Lok Sabha Question No. 1582 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-10
Subject: Effectiveness of Ayurveda Medicines for COVID-19
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1582 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2023

## EFFECTIVENESS OF AYURVEDA MEDICINES FOR COVID-19

## 1582. SHRI T.R. BAALU:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a) the contribution of ayurveda medicines in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic;
- (b) whether Union and State Governments have approved any ayurveda medicines for pre and post COVID-19 treatment and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any study has been carried out to assess the efficacy and success of such ayurveda medicines and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is aware of the fact that a group of scientists and physicians recently launched a campaign in social media calling all AYUSH Systems 'pseudoscience'; and (e) if so, the details thereof along with the response of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF AYUSH (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a) Ministry of Ayush has taken various steps for the management and mitigation of COVID-19 through Ayush systems of medicine including Ayurveda. Details are at Annexure-I .
- (b) Ministry of Ayush has constituted an Interdisciplinary Technical Review Committee (ITRC) for COVID-19 vide notification No. T-14020/5/2020-DCC dated 28.10.2020 for the examination of the applications/claims on Patent &  Proprietary  (P&P)  Ayurveda,  Siddha,  Unani  & Homoeopathy  (ASU&H)  medicines/  classical  ASU&H  medicines  with  new  indication  or  repurposing of licensed  P&P, ASU&H medicines for COVID-19, forwarded by State Licensing Authorities/ Individuals referred by Ministry of Ayush.

The  ITRC  for  COVID-19  has  suggested  and  recommended  following  three  Ayurveda medicines for the prevention/management of COVID-19 -

|   S.no. | Name of the product   | Company name                                         |
|---------|-----------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Coronil Tablet        | M/s Patanjali Research Foundation Trust, Uttrakhand. |
|       2 | Clevira tablet        | M/s Apex Laboratories Private Ltd., Chennai.         |
|       3 | NAOQ19 tablet         | M/s Sri Sri Sriveda Sattva Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore.     |

(c)  Yes  Sir.  Ministry  of  Ayush  has  formed  an  Inter-disciplinary  AYUSH  R&D  Task  Force chaired by Prof. Bhushan Patwardhan and having representation from scientists including Indian Council  of  Medical  Research  (ICMR),  Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT),  Council  of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and AYUSH Institutions.  The Interdisciplinary AYUSH Research and Development Task Force has formulated  and  designed  clinical  research  protocols for  prophylactic  studies  and  add-on interventions in COVID-19 positive cases through thorough review and consultative process of experts of high repute from different organizations across the country for studying four different interventions viz. Ashwagandha, Yashtimadhu, Guduchi + Pippali and a poly herbal formulation (AYUSH-64).

Ministry of Ayush issued Gazette notification L.11011/8/2020/AS dated 21.04.2020 for undertaking research on COVID-19 through Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy Systems including prophylactic measures, intervention during the quarantine, asymptomatic and symptomatic cases of COVID-19, Public Health Research, Survey, Lab Based Research etc. to generate evidence.

Ministry of Ayush  has also launched interdisciplinary studies involving Ayush interventions for COVID-19 based on recommendations of Task force. Under various research organizations  and  National  Institutes  under  Ministry  of  Ayush,  150  research  studies  in  the country are being conducted on Ayush interventions.

Ayush  Sanjivani  mobile  app  has  also  been  developed  by  Ministry  of  Ayush  and  has documented the impact assessment of effectiveness, acceptance and usage of Ayush advisories & measures in the prevention of COVID-19 through Mobile app base population study in around 1.35  crores  respondents  and  analysis  of  7.24  lakh  public  data  revealed  that  85.1%  of  the respondents reported use of Ayush measures for prevention of COVID-19, among which 89.8% respondents agreed to have benefitted from the practice of Ayush advisory.

(d) and (e) Ministry of Ayush is aware that a few vested interest led professionals keep on trying to denigrate Ayush systems. Whenever a specific allegation is made the Ministry responds with relevant  facts.  On the other hand, the  Ministry of Ayush regularly posts research based social media  posts  and  also  utilizes  the  Press  Information  Bureau  (PIB)  route  to  refute  false  claims through the 'Fake News' section."

*******

- i. Ministry of  Ayush recommends self-care guidelines for preventive health measures and boosting immunity.
2.  General Measures
3.  Ayurvedic Immunity Promoting Measures
4.  Simple Ayurvedic Procedures
5.  During dry cough/sore throat
- ii. Government of India has also released 'National Clinical Management Protocol based on  Ayurveda  and  Yoga  for  management  of  COVID-19' prepared  by  National  Task force.  The  Ayurveda  protocol  includes  guidelines  for  prophylaxis,  management  of asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 cases and post-COVID management.
- iii. Ministry of Ayush has also released Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha preventive measures for selfcare during COVID-19 and Guidelines for Ayush Practitioners for COVID-19 Patients in Home Isolation.
- iv. Ministry  of  Ayush  has  released  Home  care  guidelines  for  children  and  Advisory  for AYUSH  Practitioners about prophylactic care in Children during  the  COVID-19 Pandemic.
- v. Ministry of Ayush has released Ayush recommendations for the public on holistic health and well-being Preventive measures and care during COVID-19 & LONG COVID-19.
- vi. Ministry  of  Ayush  has  released  guidelines  for  Ayurveda  Practitioners  for  COVID-19 patients in Home Isolation and Ayurveda & Unani based Preventive Measures for self care during COVID-19 Pandemic.
- vii. Ministry of Ayush has released an advisory on 'Ayush interventions for Prophylaxis & Management of COVID-19' and Ayush guidelines for COVID-19 cases for care givers.
- viii. The scientists of reputed research institutions of the country have found that AYUSH 64, a poly  herbal  formulation  developed  by  the  Central  Council  for  Research  in  Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush is useful in the treatment of asymptomatic, mild and  moderate  COVID-19  infection  as  an  adjunct  to  standard  care.  In  order  to  provide maximum  benefit  of  Ayush  systems  of  medicine,  a  Nation-wide  campaign  has  been launched for distribution of AYUSH-64 and Kabasura Kudineer through 86 clinical units of Research Councils and National Institutes under Ministry of Ayush.