AP's Ayurvedic concoction ups demand for alternative medicines for COVID

Kakinada: With the “Pasaru’’ (organic concoction) prepared by B. Anandaiah of Krishnapatnam in Nellore District attracting attention throughout the state, Coronavirus patients have started looking for medicines available in alternative systems, especially Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani. Even “Natu’’ (local) medicines are being sought after.

The development has come in the wake of corporate and private hospitals charging hefty sums for treatment, in some cases even after death of the patient. Fear of such charges is compelling patients with mild and moderate symptoms to isolate themselves at home. It is such people who are looking to Ayurvedic products, as they are said to have no side effects even if they do not work. Covid patients believe these medicines will at least boost their immunity and help them keep the virus at bay.

In fact, Ayurvedic pharmacies have been since many years selling such immunity boosters, including Chyavanaprash, Agastyaharitaki Rasayana and Samsamanivati. Now, people are queuing for these medicines at Ayush hospitals.

Ayush regional joint director Dr. K. V. Ramana confessed that they have seen demand for Ayurvedic products rising in the aftermath of Anandaiah’s episode. He maintained that such immunity boosters have been available with pharmacies all over the country. There is no truth in misleading propaganda that they cause side-effects.

“In fact, it is well known fact that most allopathic drugs have side effects. These are acknowledged by the drug manufacturers themselves on the medicine strips. In Ayurveda there are no such problems. Even the mixture prepared by Anandaiah has been found to cause no harm. These medicines act as immunity boosters,” Dr. Ramana maintained.

A Unani expert in Ayush department Dr. Raghunath said Unani medicines also boost immunity among human beings. Kakinada Ayush Hospital medical officer Dr. K. Mohan Babu said Ayush hospitals are working round the clock to make available immunity boosters to people.

East Godavari district Ayush medical officer and homeopathic medicine expert Dr. J. Jagadeeswara Rao said “Arsenic-Alvem-30” is being given to patients for boosting their immunity. He said people are resorting to homeo medicines for Corona treatment after awareness regarding them has increased.