pittaja 3) Kaphaja 4) Sannipalaja 5) Kshayaja 6) Medoja
Hence treatment will be different according to the cause and dosha:
- Vataja – Sneha (oil, ghee-medicated), Mamsarasa (soup of meat), maricha ghritha (etc.,)
- Pittaja – Virechana (Purgation), Madhura (sweet rasam) , combination of honey & ghee, yestitimadhu kashayam, tiktha ghritham, Jeevaniya ghritham.
- Kaphaja – strong nasyam, virechanam, vamanam, dhumapana (herbal smoke), Food with Pungent taste, Yavakshara.
- Sannipata – ajamodadi chuman
- Kshayaja – treatment same as brahmana (nourishing) treatment.
- Medoja – treated with medicine having pungent, bitters & Astringent taste.
CLINICAL FORMULATION FOR SWARABHEDA –
- Phalatrikadi yoga
- Chavyadi chuman
- Vyaghri ghritham
- Pushkaramoola chuman
HOME REMEDIES –
- Steam inhalation
- Saline gargling
- Combination of clove powder and honey.
- Combination of yeshtimadhu and honey
- Water boiled with tulsi leaves – can be consumed with honey or ginger juice.
DO’S AND DON’TS FOR SORE THROAT
- Pathya (Do’s when have sore throat)
Ahara (food) – Millets green gram, horse gram, meat of animals residing in swampy areas, bitter gourd, snake gourd, warm water, betel leaves, khadira, medicated or cow’s ghee, or ahara with pungent and bitter taste.
Vihara (activities)- Steam inhalation, purgation, induced vomiting, gargling, application of medicated paste, bloodletting, nasyam, medicated smoke inhalation, etc.
- Apathya (Don’ts during sore throat)
Ahara (food) – Food with sour taste, heavy food, fish, curd, milk, jaggery, black gram, dry, hard, and heavy food.
Vihara – Day sleep, cold water, improper sleeping posture, shower in cold water.
At Agni Ayurvedic Village, we do the best treatment for sore throat and related ailments in Mumbai. We use only the herbal clinical preparations for internal administration and external application.