Indian government working on four ayurvedic medicine formulations to treat COVID-19.

India has now surpassed China’s coronavirus case count, and so far, the situation only seems to be worsening as the number of affected cases continues to grow each day in India. While the coronavirus is still at large, scientists across the globe are working hard to find a cure for coronavirus, and unfortunately, a working vaccine is yet to be found. In this scenario, the Indian government has announced that it is working on four ayurvedic medicine formulations to treat COVID-19.

On May 14, 2020, Shripad Y Naik, the Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), in a tweet, stated that the government is working on validating four Ayurvedic drugs for treating coronavirus and the trials would start within a week. These formulations will only be tried as an add-on therapy and standard care for COVID-19 patients. He also stated that he is “Sure and quite hopeful” that the country’s traditional system will show positive results.

What are the 4 ayurvedic medicine formulations that are being validated?

The four ayurvedic medicine formulations are Ashwagandha, Yashtimadhu, Guduchi Pippali, and AYUSH-64. 

Ashwagandha:

Ashwagandha, also called Indian ginseng, is one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda. Ashwagandha improves the body’s defense against disease by improving the cell-mediated immunity. Extracts and powder from the plant’s root and leaves have been used for over 3,000 years to boost immunity, reduce anxiety and stress, help fight depression, boost fertility and improve brain function. As per Ayurveda, supplementing with Ashwagandha regularly is an easy and effective way to improve your health and quality of life.

Yashtimadhu: 

Mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra), commonly called Yashtimdhu, is an ayurvedic herb that is used in Ayurveda for its health benefiting properties. The Mulethi powder prepared from the root of this plant has various use in the ayurvedic system. It is very useful for keeping the respiratory tract healthy. Regular use of this plant boosts immunity and protects the body from microbes. It helps in promoting digestion and has laxative properties. It also has anti-inflammatory antioxidant properties that can be used to treat the symptoms of coronavirus infection.

Guduchi pippali: 

Guduchi Pippali, is an ayurvedic herb found in the hottest regions of India. In Ayurveda, this herb is most effective in treating respiratory problems. Consuming long pepper improves digestion and boosts appetite. The chemical compounds present in this herb also helps in detoxifying the liver. It is anti-diabetic and helps in lowering high blood sugar levels. Consuming Pippali regularly can reduce your cholesterol levels and helps in boosting metabolism. It also has immunity-boosting properties. Thus, as an immunity booster and an effective herb for treating respiratory problems, this herb is a natural candidate for coronavirus treatment.

AYUSH-64: 

AYUSH-64 is an effective drug used in the treatment of malaria. It has been proven to both cure and prevent malarial infection. AYUSH-64 is not a single herb, it a drug that is a combination of 4 different types of plants. The extracts from the root, stem, leaf, flower, and fruit of these plants are subjected to various processes before the final product is obtained. Also, this ayurvedic medicine has no side-effects on patients and is relatively cheap. While another anti-malarial drug, Hydroxychloroquine is already prescribed in many parts of the world to treat coronavirus, AYUSH-64 is being validated by the government of India for treating coronavirus patients.

Can Ayurveda be the key to treating coronavirus?

Ayurveda is a 3000-year old practice that deals with a natural way to cure any disease. This includes finding the root cause of the disease and curing it without any side effects. As ayurvedic medicines and ayurvedic herbs like amla, tulsi, shilajit, and neem help strengthen the immune system that helps fight all the diseases including coronavirus, adding these ayurvedic herbs in our daily diet enhances the immunity and prevents the spread of coronavirus, according to Ayurveda experts. Also, many states like Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Haryana are already using ayurvedic treatments on coronavirus patients.

Thus, as countries across the globe struggle to find a cure for coronavirus, India’s initiative of using ayurvedic medicines for treating coronavirus patients is sure to be appreciated.