Giardiasis and Its Ayurvedic Management

ABSTRACT

There are many creatures that live on other animals which are also known as parasites. Giardiasis is an infection caused by a parasite which infects the small intestine and causes abdominal discomfort. The disease spread through contaminated potables and eatables. The condition is most commonly spread rapidly in overcrowded areas of developing nations lacking basic sanitary conditions and contaminated water. In the following text, we shall have a detailed look at Giardiasis and its management in the contemporary system of medicine as well as the traditional system of Ayurvedic medicine. Let’s discuss!!

INTRODUCTION

Parasites are some organisms that usually live on other living beings or in their bodies. Parasites are of various sizes that can be microscopic and big enough to be seen by naked eye. Survival of these parasites based on feeding from the host they are attached to. Most commonly they spread parasitic infections. One of such conditions is Giardiasis. It is the most common protozoal intestinal infection worldwide. Giardiasis is a condition of infection of the small intestine characterised by abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, bloating, watery diarrhoea etc. it is caused by protozoa which has easy access to the human body. Therefore it get lucky most frequently and infects more children than adults. In Ayurveda, the condition can be compared with krimi roga. Krimiroga is considered as ‘aagantuj vyadhi’ as the disease causing agent is outsider and not the doshas. As the krimi enters the body it vitiates and imbalances the doshas to cause symptoms of the disease. In this condition krimi causes all the three doshas imbalance.

Causative agent of Giardiasis

The causative agent of Giardiasis is a flagellate protozoa Giardia intestinalis. It was previously known as Giardia duodenalis or Giardia lamblia.

Causes of Giardiasis

Usually giardia infection can occur from the stool of a person or animal who is infected by Giardia intestinalis. The parasites grow a shell around them which are called cyst before they are expelled from the body.  The cyst provides them protection from extreme environmental conditions. When a healthy person gets in contact with these cysts they get an infection. 

• Close contact with someone who is infected with Giardiasis.
• Contact with contaminated surfaces such as door handles, diaper pails, tables, utensils, toys etc and eat without washing hands properly.
• Drinking water from an untreated source of water such as a well, lake, stream.
• Swallowing of water from the pool while playing or swimming in water.
• Travelling to the countries where it is a common infection.
• Consuming unwashed and uncooked food that might contain protozoa Giardia intestinalis.

Risk Factors

1. Old age care workers and child care workers who change diapers
2. Children in child care centres
3. People with close contract with person infected with giardiasis
4. Adventure freaks who are on constant travelling and cannot properly take good and proper hygienic measures
5. People who perform anal sex
6. International travellers who travelled to the countries where the disease is endemic. 

Signs and Symptoms

• The features of the disease usually start after 1 to 3 weeks post exposure. The features may last for 2 to 6 weeks.
• Diarrhoea
• Stomach and abdominal cramps
• Abdominal discomfort
• Nausea
• Weight loss
• Dehydration
• Flatulence
• Fatigue

Diagnosis

• Medical and travel history
• Contact history
• Stool culture
• ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay)

Management

• Antiprotozoal medications
• Metronidazole
• Nitazoxanide
• Tinidazole
• Ronidazole
• Albendazole

Complications

• Dehydration is a common complication of Giardiasis
• Failure to thrive is common if a child get recurrent infections
• Lactose intolerance is reported after Giardiasis infection

Prevention

• Washing hands properly with soap after using the toilet and before consuming food.
• Filtering and boiling water before drinking is mandatory
• Try avoiding swallowing water from the swimming pool while swimming or playing in water. 
• Using condom during anal sex
• Taking water with oneself when going out to quench thirst and avoiding drinking from unhygienic places.

Ayurvedic Management

The disease of Giardiasis is compared with krimi roga in Ayurveda. And there are helpful herbs available in Ayurveda which are considered ‘krimighna’. Some of such drugs are haridra, vidang, palaash, afsateen. And there are classical Ayurvedic formulations available such as vidangasava, krimighna vatika, mahashankh vati etc.

