Home remedies for rabies? Here's what doctors say

Street dogs' random attacks are a genuine concern that the common man faces in India. Time and again, victims also get infected by the rabies virus, and the timely administration of vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) is critical in such cases. A few months ago, there were also reports on fake rabies vaccines and deaths of patients despite vaccination. It's in this background that a social media message started doing the rounds in the state, claiming that a rabid dog bite can be self-treated at home. Is that true? We investigate. 

The viral message investigation
Here's how the viral message goes - 'Friends, whether you live in a village, town, or city, you have likely heard of incidents where dogs bite people. Sometimes, even while walking on the street, a dog may bite you, and that dog could be rabid. Whenever a dog bite occurs, it is important to follow these five tips to prevent rabies.

First, thoroughly wash the area where the dog bit you with soap. To ensure the wound is completely clean, repeat this washing four or five times.

Next, at the spot where blood is oozing from the bite, press with your hand to remove as much blood as possible. Friends, the more blood you can draw out this way, the lower the chances are for the poison to enter your body. Most of it will come out this way.

Afterwards, wash the wound again with soap, then apply a small amount of crushed chilli paste directly onto the bite. The chilli helps neutralise the poison and aids in drying the wound,'' says the message we received.

In addition, mix onion juice into the wound and apply it. This will prevent the dog’s venom from spreading. Another suggestion is to mix powdered asafoetida (hing) in water and apply it to the bite.

If these are not available, the message also suggests taking 125 grams of the root of Kaattu Chulayan (a wild plant), grinding it into powder and giving it to the patient by pouring water in it.'

What doctors say
Doctors emphasise that once a bite occurs, the only proven ways to prevent rabies are to thoroughly wash the wound, receive the rabies vaccine, and, in certain cases, administer rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). “After a dog bite, it is absolutely essential to follow the standard vaccination protocol immediately,” says Dr Salim Khan, Head of the Department of Community Medicine at Government Medical College, Srinagar.

A review of global reports has shown that rabies causes 59,000 deaths of humans every year worldwide. According to the WHO, India’s National Rabies Control Programme reported 6,644 cases and deaths from human rabies exposure between 2012 and 2022.

Plant-based remedies?
Studies clearly point out that there is no plant-based or alternative method that can reliably prevent or treat rabies. “Randomised controlled trials show that no traditional remedy is effective in preventing or treating rabies,” confirms the research. India’s National Rabies Control Programme guidelines recommend washing the wound thoroughly with water or soap. However, it does not endorse any other home remedies.

A serious concern
According to estimates by the World Health Organisation, dog bites pose a serious public health concern. In the South-East Asian region, 65% of deaths due to rabies occur in India. Although life-saving treatments such as rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are widely available, many people, especially in rural areas, continue to rely on traditional remedies. These include applying crushed chilli paste, lemon juice, or turmeric to the wounds. Such practices are not only ineffective, but they can also worsen injuries and delay access to proper medical care, thereby increasing the risk of contracting rabies.

Most effective treatment
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, the most effective treatments for rabies are rabies vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). In addition, treatment with antibiotics for 3 to 7 days is importantb and a tetanus booster should also be administered, experts say.