An Open Clinical Evaluation Of Selected Siddha Regimen In Expediting The Management Of Covid-19 –A Randomized Controlled Study

Chitra, S.M.; Mallika, P.; Anbu, N.; NarayanaBabu, R.; SugunaBai, A.; David Paul Raj, R.S.; Premnath, D.

INTRODUCTION: The corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an acute respiratory disease, caused by a novel corona virus (SARS-CoV-2, previously known as 2019-nCoV), obtained worldwide attention. The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the Covid-19 epidemic as a public health emergency of international concern. In this review, we explored the potential siddha strategies for covid – 19 infections. Aim and objectives: To evaluate the additional benefits of siddha drugs Vasantha kusumakaram mathirai, Thippili rasayanam, Adathodai manapagu and Kabasura kudineer compared to the allopathic standard of care alone in COVID-19 mild – moderate cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was an open label Two arm - randomized controlled interventional clinical study. The Group I patients were assigned to Siddha add on treatment whereas Group II subjects were assigned with standard treatment alone. The patients recruited for the study were Covid 19 RT-PCR +ve patients declared by Tamil Nadu Government and admitted in IPD (in patient ward) at Omandurar Government Medical College Hospital. The sample size was 100 for each group. RESULT: Among the gender distribution observed in Group I and Group II, 71, 69 were males and 29, 31 were females respectively. The mean age of patients was observed as 42.98 in Group I and 45.68 in Group II. The average number of days taken for reduction of symptoms after the treatment was 3.21 and 5.13 in Group I and Group II respectively (n=100). The Group I showed significant results (P<0.001) when compared with Group II. The real – time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) investigation turned negative for 78.33% in Group I and 33.33% in Group II patients after 11-14 days duration of treatment. Similarly, the before and after Computed tomography (CT) chest, Ground glass opacities covid pattern lung involvement percentage showed highly significant reduction (P<0.0001) in Group I, when compared with Group II, which showed significant reduction (P<0.001) for the same. In addition, Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) ratio, showed significant reduction (P<0.01) when analyzed by Wilcoxon signed rank test. Renal and Liver parameters were observed within the normal limits when analyzed after treatment for 25 samples in Group I. CONCLUSION: Finally, it was concluded that Siddha add on Group showed accelerated recovery for Covid - 19 patients compared to standard treatment Group. The synergistic effect of Siddha add on with standard treatment gave more promising results in the current study of Covid -19.