Visuals of a serpentine queue outside the garden, belonging to an elderly Ayurveda practitioner named B. Anandaiah, went viral on social media recently, resulting in many people flocking here even from neighbouring States. The 'medicine' being prepared by Mr. Anandaiah is being compared to the 'fish prasadam' given by the Bathini brothers in Hyderabad for curing asthma every year.
However, there is no scientific evidence as of now that Ayurvedic medicines can help cure COVID-19. Still, that has not deterred people from coming here in large numbers.
"There is nothing wrong in giving it a try. Patients are gasping for breath, running from one hospital to another in the search of an oxygen bed, and many are losing their lives in the process," said a man named Srinivasulu, adding that he hopes the medicine works.
The man behind the Ayurvedic preparation -- Mr. Anandaiah -- is distributing it free of cost to the people. Those in a critical condition are given eyedrops. Ayurvedic balls with ingredients such as Giloy (Tinospora codifolio), neem, pepper, ginger and turmeric prepared by a large number of workers are distributed to those who test positive for COVID-19. The same preparation is also given as an immunity booster to people impatiently waiting for their turn to get vaccinated.
"There have been no side-effects in those who have consumed the preparation," said Kakani Govardhan Reddy, YSRCP MLA from Sarvepalli. Mr. Anandaiah has managed to secure the support of philanthropists who are funding the procurement of ingredients needed to prepare the Ayurvedic medicine in large quantities.
Huge crowd 🙏🙏. current Suitation at krishnapatnam area for covid (Anandiah Ayurvedic medicine). #COVID19india #Nellore pic.twitter.com/aydzQurYzs
— Sai Mohan #RRR 🌊 (@Sai_Mohan_999) May 21, 2021
Meanwhile, Nellore Collector K.V.N. Chakradhar Babu who had constituted a committee comprising AYUSH doctors and officials, led by District Panchayat Officer Dhanalakshmi, in order to assess the efficacy of the preparation, said there were no adverse effects seen in patients who had taken the herbal preparation.
Samples of the preparation were sent to an AYUSH laboratory in Hyderabad for testing, he added.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday ordered scientific tests on an ayurveda medicine that is being distributed by an ayurveda practitioner in the port town of Krishnapatnam in Nellore district as a "cure" for Covid-19.
"The government has decided to send the ayurvedic medicine, which is rumoured to be a miracle cure for Covid-19, to the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) for a detailed study of its efficacy. The government has also decided to send a team of medical experts including Ayurveda doctors to Nellore to examine the formulation of the medicine," the official added.
