Lok Sabha Question No. 2672 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-04
Subject: Effectiveness of AYUSH Medicines for COVID-19
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2672 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 TH AUGUST, 2023

## 'EFFECTIVENESS OF AYUSH MEDICINES FOR COVID-19'

## 2672. ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that AYUSH systems of Medicine, viz., Ayurveda and Homoeopathy were found effective in treating the patients thereby containing the spread of COVID-19 in India as well as abroad and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has instituted any studies to scientifically prove the effectiveness of Homoeopathic medicines for COVID-19;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government has any plans to promote the use of Homoeopathic medicines to contain other contagious diseases like Leptospirosis, H1N1, Dengue fever etc.; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OFAYUSH (SHRI SARBANANDASONOWAL)

(a) Yes Sir. Ministry of Ayush has taken various initiatives for the mitigation and management of COVID-19 through Ayush systems including Ayurveda and Homoeopathy. Details are at Annexure-I.

Ministry of Ayush has undertaken 150 clinical research studies and basic experimental studies through Research Councils and National Institutes under the Ministry. It includes 24 experimental studies, 46 prophylactic, 49 therapeutic, 17 observational studies, 10 survey studies, two pharmacopoeia standard development and two systematic reviews. The Ayush system-wise studies include Ayurveda (75 studies), Homoeopathy (30 studies), Siddha (14 studies), Unani (12 studies) and Yoga & Naturopathy (19 studies). The details are available in the document titled

'Research and Development Initiatives of Ministry of Ayush for COVID-19', available on the website of the Ayush Research Portal (https://ayushportal.nic.in).

Ministry of Ayush, Government of India have taken several steps for research studies on COVID-19 abroad through its Autonomous Institutes and signed MoU with London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSH&TM), UK and Frankfurter Innovationszentrum Biotechnologie GmbH (FIZ), Frankfurt Germany for clinical research studies on mitigation of Covid-19 through Ayurveda.

(b) and (c) Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) under Ministry of Ayush, has undertaken various prophylactic and add-on treatment studies to assess the effectiveness of homeopathic medicines for COVID-19. Total 17 prophylactic or adjuvant treatment research studies related to COVID-19 have been undertaken by CCRH, of which 14 studies are concluded and 03 studies are ongoing. Out of these 17 studies, 06 studies are add-on treatment studies, 11 are prophylactic/ observational studies. 09 manuscripts are published in international peer reviewed journals. Details are at Annexure-II.

National Institute of Homoeopathy under Ministry of Ayush has conducted 06 research studies for effectiveness of homoeopathic medicine in the management of COVID-19. Details are at Annexure-III.

(d) and (e) Yes Sir. Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) under Ministry of Ayush, has strategically utilised homoeopathy for the prevention & management of various contagious diseases like Leptospirosis, H1N1, Dengue fever etc. Details of strategic steps undertaken by CCRH are as below:

-  Public health advisories were published by CCRH in leading national newspapers for prevention of Dengue & Chikungunya recommending homeopathic medicine Eupatorium perfoliatum 30C as prophylactic for viral infections such as dengue and chikungunya along with standard preventive measures.
-  CCRH has undertaken various research studies to assess the effectiveness of homeopathic medicines against contagious diseases like Dengue & Chikungunya, Flu like illness, Leptospirosis etc.

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- 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. 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).
- iii. 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.
- iv. 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.
- v. 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.
- vi. 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.
- vii. 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.
- viii. 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.
- ix. 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.
- x. 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.

## Details of 17 research studies related to COVID-19 undertaken by Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH):

## I. Add-on treatment studies:

1. Homoeopathy as an adjuvant to standard treatment protocol in management of corona virus infection- a randomised, placebo controlled, open label study - Ruby Hall Clinic, KEM Hospital, YCM Hospital, Pune.
2. Effectiveness of individualized homoeopathy as an add-on to standard treatment of COVID-19 - a multicentric, randomized, parallel arm, single blind, placebo, controlled trial - Chirayu Hospital Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
3. Homoeopathy as an adjuvant to standard treatment protocol in management of corona virus infection- a randomised, placebo controlled, open label study.
4. Randomised Controlled Trial to compare efficacy of standard of care alone and in combination with homoeopathic treatment of COVID-19 with moderate to severe Intensity - AIIMS Jhajjar, Haryana.
5. Comparative effectiveness of Pre-Identified Homoeopathic Medicines in Asymptomatic COVID-19 Individuals Receiving Standard Treatment Protocol -An Open Label, Randomised, Placebo Controlled Trial conducted at COVID care centre at Government Homoeopathy Medical college, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
6. Evaluation of adjunct Homoeopathy treatment in COVID-19 patients in Gujarat state Dedicated COVID Hospitals: A multicentric, single arm Retrospective data analysis study -Gujarat.

## II. Prophylactic/ Observational studies

1. Effectiveness of Arsenicum Album 30c in prevention of Covid-19 in individuals residing in hotspots of red zones in Delhi -Aprospective cohort study.
2. Effectiveness of Arsenicum Album 30c in prevention of Covid-19 in individuals residing in hotspots of red zones -AMulticentric, Randomised, Cluster Level, Controlled Trial.
3. 'Homoeopathic medicine Arsenicum album in COVID 19 - a retrospective analysis from mass level data'.
4. Possible role of homoeopathic prophylactic Arsenicum album 30C in mitigating COVID -19 in Delhi prison complexes - An exploratory cohort study.
5. Impact and management of COVID-19 pandemic on patients with non-communicable disease: A cross sectional study at AYUSH LSD Clinics of Krishna and Darjeeling District.
6. Association between Prophylactic Ayush Interventions and Disease Outcome in COVID19 positive patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
7. Homoeopathic treatment of respiratory sequelae of Post-COVID cases: An Open Label Prospective Interventional Pilot Study.
8. A crosssectional survey to assess the post-covid complications in participants of a homoeopathic RCT held from Oct-Dec 2020 and Jan-March 2021 on moderate and severe cases of COVID-19
9. Effectiveness of Nanocurcumin (6C & 30C) on incidence of Influenza like illness & COVID-19 type respiratory illness in urban slum dwellers - A Longitudinal study.
10. Effectiveness of Arsenicum album 200C in preventing COVID-19 like respiratory illness and Influenza like illness in dwellers of urban slum: A Prospective Cohort study.
11. Immunological responses of Arsenicum album 30C to combat COVID-19: A doubleblind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala.

## Details of 06 research studies conducted by National Institute of Homoeopathy for effectiveness of homoeopathic medicine in the management of COVID-19 -

1. An evaluation on Effectiveness of Homoeopathic Intervention as an Add-On therapy in the management of Covid-19 Infection - An Open Labelled Prospective Single Arm Observational Clinical Trials.
2. A research study proposal on a survey on the effectiveness of Arsenicum Album as a prophylactic medicine for COVID-19 among the residents of Tirumangalam, Madurai.
3. Incidence of Influenza like illness (ILI) in participants taken Arsenic Album 30 immune buster during SARS -COVID 19 Pandemic: A retrospective cohort study.
4. A research study proposal on a survey on the effectiveness of Arsenicum Album 30 as a prophylactic medicine for COVID-19 among the residents of Dharavi, Mumbai.
5. Understanding the mechanistic pathways of Homoeopathy medicine Cinchona (3C, 6C &12C) through in vitro study for their potential application as anti-viral drug to fight against COVID-19.
6. Community based cluster randomized open level controlled field trial to evaluate the effectiveness of Homoeoprophylaxis and standard prophylaxis against COVID-19.