Indian government issues home remedies for COVID19 management

The Union Health Ministry on Sunday issued several guidelines to manage COVID-19 and provide holistic care to those who are healing from the disease. Apart from general advises such as practising yoga, seeking counselling, having enough water and a healthy diet, the ministry also released a long list of home remedies for boosting immunity and making a quick recovery. Here is the complete list of home remedies released by the health ministry and how they can help in strengthening immunity and proper recovery post-COVID-19.

The ministry suggested drinking 1 cup or 150 ml of Ayush Kwath every day. It is a combination of medicinal herbs like four parts Tulsi (holy basil), two parts Dalchini (cinnamon), two parts Sunthi (ginger root) and one part Krishna Marich (black pepper). The ministry has also previously released instructions on how to make this drink at home. Take all the dried ingredients and make a coarse powder. Divide it into tea bags of 3 grams each. It can be added to 150 ml of boiled water once or twice a day. You can also add raisins, lemon juice or jaggery to enhance the taste. This combination is said to not only boost immunity but also promote general well-being.

The next prescription by the ministry is to have 1 gram of Sunshmani Vati every day. It is also known as Guduchi ghana vati and is made with the bark of Giloy tree. It is considered useful in treating all types of fevers. It has mild anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic effects, providing benefits to those who are recovering from the after-effects of diseases like COVID-19. Giloy is also useful in expelling toxins arising from undigested food particles that can cause fever. It is also helpful in providing relief from headache, indigestion, drop in appetite, body pain and burning sensation. You can either add the extract in the tea or have 1 tablet of 500 mg daily.

The ministry has also advised taking 1-3 grams of ashwagandha powder twice daily for 15 days. Ashwagandha is an ancient medicinal herb that provides a range of health benefits to the body. Recovering from diseases like COVID-19 can be very stressful for the body and mind. Ashwagandha is effective in reducing stress and cortisol levels, promoting brain function, strengthening immunity and bringing down blood sugar levels. It also helps combat symptoms of anxiety and depression. You can also take ashwagandha supplements of 500 mg twice a day.

Another home remedy recommended by the ministry is to have 1 amla fruit or 1-3 grams of amla powder daily. Amla has long been touted for its ability to treat cold, cough and flu. It makes the respiratory system more robust and delivers relief from chest congestion. Amla contains chromium that strengthens the heart, which is impacted by COVID-19. It is also loaded with antioxidants that fight free radicals and keep many diseases at bay. The anti-bacterial qualities of amla also detoxify your system.

Mulethi powder is another ancient medicinal herb prescribed by the health ministry to people who have a dry cough. The dosage recommended is 1-3 grams of mulethi powder twice every day with lukewarm water. Mulethi or liquorice is useful in providing quick relief from cough and cold. You can also make a cold and cough relief tea at home by boiling 1-inch mulethi root, 1 tsp grated ginger, 3-4 black peppercorns in 2 cups of water and reducing it to half. If you cannot bear the taste, you can add 1 tsp honey to your cup.

The next suggestion by the ministry is to drink warm milk with ½ tsp Turmeric every morning and evening. Turmeric milk has therapeutic properties that help the body in recovering from a disease or injury quickly. Haldi doodh is useful in speeding up the healing process of the body and shielding it with several ailments and infections. Turmeric also has anti-microbial, anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties. You can also add a pinch of powdered black pepper to increase the potency of the drink.

Sore throat is another pesky aftereffect of COVID-19. For this, the health ministry advises gargling with warm water containing turmeric and salt. Salt in the solution neutralises the acids in the throat and flushes them away, thus providing relief from the burning sensation in the throat and fast healing of irritated mucus membranes. Turmeric plays a significant role in controlling infections, wounds and diseases in the throat. Mix half a teaspoon each of salt and turmeric in one cup of warm water and gargle.

Taking 1 tsp or 5 mg of Chyawanprash daily in the morning is recommended by the health ministry. Chyawanprash contains more than 40 ancient medicinal herbs that can stimulate immunity and help in recovering quickly from diseases. It was earlier also suggested by the Ministry of AYUSH to have chyawanprash in the morning with milk or lukewarm water to boost immunity. People with diabetes were instructed to take sugar-free chyawanprash.