SHILLONG, July 18 - Immunity-boosting Ayurvedic medicines are being administered to COVID-19 positive patients at the COVID Care Centre, IIM, and other healthcare and frontline workers here.
The medicines are being provided by the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy (NEIAH). According to NEIAH Director Pradip Kumar Goswami, the medicines are being provided following a request from the Meghalaya Government on Wednesday.
He said that since there are no medicines known to fight COVID-19 at this moment, the best way to protect onself is by boosting the immune system and there are several Ayurvedic medicines that can help build immunity.
�We have provided medicines to 130 COVID-19 positive patients who are asymptomatic at the IIM COVID Care Centre,� Goswami told The Assam Tribune. Moreover, 3,000 homeopathic and 700 Ayurvedic medicines have been distributed to healthcare and frontline workers as well as to quarantined people for prophylactic purposes.
Goswami said the medicines are being distributed on the basis of guidelines from the Union AYUSH Ministry and the World Health Organization. �The emphasis is on boosting the immunity system of the body,� he said.
The NEIAH Director added that intake of the Ayurvedic medicines is voluntary. �We have given a concoction of different herbs to positive patients as per the Ayurvedic system of medicine,� he pointed out.
A concoction called �Ayush Khada� in Ayurveda which is prepared by boiling a mix of herbs and spices together, is also being suggested to patients.
�The Ayush Khada is made by boiling tulsi (basil) leaves, ginger, bay leaves, black pepper and cinnamon and making a drink. This is served as a sort of �tea� to boost immunity, apart from the other medicines,� Goswami said.
Stress is also being laid on sanitizing the upper respiratory tract which involves the nasal passage and the mouth. He said that oil nasal drops and gurgling have been recommended.
As per the AYUSH guidelines, yoga breathing exercises are being prescribed to keep the lungs and the overall body and mind healthy, he said.
�We are also trying to encourage people to take food that contains traditional Indian spices like turmeric, cumin and coriander as these have several health benefits,� the NEIAH Director added.
