Can Ayurveda be leveraged for COVID-19?

Abstract

The world is experiencing an unprecedented health crisis as a result of the highly infectious novel coronavirus. Even economically powerful countries with the best healthcare and technology infrastructure are struggling to contain COVID-19. Conventional medicine is racing against time to produce vaccine and repurpose drugs used in other viral diseases. India has been using its resources maximally to fight COVID-19. However, it is yet to make full use of one of its major resource, namely AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unaani, Siddha and Homeopathy) systems. Ayurveda, which occupies a prime position in the AYUSH systems, has a huge knowledge base and infrastructure accessible in terms of registered practitioners, dispensaries, colleges, hospitals, pharmacies, research centres, etc. It is hence only logical that in a crisis like COVID -19, ayurveda is utilised for the public. Considering the vast clinical knowledge and experience available with ayurveda, this sector should definitely be an advantage for India. This article will discuss why and how the knowledge base and support system of ayurveda sector should be leveraged in trying times as the present one.