Herbal Remedies for Giardiasis by Planet Ayurveda

Planet Ayurveda is an eminent GMP certified, ISO 9001:2015 certified and US-FDA registered Ayurvedic Company, which adhered to the aim of manufacturing quality Ayurvedic products as mentioned in the various ancient texts of Ayurveda. formulations are manufactured without additives and preservatives and other kinds of chemicals or artificial flavouring agents which have a number of side effects on the human body. Products prepared at Planet Ayurveda are pure and do not contain any kind of adulteration. The products are purely organic and vegetarian and gluten free. Planet Ayurveda presents its list of products which are beneficial in protozoal infestation of the intestine, Giardiasis. 

Following is the list of formulations prepared by Planet Ayurveda that are effective in managing the condition of Giardiasis

1. DIGESTION SUPPORT
2. VIDANGADI LOHA
3. KRIMI MUKTI CAPSULES
4. MAHASHANKH VATI

Product Description

1. DIGESTION SUPPORT

Digestion support capsules are used in case of slow and improper digestion. The capsules are filled with the herbs which promotes proper digestion such as amla (Emblica officinale), haritaki (Terminalia chebula), bibhitaki (Terminalia bellerica), saunf (Foeniculum vulgare), dhania (Coriander sativum), pippali (Piper longum), jeerak (Cyminum cuminum). In worm or other parasitic infestation, the digestion of the person regresses and therefore the absorption is hampered in such conditions. Therefore, Digestion Support Capsules help in digestion.

Dosage : One capsule twice a day with plain water after meals.

2. VIDANGADI LOHA

Vidangadi Loha is a formulation prepared by Planet Ayurveda which is beneficial in parasitic infestation of the gut. The tablets are composed of a variety of ingredients such as shuddha parad (purified mercury), shudha gandhak (purified sulphur), marich (Piper nigrum), jaiphal (Myristica fragrans), lavang (Syzygium aromaticum), pippali (Piper longum), shunthi (Zingiber officinale), suhaga (Borax), loha bhasma (calcined iron), vaividang (Embelia ribes). All the ingredients help in managing the condition of Giardiasis as it kills and expels the causative organism from the gut efficiently.

Dosage : One tablet thrice a day with lukewarm water after meals.

3. KRIMI MUKTI CAPSULES

Krimi Mukti Capsules are filled with various herbs that are known for their anti-helminthic actions. These capsules contain the herbs such as palaash (Butea frondosa), harad (Terminalia chebula), vidanga (Embelia ribes), haridra (Curcuma longa), afsanteen (Artemisia absinthium). All the herbs kill the worms that cause a number of troublesome symptoms of  Giardiasis.

Dosage : One capsule twice a day with plain water after meals.

4. MAHASHANKH VATI

Mahashankh Vati is a classical ayurvedic formulation which supports digestive health. It contains a number of ingredients such as shunthi (Zingiber officinale), pippali (Piper longum), tamarind bark (Tamarindus indica), saikhrika (Achyranthes aspera), chitrak (Plumbago zeylanica), amla (Emblica officinale), common salt, rock salt, black salt, hing (Ferula asafoetida) etc. The tablets help in digestion and manage the abdominal cramps and flatulence caused by Giardiasis. Further Mahashankh vati aids digestion which is affected by the parasite Giardia intestinalis.

Dosage : Two tablets twice a day with lukewarm water after meals.

Conclusion

Giardiasis is a parasitic infestation of the intestine by protozoa Giardia intestinalis. They are present on the soil surface, animals and other unhygienic areas. They get spread from one place to other by environmental factors and human and animal migration. There are certain ways the causative agent spreads from one person to another. Organisms also get in the body of the host by consuming contaminated edibles and potables. There are ways the infestation of the protozoa can be checked. Medicines like metronidazole, tinidazole etc. in Ayurveda, there are medicines which are prepared with the herbs which are mentioned as ‘krimighna’ in Ayurvedic texts. These medicines are used in a number of parasitic manifestations. Abovesaid formulations prepared by Planet Ayurveda have a unique property of eliminating Giardia intestinalis from the gut and provide relief from the problematic characteristics of the disease Giardiasis.