COVID conundrum: Possible solutions in Ayurveda

Abstract

In spite of several advances in healthcare, viruses are emerging and re-emerging as one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Currently, COVID-19 has emerged as the most intense and petrifying viral infection to be handled by the human race, due to its nature of fast acceleration and slow deceleration. Neither vaccines nor drugs are currently available for prevention, prophylaxis and treatment of SARS-CoV 2 infection in humans. Ayurveda, being one of the oldest systems of healthcare, could offer potential solutions for the prevention and management of COVID-19 infection.  In this article an attempt to find possible solutions by analysing the disease profile of COVID using ayurvedic framework is made. Trividha bodhya sangraham is the guiding tool to analyse anukta vyadhi (novel or unsaid diseases).  Different levels of care i.e. Preservation, promotion, protection, Adjuvant/add-on and supportive recipes may be applied on case to case basis. Ayurveda based broad-spectrum antiviral agents could provide additional protection of the general population from  novel viral diseases, reinforcing to leverage the potentials of Ayurveda. ‘NAMASTE’ is an acronym introduced to signify the protective measures of corona infection.