Dietary measures, yoga and Ayurvedic herbs and formulations such as Ashwagandha and AYUSH-64 are part of a protocol released by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday.
The newly released clinical management of COVID-19 has a lists for prevention of coronavirus infection and treatment of mild and asymptomatic cases.
The ‘National Clinical Management Protocol based on Ayurveda and Yoga for Management of COVID-19’ was released by Vardhan in the virtual presence of Shripad Naik, Minister of State for AYUSH.
“This protocol dealing with preventive and prophylactic measures is a significant step not only in management of COVID-19 but also in making traditional knowledge relevant to solving problems of the modern time,” Vardhan was quoted as saying in a statement.
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According to the protocol document, the AYUSH ministry pointed out that a good immune system is vital for prevention of coronavirus infection and to safeguard from disease progression.
The protocol suggests use of medicines such as Ashwagandha, Guduchi Ghana Vati or Chyawanaprasha as prophylactic care for high risk population and primary contacts of patients.
It recommends consumption of Guduchi Ghana Vati, Guduchi and Pippali or AYUSH 64 for asymptomatic COVID-19 positive patients for prevention of disease progression to symptomatic and severe forms and to improve recovery rate.
Guduchi and Pippali, and AYUSH 64 tablets can be given to mild coronavirus infected patients, it said.
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The protocol also mentions the dose of these medicines that is to be taken. The guidelines stated that in addition to these medicines, general and dietary measures have to be followed. Individuals with moderate to severe coronavirus infection may make informed choice of treatment options and all severe cases will be referred, the protocol said.
Ashwagandha, Chyawanprasha or Rasayana Churna should be used for post-COVID-19 management in order to prevent lung complications like fibrosis, fatigue and mental health.
Further, to improve respiratory and cardiac efficiency, to reduce stress and anxiety and enhance immunity, the ministry has listed Yoga Protocol for Primary Prevention of COVID- 19. The document also mentions Yoga Protocol for Post COVID-19 care (including care for COVID-19 patients) in order to improve pulmonary function and lung capacity, reduce stress and anxiety and improve muco-ciliary clearance.
“Ayurveda and Yoga can certainly play a pivotal role to augment preventive measures provided in the guidelines by the Ministry of Health. The current understanding of COVID-19 indicates that good immune status is vital to prevention and to safeguard from disease progression,” it said.
Gargling with warm water added with a pinch of turmeric and salt, nasal instillation/application of medicated oil (Anu taila or Shadbindu taila), plain oil or cow’s ghee once or twice a day, especially before going out and after coming back home, steam inhalation with Ajwain, Pudina or Eucalyptus oil once a day, moderate physical exercises and following Yoga protocol as some of general measures that the ministry recommended.
Dietary measures include use of warm water or boiled with herbs, such as ginger, coriander, basil and cumin seeds etc for drinking purpose, drinking golden milk (half tea spoon turmeric powder in 150 ml hot milk) once at night (avoid in case of indigestion) and taking Ayush Kadha or Kwath (hot infusion or decoction) once a day.
