Abstract

AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE TOWARDS THE PROPHYLAXIS OF COVID-19

Hemlata Soni* and Kartar Singh Bansal

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic in India is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first case of COVID-19 in India, which originated from China, was reported on 30 January 2020. India currently has the largest number of confirmed cases in Asia. India's case fatality rate is relatively low at 2.8%, against the global 4.7%, as of 6 July. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness and dry cough. Some patients may have sore throat, diarrhea, runny nose and nasal congestion. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms. About 80% recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 become seriously ill and develop difficulty in breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problem or diabetes, are most likely develop serious illness. There is no vaccine and no specific antiviral medicine to prevent or treat COVID-19. Ayurveda recommends measures for a healthy lifestyle rather than the mere prescription of medicine. Charaka Samhita describes epidemic management and define immunity as the ability to prevent disease. The intervention include Panchakarma therapy (therapeutic cleaning procedure) and Rasayana therapy (immunomodulators).

Keywords: COVID-19, Rasayana, Panchkarma, Yoga therapy.