Government has issued an advisory find antidotes to COVID-19 (Novel Corona Virus)

SHRI L.S. TEJASVI SURYA

SHRI UTTAM KUMAR REDDY NALAMADA

Will  the  Minister  of  AYURVEDA,  YOGA  AND  NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is taking steps to find antidotes to COVID-19 (Novel Corona Virus) in AYUSH, if so, the details thereof including funds allocated;

(b) whether the Government has issued an advisory advocating the use of Unani and Homoeopathy medicines for prevention and management of the disease and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of the research that this advisory was based on;

(d) whether any other country has issued advisory prescribing alternate systems of medicines to prevent, treat or manage the disease and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government has taken any steps to prevent spreading of misinformation about COVID-19 and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) whether the Government has set up permanent AYUSH research labs to develop solutions to any future pandemics or epidemics and if so, the details thereof

(a) to (f) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

(b) Yes, Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy are advocated for health promotion and prevention of diseases. As such, the advisory in terms of AYUSH Systems to prevent the outbreak of Corona Virus is  general in nature. The Press release advisory (Annexure I-III) was widely published in print and electronic media throughout India.

(c) The Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (CCRH) is of view that the positive results from the genus epidemicus as prophylactic during epidemic outbreaks of various diseases during recent past, Scientific Advisory Board of the Council discussed to find out possible genus epidemicus for recent outbreak of corona virus in China. The sign and symptoms of the patients were referred from the recent publication from the clinical history of patients of Wuhan, China in Lancet titled, “Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel corona virus in Wuhan, China”. Analysis of these symptoms was made to find out the genus epidemicus and following recommendation were made:

• Arsenicum album 30C could be advised as Genus Epidemicus as preventive against Coronavirus infection.

• Moreover, Arsenic album is a common prescription in the cases of respiratory infections in day to day practice.

(d) Ministry has no information.

(e) Councils have developed the Information Education Communication (IEC) material to spread the proper information about corona infection where OPD patients are made aware about the same.

(f) CCRH has set up a Virology laboratory at its Dr. Anjali Chatterjee Regional Research Institute of Homeopathy, for carrying out research on disease of viral origin.

This advocacy is for information only and shall be adopted in consultation with registered Ayurveda practitioners only.

At the instance of Ministry of AYUSH, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy(CCRH) discussed the ways and means of prevention of Corona virus infection through Homoeopathy in 64th meeting of its Scientific Advisory Board on 28th January 2020. The Group of Expert sinter-alia has recommended that homoeopathy medicine Arsenicum album 30 could betaken as prophylactic medicine against Corona virus infections, which has also been advised for prevention of ILI. It has recommended one doze of Arsenicum album 30, daily in empty stomach for three days. The dose should be repeated after one month by following the same schedule in case Corona virus infections prevail in the community. The Expert Group has further suggested that general hygienic measures for prevention of air-borne infections suggested  by the  Ministry of  Health  and  Family Welfare,  Govt.  of  India,  for prevention of the disease should also be followed by the public.

Unani Medicines useful in symptomatic management of Corona Virus infection

• Sharbat Unnab 10-20 ml twice a day
• Tiryaq Arba 3-5 g twice a day
• Tiryaq Nazla 5 g twice a day
• Khamira Marwareed 3-5 g once a day
• Massage on scalp and chest with Roghan Baboona/ Roghan Mom/ Kafoori Balm
• Apply Roghan Banafsha gently in the nostrils
• Take Arq Ajeeb 4-8 drops in fresh water and use four times a day
• In case of fever, take Habb e IkseerBukhar 2 pills with lukewarm water twice daily.
• Sharbat Nazla 10 ml mixed in 100 ml of lukewarm water twice daily.
• Qurse Suaal 2 tablets to be chewed twice daily
• Arq extracted from following single Unani drugs along with Sharbat Khaksi is very useful:

S.No.	Name of Unani Drug	Common Name	Botanical Name
i.	Chiraita	Indian Gentian	Swertiachirata Karst
ii.	Kasni	Common chicory	Cichoriumintybus Linn.
iii.	Afsanteen	Common sagewort	Artemisia absinthium Linn.
iv.	Nankhawa	Ajowan	Trachyspermumammi Sprague
v.	Gaozaban	Borage	Borage officinalis Linn.
vi.	Neem Bark	Margosa	Azadirachtaindica A. Juss.
vii.	SaadKoofi	Cypriol	Cyperusscariosus R. Br.

12. Decoction of the following single Unani drugs can be used:

S.No.	Name of Unani Drug	Common Name	Botanical Name
i.	Behidana	Quince	CydoniaOblonga
ii.	Unnab	Jujubi	Zizyphus Jujube Linn.
iii.	Sapistan	Assyrian Plum	CordiaMyxa Linn.
iv.	Darchini	Cinnamon	Cinnamomumzeyla nicum
v.	Banafsha	Sweet Violet	Viola Odorata Linn.
vi.	Berg-e-Gaozabaan	Borage	BoragoOfficinalis Linn.

