MUMPS

Mumps are the epidemic parotitis which refer to a virus infection of the salivary glands, gonads and occasionally other parts of the body. It is a contagious disease that occurs most frequently in children and young persons between the ages of five and fifteen years. The disease spreads from children to children in schools. Babies are immune from this disease. Most persons have mumps only once in their lives, but one person in ten may have a second attack.

Symptoms

•   The first sign of mumps is swelling and pain.

•   The pain is first felt under one ear with stiffness of the neck and   jaw.

•   There is a slight fever which subsides in three or four days.

•   The swelling appears first under one   jaw and then extends under the other jaw.

•   The gland becomes tender on pressure.

•   On account of the pressure of the swelling,   mastication and swallowing becomes difficult.

If the disease occurs after puberty, the testicles may be affected. The ovary may be infected in females. In males, the testicles are usually swollen.

If the disease spreads to the testicles, the swelling and pain are very considerable, there is a high fever, and the patient may become depressed and confused. Please see Orchitis for more information and natural remedies.

Mumps can also lead to meningitis (inflammation of the soft membranes of the brain) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain ) with delirium, severe headache and other signs of irritation of the meninges, or it may spread to the pancreas, when the symptoms include pain in the abdomen and loss of appetite. The patient may vomit.

Causes

Mumps are caused by a virus which attacks the salivary glands of the mouth , particularly the parotid glands located on each side of the face just below and in front of the ear. The infecting organism is a paramyxovirus.

After a person is exposed to a case of the mumps, it takes about two weeks for the disease to appear. Diet errors are at the root of the trouble.

Treatment

The patient should be put in bed for several days until the temperature returns to normal. They should be kept on a diet of orange juice diluted with warm water on a 50 : 50 basis for a few days.

If the orange juice does not suit, the juices of other fruits such as mosambi, apple, pineapple, grapes, or vegetables like carrot should be given.

Hot and cold fomentations should be applied every two hours during the day for about 10 minutes and should consist of two or three hot applications, followed by a cold one.

A soft scarf around the cheeks may be gently tied at the top of the head to give some relief from the swelling.

The mouth should be cleaned with an antiseptic wash. Aloe vera juice, apple cider vinegar or bicarbonate of soda diluted in warm, water are good choices.


NATURE CURES REMEDIES FOR MUMPS

When the child can swallow food comfortably and the swelling has subsided, an all-fruit diet should be adopted for a day or two. Thereafter, they may be allowed to gradually embark upon a well balanced diet of natural foods, with emphasis on fresh fruits and raw vegetables.

Vegetables: ginger, raw carrot juice

Fruit Juice: orange, tangerines, apples, pear, pineapple, grapes, melon, mango, mosambi, papaya
Dried Fruit: raisins

Seeds: asparagus seeds

Herbs: barberry

Spices: black pepper, ginger, turmeric, nutmeg
Externally: chebulic myroblen paste, peepal tree, aloe vera

Avoid : turmeric & ginger if taking anticoagulants (blood thinning medication) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as aspirin and ibuprofen

The herb chebulic myroblen is one of the most effective remedies for mumps. A thick paste should be made from this herb by rubbing in water and applied over the swelling. It will give relief.

The leaves of the peepal tree are another effective home remedy for this disease. The leaves should be smeared with ghee and warmed over a fire. They should then be bandaged over the inflamed part, with beneficial results.

The use of the herb Indian aloe is a well known remedy for inflamed and painful part of the body in the indigenous system of medicine. A piece of a leaf of this herb should be peeled on one side and sprinkled with a little turmeric and extract of Indian barberry and bandaged over the swelling after warming.

The seeds of asparagus are valuable in mumps. These seeds combined with the seeds of fenugreek should be ground together to a consistency of a paste. This paste can be applied beneficially over the swelling.

Dry ginger is considered beneficial in the treatment of mumps. It should be made into a paste and applied over the swollen parts . As the paste dries, the swelling will be reduced and the pain will also subside.

The leaves of margosa are also useful in the treatment of mumps. The leaves of this tree and turmeric should be made into a paste and applied externally over the affected parts. It will bring good results.

by naturecures