The AYUSH ministry is all set to initiate a mass population-based
study on effectiveness of alternative medicines in prevention and treatment of
Covid-19.

A nine-member working group led by P K Pathak, Additional
Secretary (AYUSH Ministry), has been formed on April 17 to design the format of
the study in consultation with acclaimed institutions like the Indian Council
of Medical Research (ICMR), the Public Health Foundation of India and the National
Institute of Epidemiology.

“We’re planning to conduct a study covering nearly 50 lakh
people to collect evidences and strengthen the use of AYUSH interventions,”
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, AYUSH ministry, told The Print.

The study will cover three categories of volunteers –General Public,
frontline workers and Covid-19 patients.

“As
of now there is no treatment for Covid-19. The best way is to optimize
one’s immunity which can help in disease prevention or limit to
comparatively milder complications in case of infection. For this, the
different traditional systems of medicine (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha,
Homeopathy, Naturopathy and the like) are very effective,” said Vaidya Rajesh
Kotecha.

For
instance, the incidence and the mortality rate of coronavirus pandemic in
various states are different. In areas where people traditionally consume chavanaprash (ayurvedic
preparation using amla), both incidence and mortality rate are very low,
he claimed. “This is very interesting and a study is on.”

The ministry also plans to conduct clinical trials on
traditional herbs such as ashwagandha, guduchi, and mulethi as immune-modulators
against the viral infection.