No Evidence That ‘Kadha’ Damages Liver: AYUSH Ministry

New Delhi: AYUSH ministry on Tuesday dismissed claims that prolonged consumption of ‘kadha’, recommended as a preventive health measure for boosting immunity damages the liver, Hindustan Times (HT) reported quoting PTI.

The ministry said it is a “wrong notion” as ingredients used for preparing it are used in cooking at home.

Ingredients like cinnamon, basil and black pepper used for preparing the ‘kadha’ have a positive effect on the respiratory system, Secretary, AYUSH Ministry, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha was quoted as saying during a press briefing, the report added.

Earlier in March, the Ministry of AYUSH had issued self-care guidelines as preventive health measures for boosting immunity with special reference to respiratory health amidst the coronavirus outbreak. Among other things, it recommended drinking herbal tea or ‘kadha’ (decoction) made from basil, cinnamon, black pepper, dry ginger, and raisins once or twice a day.

On the protocol for the clinical management of COVID-19, which was released earlier in the day by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, HT reported Kotecha as saying that it is to be used in addition to following COVID-appropriate behaviour and standard treatment protocol and is not a “replacement” for the same.

Kotecha mentioned that the protocol has been brought out considering Ayurveda literature and clinical experience, empirical evidence and biological plausibility and also emerging trends of ongoing clinical studies.

The AYUSH ministry, in the protocol document, pointed out that the current understanding indicates a good immune system is vital for the prevention of coronavirus infection and to safeguard one from disease progression.

Recommendations of the new protocol

• Medicines such as Ashwagandha, Guduchi Ghana Vati or Chyawanaprasha as prophylactic care for high-risk population and primary contacts of patients.
• Consumption of Guduchi Ghana Vati, Guduchi and Pippali or AYUSH 64 for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients for prevention of disease progression to symptomatic and severe forms and to improve recovery rate.
• Guduchi and Pippali, and AYUSH 64 tablets can be given to mild coronavirus infected patients.
• Ashwagandha, Chyawanprasha or Rasayana Churna for post-COVID-19 management to prevent lung complications like fibrosis, fatigue and mental health.
• To improve respiratory and cardiac efficiency, to reduce stress and anxiety and enhance immunity, the ministry has listed Yoga Protocol for Primary Prevention of COVID- 19.
• Gargling with warm water with a pinch of turmeric and salt, nasal instillation/application of medicated oil (Anu taila or Shadbindu taila), plain oil or cow’s ghee once or twice a day, especially before going out and after coming back home, steam inhalation with carrom seeds, mint or eucalyptus oil once a day, moderate physical exercises and following yoga protocol as general measures.
• Dietary measures
• Use of warm water or boiled with herbs like ginger, coriander, basil or cumin seeds etc., for drinking purpose
• Drinking golden milk (half teaspoon turmeric powder in 150 ml hot milk) once at night (avoid in case of indigestion)
• Taking Ayush Kadha or Kwath (hot infusion or decoction) once a day.