India steps up distribution of traditional medicines to combat Covid-19 wave

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<strong>Going ahead with a holistic response to combat the second surge of the Covid-19 pandemic, India's  Ayush Ministry has launched a massive nationwide campaign today to distribute its proven poly  herbal Ayurvedic drugs. These are AYUSH 64 and Siddha drug Kabasura Kudineer, which is expected to benefit a vast majority of out of hospital Coronavirus patients.</strong></p>
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Recently, the Ministry has released the document to support the efficacy of these drugs that has been proved through robust multi-centre clinical trials.</p>
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The drugs to be launched by Kiren Rijiju, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports and Minister of Ayush (Additional Charge), will ensure that the medicines reach the needy in a transparent and efficient manner.</p>
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<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/health-news/frequently-asked-questions-about-ayush-a-polyherbal-drug-found-useful-in-treating-covid-85713.html">AYUSH-64, originally developed for Malaria, found useful for Covid-19</a></strong></p>
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The main collaborator in the campaign is Sewa Bharati.</p>
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To ensure proper distribution of these drugs, a comprehensive strategy has been chalked out and the roll out will unfold in a phased manner, utilising the wide network of various institutions working under the aegis of the Ministry. This will be supported by the countrywide network of Sewa Bharati.</p>
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Many clinical and observational studies have been undertaken to understand the role of AYUSH interventions in mitigation and management of COVID 19 whereas various studies were carried out on AYUSH-64, an Ayurvedic formulation developed by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) and Kabasura Kudineer, a classical Siddha formulation.</p>
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<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/health-news/ayush-found-useful-in-treating-mild-to-moderate-covid-infection-84575.html">AYUSH 64 found useful in treating mild to moderate Covid-19 infection</a></strong></p>
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The Ministry of Ayush-Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) collaboration has recently completed a robust multi-centre clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AYUSH 64 in the management of mild to moderate COVID-19 patients.</p>
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Kabasura Kudineer, a Siddha medicine was also subjected to clinical trials for studying the efficacy in Covid-19 patients by the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) under the Ministry of Ayush and is also found useful in the treatment of mild to moderate covid-19 infection.</p>
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AYUSH-64 is recommended in National Clinical Management Protocol based on Ayurveda and Yoga which is vetted by National Task Force on COVID Management of ICMR and Guidelines for Ayurveda Practitioners for COVID-19 Patients in Home Isolation. Kabasura Kudineer is included in Guidelines for Siddha Practitioners for COVID 19, Ministry of Ayush Government of India.</p>
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Based on the encouraging results of AYUSH-64 and Kabasura Kudineer in the management of asymptomatic, mild to moderate COVID-19 as adjunct to Standard care, the Ministry of Ayush decided to launch this nationwide campaign for their distribution. The objective is that the COVID -19 patients in home isolation may be benefited with Ayush systems of medicines.</p>