Identifying best bioactive phytochemicals from different medicinal plants using molecular docking techniques demonstrates a potential pre-clinical compound discovery against SARS-CoV-2 viral infection.
Introduction
Low oxygen saturation may persist in COVID-19 patients even after hospital discharge, requiring continued supplemental oxygen therapy at home. In this paper, we report the significant benefits of add on Ayurvedic intervention as observed in an oxygen dependent COVID-19 patient in the post hospitalization period.
Main symptoms and important clinical findings
: A 75-year-old gentleman approached his Ayurvedic general practitioner with complaints of low oxygen saturation and oxygen dependency five days after being discharged from hospital, where he was treated for COVID-19 related bilateral pneumonitis and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome as well as Acute Renal Failure. Patient reported breathing difficulty, generalized weakness, reduced appetite and severe constipation. Pulse Oximetry readings were fluctuating between 80 and 85% even with home oxygen support. Blood pressure was found to be 150/100 mm Hg, LDH slightly raised at 463 IU/L and HbA1c at 8.7 % indicated poor control of diabetes. The patient was administered micro-doses of a combination of Ayurvedic formulations sublingually every ten minutes for one day. This was followed by administration of
Indukāntaṃ Ghṛtaṃ
and
Suvarṇamālinī Vasanta Rasa
, Oxygen saturation improved to 95% in about twelve hours. He was weaned off oxygen support on the third day of starting Ayurvedic treatment, which was three weeks earlier than prescribed at the time of discharge from the hospital. Patient is ambulant and maintaining oxygen saturation levels between 95-98%.
Conclusion
This case report highlights the potential of a specific Ayurvedic intervention for better management of hypoxia persisting in the post hospitalization phase of patients managed with conventional medicine for COVID-19 related complications. Well-designed studies are warranted to confirm the benefits and explore the possibility of integrating such interventions appropriately with standard of care for management of COVID-19.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.