Applied aspect of ayurvedic fumigation (Dhupana Karma) in epidemic era: a conceptual review

Abstract

Ayurveda has attached great importance to preventive medicine and has described several methods for disinfection. Today we are living in a world where we are constantly facing new diseases and surrounded by various types of pathogenic microorganisms in our daily lives, which make us their prey as soon as they get a chance. Some of these microorganisms are the ones that give rise to terrible types of infectious diseases, which have the potential to influence a large section of the population. The Epidemic is the occurrence of more cases of a disease than would be expected in a community or region during a time of period, a severe outbreak of a disease such as SARS. Epidemiological diseases have been described in Ayurveda regarding Janpadodhwansa. Vayu (Air), Desha (Land), Kala (Season), and Jala (Water) are the four factors that are contaminated during the epidemic, according to Ayurveda. Dhupana (fumigation) is the act by which considerable success can be achieved in the field of disinfecting contaminated air and surface. Therefore, because of the present circumstances, this article is an attempt by which to show the importance of Dhupana Karma (fumigation) for the process of disinfection.