This randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial was conducted on 95 asymptomatic patients with COVID-19 infection receiving either 1 g of Giloy Ghanvati (Tinospora cordifolia) and 2 g of Swasari Ras (traditional herbo-mineral formulation) and 0.5 g each of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and Tulsi Ghanvati (Ocimum sanctum) or placebo twice a day during 7 days.

The results show that by day 3, 71.1 % and 50.0 % patients recovered in the treatment and placebo groups, respectively. Treatment group witnessed 100 % recovery by day 7, while it was 60.0 % in the placebo group. Recovery time was faster in the treatment group compared with placebo (p = 0.0054). Average fold changes in serum levels of hs-CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α in treatment group were respectively, 12.4, 2.5 and 20 times lesser than those in the placebo group at day 7 (p <0,05). There was 40 % absolute reduction in the risk of delayed recovery from infection in the treatment group.

Therefore, the Ayurvedic treatment tested in this study could expedite virological clearance, help in faster recovery and concomitantly reduce the risk of viral dissemination. Reduced inflammation markers suggested lower severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the treatment group.

Devpura G, Tomar BS, Nathiya D, Sharma A, Bhandari D, Haldar S, Balkrishna A, Varshney A. Randomized placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial on the efficacy of ayurvedic treatment regime on COVID-19 positive patients. Phytomedicine. 2021 Feb 4;84:153494.

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