Kerala Ayurveda Indukantha Ghritham

Indukanta Ghritam is an Ayurvedic formulation available in the form of medicated ghee and as a capsule. In Sanskrit Indu means ‘Moon’ and Kanta’ means ‘Lustre’, thus Indukanta means glow and lustre of the Moon. This medically treated capsule helps to correct metabolism and is found to be helpful in establishing lost immunity. This immunity-boosting ayurvedic medicine is also one of the prescriptions to help heal individuals from chronic fevers and many other conditions. 

This is a medicated ghee containing Dashmula and many other medicinal herbs and indicated in the treatment of weakness, chronic fever, vata roga, tuberculosis, and peptic ulcer. It is a useful medicine for improving appetite, digestion and curing abdominal diseases. It is prescribed to be an excellent remedy for treating cough in old age. Since it is a ghee based medicine, it increases strength and immunity of the body.

Indukantha Gritham is a formulation referred to in the text of Sahasrayogam in the context of Gritha yogam. It is a potent formulation that helps to enhance immunity with a special indication in respiratory disorders and recurring fevers. Antioxidants play a significant role in improving the immunity and thereby combating these conditions.

Indukantha Gritham capsules are a polyherbal medicated ghee preparation containing an ideal combination of herbs, such as Putikaranja, Devadaru, Dasamoola, Trikatu, Chitraka and Saindhava which are said to nourish the mucosa of GIT and provide immunity, strength, and resistance to the body.  This Ayurvedic medicine for fever retains all the actives of the classical Indukantha Ghritham in capsule form and is classically one of the prescriptions to treat fever and other abdominal disorders. It also helps to relieve bloating, abdominal distention, and loss of appetite.

Indukantha Ghritham capsule retains all the actives of the classical Indukantha Ghritham but in the capsule form, ie. it is known to work well as an immunomodulator, anti-pyretic, anti-ulcerogenic, and also as a digestive and laxative. 

Key Benefits:

• Indukantha Gritham Capsule helps improve immunity and imparts strength to the body.
• Helps in relieving gaseous distension, colic, bloating, flatulence etc.
• Helps in pacifying chronic and intermittent fever due to its antipyretic property
• Helps lower pain and associated symptoms in degenerative conditions

Indukantha Gritham Capsule is especially beneficial in Vata related symptoms of the gastro-intestinal tract and is main prescribed as one of the treatments when dealing with:

• Chronic Fever
• Intermittent Fever
• Colic Pain
• Gastic and Duodenal Ulcer and Degenerative Diseases
  
  

  Fevers although common can be unpleasant. Fever is a temporary increase in body temperature, often due to an illness. Having a fever is a sign that something out of the ordinary is going on in your body.

  People's normal body temperatures may vary and are affected by factors such as eating, exercise, sleeping, and what time of the day it is. Our body temperature is usually at its highest at around 6 p.m. and at its lowest at about 3 a.m.

  A high body temperature, or fever, is one of the ways our immune system attempts to combat an infection. Usually, the rise in body temperature helps the individual resolve an infection. However, sometimes it may rise too high, in which case, the fever can be serious and lead to complications

  A fever can cause a person to feel very uncomfortable. Some signs and symptoms of a fever include the following:

  • Temperature greater than 100.4 F (38 C) in adults and children
  • Shivering, shaking, and chills
  • Aching muscles and joints or other body aches
  • Headache
  • Intermittent sweats or excessive sweating
  • Rapid heart rate and/or palpitations
  • Skin flushing or hot skin
  • Feeling faint, dizzy, or lightheaded
  • Eye pain or sore eyes
  • Weakness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fussiness (in children and toddlers)
  • Also important to note in children are symptoms that can accompany an infection, including sore throat, cough, earache, vomiting, and diarrhea
  • With very high temperatures (>104 F/40 C), convulsions, hallucinations, or confusion is possible.

  Fevers generally go away within a few days. Most fever is beneficial, causes no problems, and helps the body fight off infections. The main reason to treat a fever is to increase comfort. Fever is the result of an immune response by your body to a foreign invader. Foreign invaders include viruses, bacteria, fungi, drugs, or other toxins.

