Surasadi Kadha (An Ayurvedic Decoction) - A Safe And Effective Formulation In Treatment Of COVID-19: A Single-Centered, Retrospective, Observational Study.

Abstract

COVID-19 has been declared as a pandemic and a global emergency. It has been spreading rapidly and has  reached almost all the countries in the world. Confirmed cases are managed clinically but so far there have been no effective treatment or vaccine against it. Ayurveda has proved its potential in curing various kinds of diseases including viral infections.  This study was aimed to observe and assess the safety and efficacy of an Ayurvedic decoction prepared from 10 selected  Ayurvedic herbs on COVID-19 cases. 94 patients of COVID-19 in a government hospital who received the Ayurvedic decoction twice a day, in addition to the ongoing  conventional treatment, were observed in this study. Data were collected through official sources such as case record forms,  nursing record sheets, etc. These patients included people of all age group, were in different stage of the disease and having  various co-morbidities. Conversion to mortality was set as primary outcome of this study. Symptomatic relief, changes in vital  parameters and assessing safety of the decoction were set as secondary outcomes.  Out of 94 patients, 65 were pre-symptomatic and 29 were symptomatic in condition. Men constituted 75.9% of symptomatic  patients. The disease was more prevalent in middle age group (50-60) which had 1 of every 3 patients in this study. 29.8% patients  were co-morbid. HTN followed by DM were observed to be the leading co-morbidities. Fever, breathlessness and cough were  most commonly observed among symptomatic patients.  93 out of 94 patients eventually recovered and discharged with average 10 days of stay in the hospital. A single patient was  transferred to the higher center. Not a single patient succumbed to the disease thus keeping the mortality rate nil. Rapid recovery  rate was observed in patients having signs and symptoms. Those who were in pre-symptomatic condition did not develop any  symptom during their stay in the hospital. The decoction was observed to be safe for patients of all age group and all  conditions as no side effects or adverse drug reactions were seen. The study has shown that the Ayurvedic decoction  as an additional intervention was safe and effective against COVID-19.