Noting that the biggest challenge for India’s traditional medicines
is the lack of concrete data, the AYUSH ministry has called on key players in
the sector to work together for proper documentation of diagnosis and treatment
of diseases, including deadly Covid-19, at the earliest.
“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, Secretary, Ministry
of AYUSH.
He was delivering live talk on ‘The role of AYUSH in
combating Covid-19’ as part of the ‘Lockdown Lecture Series’ being broadcast on Vijnana Bharati Youtube channel and Facebook page.
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 the incidence
and the mortality rate are very low. “This is very interesting and a study is
on.”
The AYUSH official said the ministry has already started work
towards documentation of different AYUSH formulations as a potential therapy
for Covid-19. “We’ve collaborated with various approved research organisations
like ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research), CSIR (Centre for Scientific and
Industrial Research) and the DBT (Department of Bio-Technology) for evidence-based
study and clinical trials which will start soon,” he said.
Kotecha said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Commerce and
Industrial Minister Piyush Goyal and AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik interacted multiple
times with Industrialists, academicians and researchers to know the challenges
faced by the sector.
“It was then decided to exempt the AYUSH sector, including
medicine manufacturing and supply, from lockdown measures, considering it as an
essential service. Anyone still facing any issue can contact the ministry,” he
said.
The AYUSH secretary again exhorted citizens to follow its
advisories on immunity boosting and keep the coronavirus pandemic at bay.
