Relevance of ayurveda in coronavirus disease-2019

Abstract

India is the land living of culture, religious beliefs, and traditional knowledge. The great sages of India chanted mantras to get revive from all sorts of problems and its echoes have helped the ailing societies through centuries. A very popular mantra, from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1.4.14), conveys that “May all human beings be at peace, may no one suffer from illness/disease, May all see what is auspicious, may no one suffer.” The expedition for happiness and success has been the dynamic factor in the course of our evolutionary history. Health is wealth but it matters only once someone gets sick; it is the reality in current situation when entire humanity along with its complete health-care system combatting with an unprecedented challenge by the name of pandemic coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). All the treatment modalities in the medical system approach are being implemented to fight with this deadly viral disease. There are many references available in the ancient Ayurvedic Samhitas/ classics text books about “Janapadodhwans” or epidemics along with its causes, pathogenesis, and management. The practical knowledge and the knowledge about the stage of the disease are essential to bridge the Ayurvedic principles with the preventive and curative aspects of the disease. The efficiency of Ayurvedic drugs is known by its age long practice. However, new drugs can be formulated with a combination of drugs. The search for new drugs and new preventive practices in an integrated approach is what the approach needed to tackle the novel virus. In this regard, a literary work effort has made to find how Ayurveda can help to face growing challenge of COVID-19 with respect to various stages of disease in Ayurvedic perspective.