Alternative Treatment Protocols for Covid-19

# Siddha Treatments

DISCLAIMER: This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as a substitute for diagnosis, treatment, or advice from a qualified, licensed medical professional. Any treatment you undertake should be discussed with your physician or other licensed medical professional.

NOTE: The information in this tabulation about dosages is primarily for adults. The dosages for children have been mentioned in the case of a few over-the-counter remedies where the data was available.

# 1. Kapasoora Kudineer, Nilavempu (Indian echinacea / Green chiretta / Kaalamegha) Kudineer, Panchamoola (called Panchtikta Kwath Choorna in Ayurveda) Kudineer

# Objective:

Prophylactic, curative, known to clear respiratory tract and boost immunity, especially against viruses.

# System:

Tamil Siddha.

# Can be used alongside other allopathic treatments:

Yes, with the caveat that the patient experiences no discomfort in doing so.

# Status of authorisation:

Revealed by a govt.-certified reputed traditional Siddha practitioner, Ayya Maragathamani; promoted widely by TN government as prophylactic and cure for affected persons in quarantine.

The dried powder of stem and leaves of Fah talai jone or Green chiretta (Andrographis paniculata) has been widely used for centuries in Thailand and some neighboring countries as a treatment for acute respiratory tract infection and to reduce inflammation and coughing. Evidence-based data from clinical trials in Thailand suggest that the treatment is reported to have been effectively used to treat over 69,000 prisoners with Covid-19 in a large-scale clinical trial. The prisoners themselves work to grow the crop, harvest, dry and grind the mature stem into a dark green powder, which is then packed in capsules to be shipped to other prisons. In July, 2021, Thailand's cabinet approved Green chiretta for use in people with asymptomatic or mild coronavirus infections following a successful trial in prisons.

# Protocol and treatment approach:

Ingredients of Kapasura Kudineer: (opens new window)

  1. Zingiber officinale L. / Sukku / Dried ginger (Rhizome)
  2. Piper longum L. / Thippili / Long pepper (Fruit)
  3. Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry / Ilavankam / Clove (Flower bud)
  4. Tragia involucrate L. / Sirukanchori / Indian stinging or climbing nettle (Root)
  5. Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) Link / Akkirakaram (Root)
  6. Hygrophila auriculate Schumach / Neermulli (Root)
  7. Terminalia chebula Retz. / Kadukkai / Chebulic myrobalan (Fruit rind)
  8. Justicia adhatoda L. / Adathodai / Vasaka (Leaf)
  9. Coleus aromaticus Benth / Karpuravalli / Ajwain / Carom seed (Leaf)
  10. Costus speciosus (J.Koenig) Sm. / Kushtam (Root)
  11. Tinospora cordifolia (Thunb.) Miers / Seendhil / Guduchi / Giloy / Amritavalli (Stem)
  12. Clerodendron serratum (L.) Moon / Siruthekku / Bharangi (Root)
  13. Andrographis paniculata Burm.f.Nees / Nilavembu / Green chiretta (Whole plant)
  14. Sida acuta Burm.f. / Vattatthiruppi (Root)
  15. Cyperus rotundus L. / Korai kizhangu / Nagar motha / Nut grass (Root tuber)

Ingredients of Nilavembu Kudineer: (opens new window)

  1. Andrographis paniculate Burm.f.Nees / Nilavembu / Green chiretta (Whole plant)
  2. Chrysopogon zizanoides (L.) Roberty / Vettiver / Kuruveru / Khus / Cuscus grass / Raamatcham (Root)
  3. Santalum album L. / Sandanam / Chandanam / Indian sandalwood (Bark)
  4. Zingiber officinale Roscoe / Sukku / Sonth / Dried ginger (Rhizome)
  5. Piper nigrum L. / Milagu / Long pepper (Fruit)
  6. Cyperus rotundus L. / Korai kizhangu / Java or nut grass (Root tuber)
  7. Mollugo cerviana (L.) Ser. / Parpadagam (Whole plant)
  8. Plectranthus vettiveroides (Jacob) Singh and Sharma / Vilamichai / Karuppu vettiver (Root)
  9. Trichosanthes cucumerina L. / Peipudal / Snake gourd (Whole plant)

According to packets, 1 teaspoon of one of these (Kapasoora / Nilavempu) herb powders added to 2 tumblers of water and boiled down to half a tumbler, consumed twice a day on empty stomach. In practice, drunk less frequently.

The bitter decoction was given freely by TN government to poor colonies who could not practice social distancing. The veteran traditional physician Maragathamani recommends to drink a tumbler of 1 teaspoon each of Nilavembu and Kapasoora herbal powders boiled in two tumblers of water down to one tumbler and (optionally) a pinch of alum powder added, thrice a week. However, ordinary people themselves suggest to drink the concentrated drink once or at most twice a week on empty stomach for prophylaxing.

