Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection which usually affects the lungs and may be most often asymptomatic, but may manifest as a flu-like illness or pneumonia. Occasionally, this infection may cause severe, progressive pneumonia or residual pulmonary complications. In immuno-compromised individuals, it may spread to other areas including the skin, bone, joints and meninges. A history of travel or residence in an endemic area is very important in establishing the risk of exposure. Acute presentation of the disease includes symptoms like fever, breathlessness, arthritis and rash; whereas widespread, chronic infection presents with generalized symptoms like weight loss, fever and lymphadenopathy.
The Ayurvedic treatment of coccidioidomycosis is aimed at treating both the acute and chronic symptoms of the disease. The acute pulmonary infection is treated using medicines like Shwas-Kuthar-Ras, Arogya-Vardhini, Ras-Sindur, Malla-Sindur, Sameer-Pannag-Ras, Shrung-Bhasma, Pushkarmool (Inula racemosa), Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Kushtha (Saussarea lappa), Pippali (Piper longum), Kantakari (Solanum xanthocarpum), Bruhat-Kantakari (Solanum indicum), Behada (Terminalia bellerica), Som (Ephedra vulgaris), Karkatashrungi (Pistishia integerima), Kulingan (Alpimia galangal), Dhatura (Dhatura fastuosa) and Vasa (Adhatoda vasaka).
If required, fever is treated separately using medicines like Tribhuvan-Kirti-Ras, Maha-Sudarshan-Qadha and Laxmi-Narayan-Ras. Arthritis is treated using medicines like Triphala-Guggulu, Yograj-Guggulu and Punarnavadi-Guggulu. Skin rash is treated using Maha-Manjishthadi-Qadha, Saarivadi-Churna and Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu.
Chronic, disseminated coccidioidomycosis is treated according to the organ affected and the presentation of symptoms. In general, medicines like Kanchnaar-Guggulu, Maha-Manjishthadi Qadha, Gandhak-Rasayan, Sukshma-Triphala, Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Sunthi (Zinziber officinalis), Musta (Cyperus rotundus) and Kutaj (Holarrhina antidysentrica) are used to treat the chronic infection.
Medicines like Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shatavari (Asperagus racemosus), Bala (Sida cordifolia), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Suvarna-Malini-Vasant, Panchamrut-Parpati and Suvarna-Parpati are used to improve the immune status of the body so as to get a faster therapeutic response and prevent relapses.
Ayurvedic medicines can also be given for the treatment of coccidioidomycosis in addition to modern anti-fungal treatment. For most patients affected with this condition, long term medical care and a regular follow-up of at least one to two years is necessary to confirm a complete resolution of the disease and rule out dissemination or relapse.
Dr. V Guy A. Mundewadi is Chief Ayurvedic Physician at Mundewadi Ayurvedic Clinic based at Thane, Maharashtra, India. He is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com
The online clinic offers Ayurvedic treatment for all chronic and refractory health problems. Dr. A. A. Mundewadi uses high quality herbal extracts in tablet form, which are easy to take, effective and safe for long-term use.
Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, B.A.M.S., has clinical experience of 24 years and clinical research experience of 10 years. He has conducted extensive research in HIV infection, Schizophrenia and many other chronic diseases.