Ayush Ministry Recommends Hydration, Cooling Diet and Traditional Wellness Practices to Prevent Heat-Related Illnesses
New Delhi, May 18: With heatwave conditions intensifying across several parts of the country, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, along with the Ministry of Ayush, has issued a nationwide public health advisory urging citizens to take precautions against extreme heat and heat-related illnesses.
The advisory, released by the Ayush Vertical under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), provides guidelines for the public, vulnerable groups, workers, employers, and people participating in outdoor events and sports activities.
Citizens have been advised to stay hydrated, avoid direct exposure to sunlight during peak afternoon hours, wear loose cotton clothing, and consume seasonal fruits and electrolyte-rich fluids to reduce the risk of dehydration and heat stress.
According to the advisory, infants, children, pregnant women, senior citizens, outdoor labourers, and people suffering from chronic diseases such as hypertension and heart ailments are more vulnerable during extreme heat conditions and require special care.
The government has also recommended preventive arrangements at workplaces and public gatherings, including shaded rest areas, regular water breaks, awareness campaigns on heat stress symptoms, and proper acclimatization measures for outdoor workers.
People have been urged to immediately seek medical help if they experience symptoms such as dizziness, headache, nausea, fainting, dehydration, seizures, confusion, or unusually high body temperature. The advisory describes heatstroke as a medical emergency and advises citizens to call emergency helplines 108 or 102 in severe cases.
As part of the advisory, the Ministry of Ayush has also suggested several traditional wellness measures from Ayurveda, Siddha, Yoga, Unani, and Homoeopathy systems to help people stay cool during the summer season.
Ayurveda experts have recommended cooling drinks such as buttermilk, coconut water, and lemon beverages, along with traditional preparations like Nimbukaphala Panaka, Amra Prapanaka, and Chincha Panaka for maintaining body temperature.
The Siddha and Yoga systems suggest breathing techniques such as Sheetali Pranayama and gentle yoga practices to reduce heat stress and maintain physical balance.
The advisory also encourages people to include cooling food items like cucumber, watermelon, musk melon, ash gourd, lime, and tomatoes in their daily diet.
Citizens have further been advised to regularly monitor weather updates and heatwave alerts issued by the india meteorological department and follow all necessary safety precautions.
