Nonpharmacological Treatment Protocol of Jwara as an Immunity Regulator with Reference to Bala

Abstract

Objective: In the absence of vaccines and effective pharmaceutical interventions, an economic way to deal with such a prolonged epidemic of COVID-19 is the need of the hour. Fever is a primary response of the immune system to infections, and it resembles the disease termed jwara. Ayurveda describes immunity through bala (strength) and its preservation through the nonpharmacological protocol in the first phase of jwara. The present study evaluated the physiological action of each component of the jwara management protocol. It aims to appraise an economic, safe, and efficient way to regulate immunity in fever from the perspective of bala. Review Methods: Classical Ayurvedic texts were searched for the reference of jwara and related aspects. Data Source: Physiology of fever, jwara, and assessment of the impacts and detriments of each component of the treatment protocol was explored via electronic search. Contemporary studies appraising the physiological evidence and the therapeutic and immunological significance of the jwara management protocol are selected. Results: Niruha basti and anjana, the nonconventional routes of medications and the nonpharmacological jwara management approaches such as langhana, bitter taste diet, and dhoopana, directly impact the immune system. Bala or immunity-regulating actions of jwara management can be categorized as those that can decrease the metabolic rate for the proper functioning of the immune system, those that provide nutrition to regulate innate immune responses, and those approaches that alleviate damage due to inflammatory responses. Conclusion: Jwara management protocol may be an economic way to increase the chances of self-recovery by homogenizing the immunity in infections with fever.