SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an opportunity for Indian traditional medicines (AYUSH)
Suneel Prajapati, Narasimha Kumar Gv
Abstract
An unknown etiology of viral pneumonia was first appeared in Wuhan, China, and identified as a new corona virus (nCoV) and known as severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and had spread worldwide.The symptoms are fever, malaise, cough, and loss of taste or smell which resolve in a few days in most cases; but may progress to respiratory distress and organ failure.Human-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was found to occur through respiratory droplets or fomites when individuals are in close contact with an infected person.Despite this, other modes such as airborne transmission and infected utensil-touch transmission are also speculated.The lack of specific treatment or vaccines makes SARS-CoV-2 more dangerous which may lead to a massive mortality rate worldwide.Currently, at present, there is no specific treatment or cure available in the western medicine system.Thus, the scientific community must think about Complementary and alternative medicinal systems available globally.Indian medicinal system includes Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy which are referred to as AYUSH.Of these, Ayurveda and Homeopathy are ancient medicinal systems accepted world-wide, which employ natural drugs of plant, animal, and mineral origin for treatment.Anecdotal data suggest that these systems have enough potential and possibilities to be employed both for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.At present pandemic, AYUSH recommended the Homeopathy and Ayurveda as immune-boosters to combat the SARS-CoV-2.The current scenario of SARS-CoV-2 provides a golden opportunity to employ the alternative and traditional medicinal system to prevent the COVID-19 in the shadow of western science.