Toxoplasmosis – Ayurvedic herbal treatment

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite that is acquired primarily through contact with cats and their feces, or raw or undercooked meat. Common symptoms of this condition include fever, body aches, runny nose, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle aches. While normal people are not greatly affected by this infection, immunosuppressed people can be severely affected, with the risk of damage to the eyes, brain, or other organs. This condition is part of the TORCH infections that can affect pregnant women, often causing recurrent miscarriages or birth defects in children.

Ayurvedic treatment of toxoplasmosis is aimed at treating the symptoms, boosting the body’s immune status, and preventing complications in immunocompromised patients and pregnant women. Medicines like Triphala-Guggulu, Sukshma-Triphala, Gandhak-Rasayan and Ras-Parpati are used to treat the basic infection. Medications like Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Bala (Sida cordifolia), Naagbala (Grewia hirsuta), Samudrashosh (Argyreia speciosa), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Bhrungraj (Eclipta alba), Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Bhumiamalaki (Phyllanthus niruri), Abhrak-Bhasma, Trivang-Bhasma, Suvarna-Bhasma, Suvarna-Raj-Vangeshwar-Ras, Maha-Laxmi-Vilas-Ras, Suvarna-Malini-Vasant and Suvarna-Parpati are used to boost the immune status . of the affected individual to control this infection and prevent long-term complications.

Medications that act on the ‘Ras’ and ‘Rakta’ dhatus (tissues) of the body are also helpful in treating this condition. These drugs include Kutaj (Holarrhina antidysentrica), Patol (Tricosanthe dioica), Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), and Patha (Cissampelos pareira). In addition, women with a history of recurrent miscarriages due to confirmed TORCH infections (including toxoplasmosis infection), may receive medications to prevent miscarriages and possible birth defects in the child. These medicines include Nimba (Azadirachta indica), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Draksha (Vitis vinifera), Chandan (Santalum album), Usheer (Vetiveria zizanioidis), Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa) , Shatavari, Haridra (Curcuma longa), Daruharidra (Berberis aristata), Mandukparni (Centella asiatica), Saariva, Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata), Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Chirayta (Swertia chirata), Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris), Shalparni (Desmodium gangeticum) and Kantakari (Solanum xanthocarpum). As a precaution, these women should try to conceive only after the TORCH infection has fully resolved.

Prevention is an important aspect in the management of toxoplasmosis infection, especially for immunosuppressed people. All gardening activities should be done with gloves, and then wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. The same procedure should be adopted when handling raw meat. All meat, especially pork or beef, should be thoroughly cooked before eating.