A Community-Based Participatory Research to Assess the Feasibility of Ayurveda Intervention in Patients with Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19

Kulkarni, V.; Sharma, N.; Modi, D.; Kumar, A.; Joshi, J.; Krishnamurthy, N.

Innovative strategies are required to manage COVID-19 in the communities. Back to Roots was a collaborative, community-based pilot intervention project in the British Asian community. To assess the efficacy and safety of Ayurveda intervention in relieving symptoms of mild-to-moderate COVID-19, a community based participatory research framework was used. Prospectively 28 patients were enrolled with confirmed COVID-19 clinical stages of mild-to-moderate COVID-19, symptomatic, and between 20 to 70 years of age. Routine management was followed by all patients managing at home, additionally patents taking Ayurveda intervention for 14 consecutive days. The efficacy and safety of Ayurveda intervention were evaluated. There were suggestions of Ayurveda's advantage in improved symptoms relief, clinical recovery in 7 days. However, a control group was not included but data triangulations from separate usual care found the difference statistically significant. Ayurveda intervention may potentially have a beneficial effect on patients with COVID-19, especially for those with mild to moderate symptoms. A further definitive large-scale clinical trial is necessary.