APPLICATION OF ETHNOVETERNINARY PRACTICES AND VETERNINARY AYURVEDA IN TREATMENT OF MASTITIS IN DAIRY CATTLE
Dr. Sudhanya Nath1* and Aravindkumar K.2
1PhD Scholar, Dept. of Animal Nutrition, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata – 700037
2B.V.Sc. & A.H. Student, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Puducherry – 605009
*Corresponding author – sudhanyanath@yahoo.com
Abstract
According to ancient data, numerous countries had different methods and traditions for dealing with animal ailments. In India, veterinary science has a 5000-year history. On different elements of veterinary care, such as health management of cattle, horses, and birds, there is codified veterinary knowledge in the form of medical writings and manuscripts. This information is preserved in manuscripts known as Veterinary Ayurveda, such as Mrugayurveda, Pashupakshishastra and so on. Ayurveda can help us understand the etiopathogenesis and treatment of animal ailments. Mastitis is a condition that causes economic hardship in dairy cows. A single disease might cost up to 7500 crores INR each year in losses. Ayurvedic saints, known as Sthanavidhradi, give detailed explanations of mastitis. The classics of Ayurveda clearly outline management and therapeutic procedures. It’s been around for a long time. The current issues in mainstream medicine can be addressed by this robust medical system. Ancient India used a variety of plants and formulations from ethnomedicine and Ayurveda. As a result, it’s critical to revalidate and reintroduce these tried-and-true animal health formulas and herbs.
Key words: Ayurveda, Dairy cows, Ethnomedicine, Mastitis.
Introduction:
Animal healthcare is as old as the domestication of numerous livestock species, according to ethnoveterinary or traditional medicine. In India’s villages, there exist a variety of rich and effective ethnoveterinary traditions that are a significant aspect of family life and play social, religious, and economic function.In terms of Ayurveda mastitis is mostly a pitta dosha (Ayurvedic name) dominating condition. Pitta is one of the doshas (morbid factors present in the body) that causes disease. Mastitis is also known in Ayurveda as Sthanavidhradi, a pitta-related ailment, and the medications in this formulation are effective pittashamaka. According to estimates, the demand for veterinary healthcare products is between Rs. 7600 and Rs. 10,500 million. Only 20% of cattle owners have access to modern veterinarian treatment. As a result, there’s a lot of room for developing standardized herbal products for veterinary medicine. The application of Ethnoveterinary and Ayurvedic practices can resolve various drawbacks such as:
- Cost for treatment of dairy animals can be reduced
- Level of drugs, antibiotics and chemicals in the milk can be minimized.
- Can help the local producers to contribute to the economy
- Timely help can be given to the farmers by the veterinarian.
Mastitis is a condition that causes economic hardship in dairy cows. A single disease might cost up to 7500 crores INR each year in losses. Ayurvedic saints, known as Sthanavidhradi, give detailed explanations of mastitis. The classics of Ayurveda clearly outline management and therapeutic procedures. The goal of this study is to explain ethnic and Ayurvedic perspectives on mastitis, the most economically destructive disease. Ayurveda and Veterinary Ayurveda are also linked. Aloe vera, Ca(OH)2 and Curcuma longa, are commonly used in medicinal formulations, with properties such as Krimighna (anti-microbial), Vranashodaka (wound cleaning), Vranaropaka (wound healing), and Shothahara (anti-inflammatory). As a result, this mixture can effectively manage mastitis. The modern and Ayurvedic ways of treating mastitis is different.
In the modern practices, there are three stages of mastitis development:
- The first step is the invasive phase, in which the bacteria can penetrate the teat orifice and become established in the teat canal and cristern.
- The organisms are able to overcome the immune system and multiply in the second phase, infection.
- The third phase is the inflammatory phase, in which the organism infiltrates the udder.
In Ayurvedic medicine, they have classified mastitis into two types namely: Sthana vidradhi and Sthana kilaka.
Etiology and clinical features of mastits:
Disease
|
Etiology
|
Clinical featutre |
Mastitis | · Incomplete milking from the udder that is, presence of residual milk in the udder
· Trauma or insect bite on the udder · Excessive feeding on tender plants of avare chiguru (Dolichos sp.) and kaaki jola (maize stalk) · Unhygienic condition of the cattle shed and feeding methods · Ingestion of worms · Evil eye on the high milk yielding udder of the cow |
Local changes: reddish swollen udder with extreme pain and tenderness at times, hard and warm to touch • Milk changes: milk is often yellow or curdled, has blood tinge at times and also a few suspended particles are seen in milk of the affected udder.
