AYUSH for COVID-19 management

AYUSH for COVID-19 managementThe rapidly increasing patients of COVID-19 have overwhelmed the healthcare systems across the world and many countries had come to an almost stand-still.Although most of the infected people have a mild-to-moderate clinical course, and the elderly, the immunocompromised and those with other comorbid conditions land into severe acute respiratory syndrome that has high mortality.As of now, there is no cure for COVID-19 in modern medicine and the treatment is therefore largely supportive and empirical.Although vaccines are being developed, it will take at least another year before they will be available for use.Modern medicine is groping in the dark experimenting with several existing antiviral drugs, which have been used to treat other viral infections in the past, but their efficacy is poor and the adverse effects are serious.The revised national guidelines recommend the empirical use of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin as frontline therapy for COVID-19 patients [1].However, the evidence supporting this strategy is weak.The exponentially growing number of papers on COVID-19 management are confusing rather than helping clinicians.We need effective preventative, promotive, curative and rehabilitative approaches to manage the onslaught of COVID-19.Modern medicine has very little to offer to manage COVID-19 patients.Ayurveda and Yoga, ancient health systems have a lot to offer in this ongoing pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 infection.It will not only bridge the gaps that exist in modern medicine, but will complement modern medicine to reduce the burden of COVID-19.Ayurveda and Yoga share the philosophy of strengthening the human body and mind and maintaining good health through preventative, promotive, curative and rehabilitative approaches.Integrating these approaches with modern medicine will not only complement each other, but also offer a novel and effective way to manage the current ongoing pandemic of COVID-19.The Government of India has also taken a bold step to initiate this by constituting the 'Interdisciplinary AYUSH Research and Development Task Force' with the objectives of reducing the suffering and deaths associated with COVID-19 in India.The task force has initiated various activities for boosting research and brining modern medicine and AYUSH systems together to fight this challenge.Concepts and practices of Ayurveda and Yoga cover several dimensions of COVID-19 management.