Guidelines for Naturopathy Practitioners for COVID 19

Role of Naturopathy in prophylaxis during Covid-19 pandemic

Research has shown that there is a heterogeneity in susceptibility to infections during a flu epidemic. Psychologic stress, Fitness and physical activity, Nutrition, Sleep, comorbid conditions and lifestyle play a vital role in shaping this immune response. Naturopathy is a system of lifestyle medicine that works in modulating these factors that improve body's innate healing properties i.e. immunity.

Since elderly population, children and those with co morbid conditions are vulnerable to COVID infection, naturopathy interventions can be used as an adjunct preventive management. The impending anxiety and stress of isolation due to COVID-19 disease and lockdown can down regulate immune responses and defenses that can lead them to contract this infection and increase its severity. Though isolation, hygiene precautions and social distancing are important for preventing one getting infected, anxiety and stress resulting from these also need to be taken care of Treatment protocols for people with COVID-19 should address both the physiological and psychological needs of the patients and health service providers.

Prophylaxis and Preventive care

Naturopathy system works by improving one's vitality or modulating immunity and can therefore be used as a preventive approach. Listed below are several measures that can be used to improve immunity against infections. These measures may be particularly useful in patients with comorbid illness such a diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and elderly who may have increased susceptibility to Covid-19.

Measures for preventive care and immune enhancement

Symptom Management

A successful antiviral response would see the infection limited to the upper airway, as is the case clinically with the majority of viral infections in healthy individuals. Should such a response be deficient, then predominantly upper-airway viral infections, may spread to the lower airways, causing lower respiratory symptoms and an exacerbation of symptoms of wheeze, and dyspnea in predisposed individuals. The mainstay in management of corona viral infections has been supportive care, nutrition and preventing secondary infections in the absence of any antiviral agent or vaccine. In the initial phases of infection where there is upper respiratory tract involvement, several home remedies can be tried as prescribed in naturopathy. Majority of spices are used in respiratory diseases (26.3%), ranging from colds, flu, to cough and catarrh. Some of these measures are listed in next Table.

Measures for Symptom management 

General Measures

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

• 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 

What to Avoid

• 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

Acupressure :

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 .

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.

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

Source : Ministry of AYUSH