Scholars Call for Documentation of Data on Ayurvedic Intervention During Covid-19 Pandemic

PANAJI:
Ayurveda practitioners and researchers from leading institutions have emphasised the importance of collection and documentation of data on the effective intervention of Ayurveda during the Covid-19 pandemic in the country for scientific analysis and evidence-based research.

Available data on the subject show that an overwhelming 90 per cent of Indians had used some form of Ayush interventions either before or after Covid-19 attack.

Making presentations on ‘Facing Pandemic with Ayurveda’ at the 9th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expohere, they said collection, documentation and evaluation of data relating to preventive and curative intervention of Ayurvedic physicians and researchers during the pandemic is vital to promote evidence-based research and application of the traditional healthcare system.

Doctors from different states narrated their experience and presented case studies highlighting on the critical, but largely undocumented, contribution of Ayurveda in preventing the spread of the virus, mitigating the sufferings of patients in various stages of infection and saving millions of lives.

“Pandemic was a very challenging situation. But it also opened a potential area for Ayurveda. It demonstrated that Ayurveda can contribute significantly in managing communicable diseases”, said Prof. J S Tripathi, former Head of the Department of Kayachikitsa, BHU,Varanasi.

A lot of Ayurvedic practitioners were actively involved in managing pandemic and their efforts need to be documented for further analysis and drawing conclusions, Prof. Tripathi, who chaired a session on the topic, said.

Analyses and peer review of case studies would throw light on different approaches adopted by practitioners in tackling the pandemic situation without compromising on the basic concept of Ayurveda, said Dr Shailesh V Deshpande, Baroda.

Dr Rajkala Panchakshari Patil said there should be continuous updating of information as more and more data becoming available from different parts of the country as valuable inferences could be drawn from the process which could be of great use in future medical emergencies.

The speakers also noted that scientific evaluation of data on case studies, clinical experiences and empirical evidences gathered during the time would also help explore the possibility of evolving standard protocols in managing pandemic situations.

Reinforcing their experiences by clinical analysis, the participants said Ayurveda has proved not only effective in preventive interventions but also in first-line treatment of patients infected with corona virus.

The presentations covered a wide range of topics like intervention of Ayush during the pandemic, clinical outcome of Ayurvedic treatment, pandemic lessons for future therapeutic development, the effect of Ayurvedic treatment in positive cases, institutional assessment of the pandemic through ayurcare and the role of ayurveda in managing co-morbidity and post-covid health issues.