Mobile App–Reported Use of Traditional Medicine for Maintenance of Health in India During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study

Abstract

Background India follows a pluralistic system for strategic and focused health care delivery in which traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and homoeopathy (AYUSH) coexist with contemporary medicine, and this system functions under the Ministry of AYUSH (MoA). The MoA developed a mobile app, called AYUSH Sanjivani, to document the trends of the use of AYUSH-based traditional and holistic measures by the public across India. Analysis of the data generated through this app can help monitor the extent of the use of AYUSH measures for maintenance of health during the COVID-19 pandemic and aid effective health promotion and communication efforts focused on targeted health care delivery during the pandemic. Objective The purpose of the study was to determine the extent of use of AYUSH measures by the public in India for maintenance of health during the COVID-19 pandemic as reported through the AYUSH Sanjivani mobile app. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of the data generated through the Ayush Sanjivani app from May 4 to July 31, 2020, was performed to study the pattern and extent of the use of AYUSH-based measures by the Indian population. The responses of the respondents in terms of demographic profile, use pattern, and benefits obtained; the association between the use of AYUSH-based measures and symptomatic status; and the association between the duration of use of AYUSH-based measures and the outcome of COVID-19 testing were evaluated based on bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Data from 723,459 respondents were used for the analysis, among whom 616,295 (85.2%) reported that they had been using AYUSH measures for maintenance of health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these 616,295 users, 553,801 (89.8%) either strongly or moderately agreed to have benefitted from AYUSH measures. Ayurveda and homeopathic measures and interventions were the most preferred by the respondents across India. Among the 359,785 AYUSH users who described their overall improvement in general health, 144,927 (40.3%) rated it as good, 30,848 (8.6%) as moderate, and 133,046 (40.3%) as slight. Respondents who had been using AYUSH measures for less than 30 days were more likely to be COVID-19–positive among those who were tested (odds ratio 1.52, 95% CI 1.44-1.60). The odds of nonusers of AYUSH measures being symptomatic if they tested positive were greater than those of AYUSH users (odds ratio 4.01, 95% CI 3.61-4.59). Conclusions The findings of this cross-sectional analysis assert that a large proportion of the representative population practiced AYUSH measures across different geographic locations of the country during the COVID-19 pandemic and benefitted considerably in terms of general well-being, with a possible impact on their quality of life and specific domains of health.

Randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, clinical trial to study co-administration of Ashwagandha on safety, immunogenicity, and protection with COVID-19 vaccine – A Study Protocol

“…The health-seeking pattern of the people suggests a large section of the population, particularly in India has been consuming various AYUSH preparations and botanical immunomodulators in the hope of better protection against COVID-19 infection. Registration of more than 1.3 crore healthseekers in the AYUSH Sanjivani App indicates this trend [5].…”

“…Any known co-morbidity or acute illness with or without symptoms at the time of study vaccine administration; Participants with a history of COVID -19 any time in the past or currently positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a standard RT-PCR assay; History of known hypersensitivity to any vaccine or any component of the study intervention (Vaccine or Ashwagandha); Any confirmed or suspected condition with impaired/altered function of the immune system or conferring a possible risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection as suggested by investigations (e.g. increased levels of Ddimer) 5. Women who are breast-feeding and pregnant; Individuals who are using any intervention (AYUSH or otherwise) for prophylaxis or with a purpose to increase immunity or influence immune system in any way e.g.…”

Integration of Complementary and Alternative Medicines in Health care system to combat COVID 19- A Validation

“…Findings have asserted that during the COVID-19 pandemic a large proportion of the population practiced AYUSH measures across the country and have benefitted considerably. 55 WHO is working with some research institutions around the world to select traditional medicine products with potential use for the treatment of COVID-19 after being investigated for clinical efficacy and safety. The WHO has been working with countries to ensure the safest and most effective use of traditional medicines, and it will continue to give support in exploring the benefits of traditional medicines.…”

Coadministration of AYUSH 64 as an adjunct to Standard of Care in mild and moderate COVID-19: A randomised, controlled, multicentric clinical trial

“…Several medicinal plants from Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicines which are known to modulate immune response were considered as potential therapeutic candidates (8, 12, 13, 14). Ayurvedic and other traditional herbal medicines are being popularly used in India to prevent and treat COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic (15, 16, 17,18). Safety and tolerability of Ayurvedic herbal medicines could be an added advantage for use in the community (19).…”