The Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today launched the National Ayurveda and Yoga-based Clinical Management Protocol for the management of Covid-19.
The protocol lists dietary measures, yoga, and Ayurvedic herbs and formulations such as Ashwagandha and AYUSH-64 for the prevention of coronavirus infection and the treatment of mild, asymptomatic cases.
It was launched by Vardhan in the virtual presence of Shripad Naik, AYUSH Minister of State.
“This protocol dealing with preventive and prophylactic measures is a significant step not only in managing COVID-19 but also in making traditional knowledge relevant to solving modern-day problems,” Vardhan said in a statement.
Addressing the meeting via videoconference, Shripad Naik said that the AYUSH Ministry had established an AYUSH Interdisciplinary Research and Development Working Group with a group of high-level experts to formulate and develop strategies for this initiative.
He said that the Ministry of AYUSH has conducted many observational and clinical studies to understand the role of AYUSH’s intervention in mitigating and managing COVID 19. He also reported that the Ministry has also established an Interdisciplinary Committee for the Integration of Interventions. of Ayurveda and Yoga in the ‘National Protocol of Clinical Management: COVID-19, which was chaired by Dr. VM Katoch, former Director General of the ICMR and group of experts.
The AYUSH ministry, in the protocol document, noted that the current understanding indicates that a good immune system is vital for the prevention of coronavirus infection and to protect against the progression of the disease.
The protocol suggests the use of drugs such as Ashwagandha, Guduchi Ghana Vati, or Chyawanaprasha as prophylactic care for the high-risk population and primary patient contacts.
Recommend the consumption of Guduchi Ghana Vati, Guduchi and Pippali or AYUSH 64 for positive asymptomatic COVID-19 patients to prevent progression of the disease to symptomatic and severe forms and to improve the recovery rate.
Guduchi and Pippali, and AYUSH 64 tablets can be administered to patients infected with mild coronavirus, he said.
The protocol also mentions the dose of these drugs to take. The guidelines established that in addition to these medications, general and dietary measures should be followed.
People with moderate to severe coronavirus infection can make informed decisions about treatment options and all severe cases will be referred, per protocol.
Clinicians must decide on useful formulations from the list or substitutable classic drugs based on their clinical judgment, suitability, availability, and regional preferences.
The dose can be adjusted based on the patient’s age, weight and disease status, the ministry said.
The document also listed Ashwagandha, Chyawanprasha, or Rasayana Churna for post-COVID-19 management to prevent lung complications such as fibrosis, fatigue, and mental health.
In addition, to improve respiratory and cardiac efficiency, to reduce stress and anxiety, and improve immunity, the ministry has included the Yoga Protocol for the primary prevention of COVID-19.
This is expected to contribute to the integration of Ayush solutions for the management of Covid-19 and will be immensely beneficial to the public as these solutions are easily accessible and will help alleviate the difficulties caused by the pandemic.
As the pandemic continues around the world, attempts are being made in many countries to integrate traditional interventions alongside standard of care. The ministry statement added that in India, the experience of Covid-19 response activities as reported in different parts of the country has shown that Ayurveda and Yoga can play a critical role in increasing standard preventive measures for Covid. -19. (The standard preventive measures are those provided in the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare).
Taking note of this potential of Ayurveda and Yoga, the expert committees of the National Institutes and the Central Councils of Research Centers in question, along with some other prominent research institutions, have collaborated and developed a protocol for the management of Covid- 19, the ministry said in a statement.
With contributions from agencies
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