Ayurveda and Yoga can certainly play a pivotal role to augment preventive measures provided in the guidelines by the Union Health Ministry. The current understanding of Covid-19 indicates that good immune status is vital to prevention and to safeguard from disease progression.
Keeping this in mind, the central government released the protocol that lists various measures such as dietary measures, yoga, Ayurvedic herbs and formulations such as Ashwagandha and AYUSH-64 for Covid-19 prevention and treatment of patients with mild or no symptoms.
General & Physical Measures
- Follow physical distancing, respiratory and hand hygiene, wear mask.
- Steam inhalation with Ajwain or Pudina
- Adequate sleep of 6 to 8 hours.
- Moderate physical exercises
- Gargle with warm water added with a pinch of turmeric and salt. Water boiled with Triphala (dried fruits of Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula, Terminal/a bellerica) or Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra) also can be used for gargling.
Dietary Measures
- Use warm water or boiled with herbs like ginger or coriander or basil, or cumin seeds etc., for drinking purpose.
- Fresh, warm, balanced diet
- Drink Ayush Kadha or Kwath once a day.
- Drink Golden Milk (Half tea spoon Haldi powder in 150 ml hot milk) once at night. Avoid in case of indigestion.
Specific Measures/ Symptom Management
As advised in the protocol, dosage of ayurvedic herbs ashwagandha, guduchi ghana vati along with Chyawanaprash can be beneficial for the prevention or prophylactic care among high-risk population and primary contacts of Covid-19 patients.
The released protocol also lists measures and medicines for the mild Covid-19 positive patient and also for the post covid-19 management.
ALSO READ | Has Delhi Overcome Peak In Second Wave of Covid-19? Here's What CM Arvind Kejriwal Said About The Situation
Yoga Protocol
As stated in the protocol provided by the ministry, Yoga can help to improve respiratory and cardiac efficiency, reduce stress and anxiety and to enhance immunity. Hence, it advices a 45-minute yoga routine which includes both standing and sitting postures along with several breathing exercise called pranayama to prevent Covid. As per the protocal, Yoga for Primary Prevention of Covid- 19 includes:
- Loosening Practices: Neck Bending, Shoulders movement, Trunk Movement, Knee Movement
- Standing Asana: Tadasana, Pada-hastasana, Ardha Chakraasana, Trikonasana
- Sitting Asana: Ardha Ushtraasana, Sasakasana, Utthana Mandukasana, Simhasana, Marjariasana, Vakrasana
- Prone Lying Asana: Makarasana, Bhujangasana,
- Supine Lying Asana: Setubandhasana, Utthanapadasana, Pawana Muktasana, Markatasana, Shavasana,
- Kriya: Vata Neti (2 rounds), Kaphalabhati (2 rounds, 30 strokes each)
- Pranayama: Nadi Shodhana (5 rounds), Surya Bhedhana Pranayama (5 rounds), Ujjayee Pranayama (5 rounds), Bhramari Pranayama (5 rounds)
The ministry in its protocol has also suggested a 30-minute yoga routine for post Covid-care in order to improve pulmonary function and lung capacity apart from reducing stress, anxiety and clearance of airways in the respiratory tract.