Ayurveda age-old science, not placebo: AYUSH doctors' body counters IMA's poser on new COVID protocol

An AYUSH doctors' body on Saturday welcomed government's COVID-19 treatment protocol based on ayurveda and yoga as it asserted that ayurveda is an -old, well-established science and "t a placebo", days after Indian Medical Association (IMA) criticised Centre's move.

Integrated Medical Association (AYUSH) said government's new protocol will help evolve better manment strategies for treatment of coronavirus patients.

IMA h on Thursday questioned scientific basis of government's protocol based on ayurveda and yoga for prevention as well as treatment of asymptomatic and mild patients of COVID-19.

"IMA demands that Union Health Minister should come clean on above posers. If t, he is inflicting a fraud on nation and gullible patients by calling placebos as drugs," it ded.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan h on Tuesday released protocol for clinical manment of COVID-19, that lists dietary measures, yoga and ayurvedic herbs and formulations such as Ashwagandha and AYUSH-64 for prevention of coronavirus infection and treatment of mild and asymptomatic cases.

Ayurveda is an "-old, well-established science, rar than a placebo", Integrated Medical Association (AYUSH), which was formed in 2010 and has chapters in all states, stated in a statement by its national president R P Parasher and founder patron Yuvraj Tyagi.

" concept of 'national interests' and 'rights of health of people'  are very much clear to countrymen under leership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for which government does t need any certificate from IMA,” association said.

"It is prerogative and duty of government to take necessary steps to deal with any situation or issue related to public health,” it ded.

association of ayurveda, unani, siddha and homoeopathy (AYUSH) practitioners also questioned trial and testing of allopathic drugs, in response to IMA questioning Health Ministry's new protocol on clinical manment of COVID-19.

“Wher allopathic drugs hydroxychloroquine, methylprednisolone or remedesivir were tested for double blind controlled studies (a randomized clinical trial in which person does t kw if y are receiving experimental treatment, a standard treatment or a placebo)” it asked.

association claimed that coronavirus patients were alrey being treated by ayurveda and yoga in various institutions and protocol will simply bring uniformity in AYUSH treatment all over country.

association also vised IMA to work jointly with AYUSH doctors during this “hour of crisis” inste of questioning on efficacy of or streams of medicines. 

(Im Credits - PTI File)