   

  Causes of  fever

  A part of the brain called the hypothalamus controls body temperature, which usually varies throughout the day from the normal temperature of 98.6 F. In response to an infection, illness, or some other cause, the hypothalamus may reset the body to a higher temperature because fever is the immune system's response to a foreign invader. These foreign invaders include viruses, bacteria, fungi, drugs, or other toxins. They are considered fever-producing substances (called pyrogens), which trigger the body's immune response. Pyrogens signal the hypothalamus in the brain to increase the body temperature set point in order to help the body fight off the infection. Fever is a common symptom of most infections such as colds, flu, and gastroenteritis (also referred to as stomach flu), and thus a risk factor for fever is exposure to infectious agents. 

  Typical infections that may cause fever include those of the ear, throat, lung, bladder, and kidney. Autoimmune disorders (including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease), medication side effects, seizures, blood clots, hormone disorders, cancers, and illicit drug use are also some non-infectious causes of fevers. Fever itself is not contagious; however, if the fever is caused by a viral or bacterial infection, the infection may be contagious.

   

  Ayurveda's approach to fever

  According to Ayurveda, ‘Jwara’ or fever refers to the irregularities of body temperature. It is one of the most comprehensively described entities in Ayurveda. Ayurveda explains that the generator of the bodily temperature is located in the forehead.  In the majority of the cases, there is reduced heat (Agni) in the GIT (gastrointestinal tract) and an increased temperature in the external body. Fever might be a symptom of a disease or can be a disease in itself. Ayurvedic treatment of fever is based on reduction of aggravation pitta and reduces toxins in the body. According to Ayurveda, fever happens because of an imbalance in the following doshas:

  • Vata
  • Aghantuja
  • Pitta
  • Kapha
  • Vata-Kapha
  • Vata-Pitta
  • Vata-Pitta-Kapha
  • Pitta-Kapha

   

  According to Ayurvedic science, there are thirteen types of fever: 

  • Vataja, Pittaja
  • Kaphaja
  • Vata-Pittaja
  • Vata- Kaphaja
  • Tridoshaj (intrinsic fevers)
  • Agantuja (extrinsic fever)
  • Kamaja (related to sex)
  • Shokaja (anxiety induced)
  • Vishama jwar (malaria)
  • Krodhaja (anger induced) 
  • Bhuta-vistha (of unknown origin)

  So, depending upon the doshic involvement or other factors, additional symptoms besides elevation of temperature are observed.

  In the world of ayurvedic medicine, fever is a very ordinary ailment and is often referred to as Pratishyaya. All the three doshas in Ayurveda are responsible for the occasional occurrence of cold, which provides effective treatment in common fever. 

  • Vata dosha common fever is characterized by dry coughs, small amounts of discharge of mucus, and a headache accompanied by a runny nose. Fever due to Kapha originates in the stomach, with Kapha, mixed with Ama (a toxic build-up caused by partially digested food), spreading out into other body tissues
  • People with pitta dosha who have common colds are sure to have a fever with symptoms similar to an aching throat, yellowish nasal discharge and continuous snarl of the nasal passage.  A Pitta fever starts in the small intestines, which is the seat of Pitta. In almost all disease processes, their origins are in disturbed digestion and in the creation of Ama. In the case of Pitta-fever, this build-up of Ama is accompanied by a build-up of Pitta – and eventually, this excess Pitta will mix with Ama leading to fever accompanied by headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and dark yellow urine.
  • People with Kapha dosha common fever have thick mucus discharges with deadening headaches and heaviness of the head. An over accumulation of Vata, along with disturbed digestion, can lead to Vata fever. A Vata fever starts in the colon. Fear and anger may be experienced during a fever. Symptoms may include a dark complexion, frequent yawning, goose pimples, shivering, constipation, muscle stiffness, body ache, joint pains and ringing in the ears.

  According to Ayurveda, it is important to know how to eat properly when the digestive fire, or Agni, is low. A lighter diet is recommended when one has a fever, flu, cold or diarrhea or when one is recuperating from an illness.