13. In case of sore throat use decoction of the following Unani drugs:

S.No.	Name of Unani drug	Botanical name	Quantity
i.	Khashkhash	Papaversomniferum	12g
ii.	Bazrulbanj	Hyoscyamusniger	12g
iii.	Post Khashkhash	Papaversomniferum	12g
iv.	Barg e Moard (Habbulaas)	Myrtuscommunis	12g
v.	Tukhm e kahuMukashar	Lactuca Sativa	12g
vi.	GuleSurkh	Rosa damascena	12g

As per recommendations of Unani physicians, easily digestible, light and soft diets are advised. 

Press Information Bureau

 Government of India 

AYUSH 

Annexure-II 

Advisory to recess the symptoms of respiratory tract in possible Corona virus infected cases 

29 JAN 2020 3:49PM 

In continuation of the preventive measures issued on 29-01-2020, further advisory to recess the symptoms of respiratory tract in possible Corona virus infected cases is as below: 

AYUSH system is based on traditional health practices. The traditional Healthcare system of the country provides lifestyle advocacies to boost immunity which helps the prevention of various kind infectious diseases. Recently, the outbreak of corona virus has been noticed which mainly involve Respiratory system. The Ministry of AYUSH is issuing the advisory as preventive measure and not claiming to be a treatment advice for the Corona virus infection. The Research Councils under Ministry of AYUSH are involved in various public health activities and provide lifestyle advocacies time to time for the general public. 

• As per the Ayurvedic Practices the following Preventive Management Steps are suggested. 
•  Drink Shadang Paniya (Musta, Parpat, Usheer, Chandan,Udeechya & Nagar) processed water (10 gm powder boiled in 1-liter water, until it reduces to half). Store it in a bottle and drink it when thirsty. 
•  Prophylactic Measures/Immunomodulatory drugs as per the Ayurvedic practices. 
•  Measures shall be taken to strengthen the immune system through a healthy diet and lifestyle practices. 
•  Agastya Harityaki 5 gm, twice a day with warm water. 
•  Samshamani Vati 500 mg twice a day. 
•  Trikatu(Pippali, Marich & Shunthi) powder 5 gm and Tulasi 3-5 leaves (boiled in 1- litre water, until it reduces to ½ liter and keeps it in a bottle) keep taking it in sips as and when required. 
•  Pratimarsa Nasya: Instill two drops of Anu taila/Sesame oil in each nostril daily in the morning. 
•  As per the Homoeopathy Practices the following Preventive Management Steps are suggested- 

The Group of Experts inter-alia has recommended that homoeopathy medicine Arsenicum album30 could be taken as prophylactic medicine against possible Corona virus infections, which has also been advised for prevention of ILI. It has recommended one doze of Arsenicum album 30, daily in empty stomach for three days. The dose should be repeated after one month by following the same schedule incase Corona virus infections prevail in the community. 

 As per the Unani Practices the following Preventive Management Steps are suggested. 

•  Prepare decoction by boiling Behidana (Cydonia Oblonga) 3gm, Unnab Zizyphus (Jujube Linn) 5nos, Sapistan (Cordia Myxa Linn) 7nos in 1 litre water until it reduces to half. Store it in a bottle and take sips as and when required. 
•  For prophylactic measures immune system need to be strengthen for this purpose Khamira Marwareed 3-5 gm once a day may be taken. 

* This advocacy is for information only and shall be preferably adopted in consultation with registered Ayurveda, Homoeopathy and Unani practitioners. 

Press Information Bureau

 Government of India AYUSH 

Annexure-III 

Clarification on Precautionary measures advised by Ministry of AYUSH in the context of Corona Virus

04 FEB 2020 11:29AM

This is with reference to the advisories issued in public interest by Ministry of AYUSH on general preventive and prophylactic measures to be followed in emerging viral diseases like Corona. Two advisories issued on 29th January, 2020 are only indicating general precautionary measures to be followed in the context of such viral diseases. These measures are advised based on the principles of approach in respective medical system to such viral diseases where respiratory involvement is evident. These advisories neither claimed effective treatment for Corona virus nor suggested any specific drug to combat corona virus. The personal hygienic measures and few herbal preparations which may be helpful to maintain health are indicated in the advisory. It was also advised that the use of these preparations should be done in consultation with registered practitioners from respective system of medicine.

In this regard, it was learnt that certain news reports from media and medical professional bodies did manipulate and tried to malign the image of AYUSH systems of healthcare and tried to create distrust among the public towards these medical systems. The world is trying to find some help for the pandemic of Corona virus. There is no cure possible as of now. In this situation, any little help from any corner shall be welcomed. The effort of AYUSH Advisory may be seen from this right perspective.