# Typical duration of treatment:

Continuously, when used as prophylactic. Each treatment cycle lasts 4-5 days and is repeated monthly, i.e. about three weeks after the end of the last course.

# Outcome:

As usual, official statistics are hard to find on alternate or holistic remedies. The medicine is well-known traditional treatment for respiratory conditions. Official Covid mortality statistics in Tamil Nadu, where this protocol was used widely in a mild form as prophylactic and treatment for mild cases, was around the nationwide average of 1.5 percent, but India itself had a relatively very low mortality rate, perhaps due to widespread use of indigenous medicine for treatment. Reporting of covid cases too varies from State to State, and may have been grossly "underreported" in Tamil Nadu.

# Significant side effects:

No apparent side effects even to regular users. (opens new window) However Nilavempu or Indian echinacea is known in Ayurveda to cause dizziness, heart palpitations and infertility in higher doses. Pregnant women are recommended not to have it.

100 g each of Nilavempu and Kapasoora kudineer, Padigaaram or alum salt in minimum quantity sold. Panchtikta kwatha choorna from Ayurvedic pharmacies too can be stocked.

# Price:

Nilavembu / Kapasoora Kudineer powders cost INR 60-70 for 50 g, INR 10 for salt Padigaram in Naattu Marunthu Kadai. Popular brands of Ayurvedic Panchtikta Kwatha Choorna cost between about INR 150 to INR 750 for 100 g bottle.

# Suggested suppliers:

All Siddha or Ayurveda shops, and Naattu Marunthu Kadai in TN, like Impcops in Chennai, and a number of online suppliers as well.

# Further references:

# 2. Adathodai (in Tamil; also called Vasaka / Malabar nut, botanical name, Adhatoda vasica), Thulasi (Holy Basil), Pavazha malligai (in Tamil; also called Pavizhamalli / Parijatak/ Harsringar, botanical name, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis), Avuri (in Tamil; botanical name, Indigofera tinctoria) root, broken Black pepper

# Objective:

Prophylactic, curative, known to clear respiratory tract and boost immunity, especially against viruses.

# System:

Tamil Siddha.

# Can be used alongside other allopathic treatments:

Yes, with the caveat that the patient experiences no discomfort in doing so.

# Status of authorisation:

Authorised by the millennia of practice and empirical evidence from Tamil Siddha vaidyam; revealed by the well-known Tamil Siddha traditional physician Ayya Maragathamani.

# Protocol and treatment approach:

Take a fistful of Aadathodai, Thulasi, Pavazhamalli leaves, Avuri root (if available), 10 broken Black peppercorns, boil in 2 tumblers of water and reduce to one tumbler. Add a pinch of Alum powder after removing from burner. Consume this daily.

# Typical duration of treatment:

Continuously as prophylactic.

# Outcome:

Unclear. The treatment is recommended by a knowledgeable traditional physician, but the herbal ingredients are not widely available.

# Significant side effects:

None known, recommended for continuous use as prophylactic.

# Suggested suppliers:

It seems ingredients are not commonly available in local shops selling herbal medicine, but are available online.

# Further references:

# 3. Miscellaneous excellent therapies in Ayurveda and Siddha

# Objective:

Mitigation.

# System:

Tamil Siddha.

# Can be used alongside other allopathic treatments:

Yes, but the conventional therapy may defeat the purpose of these medications.

# Status of authorisation:

Prescribed by a very erudite researcher, pharmacologist as well as traditional physician, who has treated hundreds of cases of active Covid infections with Siddha and Ayurveda therapy, and observed hundred percent success rates for these cures.

# Protocol and treatment approach:

The treatment is commenced only if a patient who tests positive for Covid presents with signs of active infection.

  1. One possible treatment involves a combination of Gorochanaadi, Amruthaarishtam, Vaasaarishtam, and Dasamoolaarishtam administered for three days at the early signs of symptoms. If the patient has not recovered in three days, a certain Siddha treatment is begun, and if that fails, there is yet another extremely effective Siddha remedy that cures with a single dose. These Siddha remedies were not revealed.
  2. Jeevanthyaadi kashayam with Vilvaadi gulam.
  3. Shadanga kashayam with powdered Mruthyanjaya gulam.

# Typical duration of treatment:

3-7 days.

# Outcome:

Reported to be very effective treatment, with not a single patient in this therapy needing ventilator support.

# Significant side effects:

No significant side effects reported.

The recommended Ayurvedic remedies may be available in most good Ayurvedic stores.

# Price:

Ayurvedic medicines are usually available at very reasonable costs.

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