While there is no vaccine or specific antiviral medicine to prevent
or treat COVID-19 to date, the usage of alternative medicine to boost immunity
and, thereby, prevent the disease spread is a topic of hot debate across the globe.

The spread of pandemic COVID-19 to over 123 countries has fuelled the demand
for Ayurveda, Homeopathy or traditional Chinese remedies in countries like India
and the US as people are on the look-out for natural remedies to up body
immunity. FMCG companies like Dabur, Himalayala Wellness and Patanjali Ayurved recently
revealed they were experiencing high demand for immunity booster products.

In fact a few countries have started investing in study and clinical
trials of “natural remedies”. Researchers in the Philippines are testing Virgin
Coconut Oil (VCO) as an effective and safe agent against the novel coronavirus.

The Indian Ministry of AYUSH in January issued an advisory recommending possible
treatment through the traditional healthcare systems even as the allopathic
fraternity opposed it tooth and nail.

AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik clarified his ministry did not claim Ayurveda,
Unani and Homeopathy to have cures for novel coronavirus but that the alternative
medicine can help boost immunity.

“We have firmly said that though our medicine is not validated
scientifically, it has been proved that Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani can be
used as promotive medicines,” he said.

“Advising treatment methods not yet scientifically proven can have their
fall outs, especially when people won’t listen to standard advisories issued to
prevent the disease like frequent hand washing. The same will have disastrous
effect at this crucial juncture when India is facing the third stage (community
spread) of the virus outbreak,” said Dr P Gopikumar, Secretary, Kerala State Branch,
Indian Medical Association.

However, a large section believes there is no harm in exploring the
possibilities of traditional remedies in boosting immunity, an indirect way to fight
COVID-19.

“Simple methods like burning of Aparajitha
choornam in the house to make the air cleaner, rice soup with panchakolam powder, water boiled with dahasamani, Shadanga Paneeyam and other
medicines can be administered to boost immunity..,” said Dr D Ramanathan, General
Secretary, AMMOI (Ayurvedic Medicinal Manufactures Organisation of India.