Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) - Ayurvedic Herbal Therapy

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by severe breathing, anxiety, agitation and fever. This condition usually follows a few hours or days after a serious insult or injury to the body, such as sepsis, trauma, drug overdose, transfusion or major lung infections. This condition is characterized by a reduced level of oxygen in the blood.

ARDS is a very serious disease, and all affected patients should be hospitalized in the intensive care unit for treatment and support. While there is no specific modern treatment, intravenous fluids, antibiotics, steroids, and mechanical oxygen ventilation are the basis of control. Ayurvedic management of this condition consists in the treatment of the underlying pathology of the disease, the reduction and prevention of further damage to organs and the preservation of life.

The air sacs and the surrounding small blood vessels in the lungs become seriously damaged in this condition. This causes either alveolar collapse or fluid accumulation; both situations lead to a decrease in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide and significantly reduce the level of available oxygen for the tissues of the body. Modern medicine uses steroids to reduce pneumonia. Ayurvedic medicines such as Ras Sindur, Malla Sindur, Sameranpananag Ras, Shvas-Kas-Chintamani-Ras, Shrung-Bhazma, Vishan-Bhazma, Pushkarkul (Inula-racemusa), Arjuna (Terminating Arjuna), Yashtimaduk (Gulitsik) ), Kantakari (Solanum xanthocarpum), Praval-Bhasma and Praval-Panchamrut are used for this purpose. These medicines reduce pneumonia and open up the airways.

Constantly low oxygen levels in the blood cause damage to other vital organs in the body, such as the kidneys and liver, and predispose to multi-organ failure. Ayurvedic medicines such as Nardia-Lakshmi-Vilas-Ras, Maha-Lakshmi-Vilas-Ras, Siddha-Makardvay-Ras and Gemgarbha-Ras are used to increase blood pressure, improve blood circulation and provide more oxygen to vital organs. Punarnavadi-Kadha (decoction), Punarnadvad-Guggulu, Goksuradi-Guggulu, Mahamanjishdi-Kadha, Saarivadi-Churna and Java-Kshar are used in combination with the aforementioned drugs to improve organ perfusion, reduce inflammation and edema and reduce the circulatory load on the lungs.

Medications such as Sukshma-Triphala, Triphala, arogya-Vardhini, Trihala-Guggul, codend (Pikroyra-Kurga) Punarnava (Boerhaven-diffusion), Guggul (Kommihora Mukul) Kalmeh (Andrografika panikulata) Haridra (Curcuma Longa) , Daruharadra (Berberis-aristate) and Sharpunkha (Tephrosia purpurea) are used to treat infection and reduce toxicity, which can damage the entire body system.

Thus, Ayurvedic medicines can be used to improve treatment outcomes in ARDS and increase the chances of survival and full recovery. Since these patients are seriously ill, all medicines must be finely ground and injected through a naso-gastric tube along with honey and milk. In the current scenario, the use of Ayurvedic medicines for such patients is associated with many medical and legal consequences. Relatives must sign a letter of consent prior to treatment, which clearly indicates the seriousness of the situation and the fact that Ayurvedic medicines can at best be provided as a supportive treatment, in addition to modern treatment and supportive treatment and care. Hospital authorities also need to provide either written consent, or at least implied oral consent to the simultaneous use of Ayurvedic medicines. Given the high mortality of this condition, a joint approach to treatment can definitely work in the interests of all such patients.