After the panic, a more reasoned response. Rabon, usually visits a Ayurveda Kendra in south Delhi for a body massage. But in this season of swine flu, she is looking for medicines to avoid getting a common cold and cough.
"As far as I understand there is no cure but there's prevention so I have been taking some bottles of medicines which taste awful and I think I am quite safe with it," she says.
But doctors at this clinic warn, Ayurveda and Homeopathy can increase resistance, but are not a cure. Says Dr Sudha Ashoka, director, Ayurveda Kendra: "We have medicines for that... which increase the resistance and also of the respiratory system, which gets affected by Swine flu...if you have contracted the virus you have to go to an allopathic doctor."
With even a common cold and cough, which are symptoms of swine flu causing a scare, the Health Ministry has now recommended some home remedies, like avoiding curd, cold food, cold drinks, fruit juices especially citrus fruits, fermented food and ice-cream.
Hot water and a mixture of Tulsi, Ginger and Black pepper are some of the ancient solutions. So, while Tamiflu tablets are the proven cure, practitioners of Indian alternate medicines say they have the prevention. But many say this is not the time to try these alternative methods.
Dr Daniel Raj of Dr Batra's Multispecialty Homeopathy says: "Even the government on India is thinking on these lines...of improving the immune system. So it's a big boost for us in helping patients."
Professor Bir Singh of AIIMS says: "If somebody has symptoms specially suggesting swine flu like symptoms especially category B and C then there's no way then can go for any other system other than the allopathic system."
Accused of not doing enough by the Health Minister, states have quickly focussed on the age old phrase prevention is better than cure.
Karnataka Health Secretary Perumal says: "In preventive measure, this Sidda Ayurveda and Unani are absolutely required. The good point about Karnataka is that even this medicine will be given free to the people."
So while these ancient remedies can help build immunity, they will not treat you for swine flu.
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