Other opinions: 1st stage: saltish taste of milk 2nd stage: curdled milk 3rd stage: hard udder, less milk yield • Others: the outer ear (pinna) is also thickened; fever and animal is off its feed and looks dull |
Ayurvedic treatments for mastitis:
- Wattakaka volubilis (leaves and stem) paste is applied externally to the affected udder:- The involvement of the pitta dosha is primarily responsible for any inflammation. The inflammatory and suppurative nature of kechala baavu, or mastitis, infers the predominance of pitta dosha. Pitta dosha is relieved by the plant Wattakaka volubilis. As a result, this treatment for mastitis should work.
- Wattakaka volubilis (stem) and Commelina benghalensis (leaves) paste are applied to the affected udder from the outside:- Along with Wattakaka volubilis, Commelina benghalensis is used in this composition. Commelina benghalensis possesses antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, coli, and Bacillus subtilis, according to contemporary pharmacological investigations. As a result, there is some evidence that this composition can help with mastitis.
- A handful of Andrographis serpyllifolia (leaves and roots), flakes of Allium sativum bulb, and Piper nigrum mashed to a paste and taken orally three times per day for nine to twenty days:- This formulation is not proven to be effective.
Two of the three formulas listed above have literary backing from an ISM (Ayurveda) and modern pharmacology. Only one formulation has no ISM or current pharmacology to back it up. However, this does not rule out the possibility of success. Concerning the health practice, the community’s opinion must be asked, if it is discovered that the health practice is beneficial.
Various plants that are used in the treatment of mastitis are listed below:
Plant family | Plant species |
Alliaceae | Allium sativum L. |
Apiaceae | Foeniculum vulgare Mill. |
Asteraceae | Cuminum cyminum L. |
Brassicaceae | Lepidium sativum L. |
Brassicaceae | Brassica campestris L. |
Capparidaceae | Capparis deciduas (Forssk.) |
Compositae | Centratherum anthelmisticum L. |
Cucurbitaceae | Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. |
Linaceae | Linum usitatissimum L. |
Malvaceae | Gossypium hirsutum L. |
Papilionaceae | Trigonella foenumgraceum L. |
Pedaliaceae | Sesamum indicum L. |
Poaceae | Triticum aestivum L. |
Poaceae | Oryza sativa L. |
Poaceae | Saccharum officinarum L. |
Polygonaceae | Polygonum bistorta L. |
Ranunculaceae | Nigella sativa L. |
Rosaceae | Rosa indica L. |
Rubiaceae | Galium aparineL. |
Rutaceae | Citrus limon (L.) Burm.f |
Solanaceae | Capsicum annuum L. |
Zingiberaceae | Zingiber officinale Roscoe |
Zingiberaceae | Curcuma longa L. |
Zingiberaceae | Amomum subulatum Roxb. |
Zygophyllaceae | Peganum harmala L. |
Conclusion:
Ethnoveterinary medicine is extremely relevant in today’s world. In four different geographical regions in Southern India, a fast participatory assessment technique for identifying best practices was designed and tested. During this study, almost 120 plant resources were investigated for nearly 20 health disorders. Seventy percent of the cures had positive proof from several medical systems and personal experience. Fifty percent of the treatments’ ingredients are easily grown in home herb gardens and are readily available in the area. There are no further cures. Pilot clinical studies have resulted in items that are now being manufactured by local businesses. This program has now been effectively implemented by the National Diary Development Board (NDDB) of the Government of India. The method reveals that, if broadly promoted, this concept can be extremely beneficial to rural populations. We believe that revitalizing ethnoveterinary theory and practice is the key to improving animal health and, as a result, rural India’s animal producers’ prosperity.
Reference:
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2221169112600884
- http://www.bibalex.org/search4dev/files/416882/362465.pdf#page=78
- https://www.jayumedsci.com/article/2018/3/2/105530jams2018315
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/html/10.1055/s-0037-1608315