BACKGROUND: The Scheduled Castes (SC) population of Odisha constitutes 17.3% of the total population of the state and is one of the most vulnerable groups with regard to health care due to the non-availability of affordable and quality health services. Reproductive health literacy is relatively poorer in adolescents and women, which impacts their reproductive health. OBJECTIVE: The core objectives of the study were to determine the socioeconomic status, living conditions, educational status, dietetic habits, lifestyles, and healthcare-seeking behavior of SC women and children, promote awareness regarding lifestyle and health, and also provide healthcare services at their doorsteps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted from January to December 2019 in the SC population-dominated areas of the Khurdha district of Odisha. The requisite information was documented by door-to-door visits from respondents who provided their consent for participation in the study, through a structured format. Awareness was created to the respondents through distribution of Information, Education, and Communication materials and public lectures. Ayurveda healthcare services were provided as per the initial screening, presence of risk factors, and presenting complaints, if any. The data gathered were analyzed through descriptive statistical assessment, i.e., measures of frequency and position of the data. RESULTS: A total of 5041 people were surveyed, including females and children only. Among these, 2758 were women of reproductive age and 2283 were children. Of the 2283 children, 1186 were male and 1097 were female. The causes of gynecological diseases in SC women are poor living conditions, environmental factors, poor hygiene, improper care during menstrual cycles, a faulty lifestyle, and a low socioeconomic status. The health indices were found to have improved due to the implementation of various women-centric welfare schemes by the government and institutional delivery. CONCLUSION: The Reproductive and Child Health program is pivotal for improving the health outcomes of the deprived and unreached segment of the SC women’s population. Supplementation of comprehensive and holistic health care through Ayurveda advocacy is sustainable and can improve health outcomes and reduce mortality and morbidity.

BACKGROUND: Chickenpox is a contagious infection caused by the Varicella-zoster virus with the clinical manifestation of itchy rashes with fluid-filled blisters and fever. Although it is a self-limiting disease, to shorten the recovery period as well as to avoid complications, Ayurveda medicine could be effectively used in the management of chickenpox. In the present case study, the effects of Ayurveda add-on treatment are studied in treating chickenpox and in healing papules. CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND DIAGNOSIS: A 38-year-old woman presented to the Out-Patient Department (OPD) of Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Kolkata, with severe itchy and painful papules all over the body and malaise along with difficulty in swallowing because of pain in the throat since 15 days. On the basis of clinical presentation, it was diagnosed as a case of chickenpox. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: Before visiting the Ayurveda OPD, the patient took allopathic medicine (acyclovir 800 mg TID, paracetamol SOS, and calamine lotion local application) for 15 days, but the disease continued to progress and developed painful lesions with itching and other difficulties. The Ayurveda intervention started after 2 weeks of the onset of the disease. The patient was advised to take Tribhuvankirti Rasa (250 mg BD) before food for 7 days, Haridrakhanda (3 g BD) after food, Panchatiktaghrita (5 mL BD) after food, and Guduchyadi Taila for local application for 15 days. RESULTS: Papules of chickenpox were healed in 15 days of the treatment. After taking Ayurveda medicines, the patient got relief from severe itching and pain within 2 days and also completely recovered within 15 days. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that the Ayurveda interventions effectively reduced the signs and symptoms of chickenpox and hastened the healing process. It may be concluded that Ayurveda medicines either alone or as add-on give promising therapeutic results in the management of chickenpox.

Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) is a condition in which the main vein that drains blood from the retina closes off partially or completely. This condition is associated with sudden, unilateral, and moderate-to-marked or total loss of vision. In the present case report, a 58-year-old male patient suffered from CRVO with chief complaints of sudden painless diminution of distant and near vision of the right eye with a duration of 1 week and was treated with Ayurveda medications and therapeutic procedures. Oral medicines such as decoctions, herbal powder, and tablets were administered along with therapeutic procedures which include Nasya (medication through nasal route) therapy and local therapies such as Bidalaka (application of medicated paste on eye lids) and Shirolepa (application of medicated paste on head). Pre- and post-assessments were done by visual acuity (VA), posterior segment examination, and optical coherence tomography, which showed improvement at the end of 3 months’ treatment. At the end of the treatment, there is improvement noted in distance and near VA in the right eye. Ophthalmoscopic findings revealed a reduction in hemorrhages and edema in the right eye. The effectiveness of Ayurveda interventions observed in the present case indicates that CRVO can be treated with Ayurveda medication and therapeutic procedures such as Nasya, Bidalaka, and Shirolepa.

The global resurgence of coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has severely affected the medical infrastructure, posing a serious public health concern. The present case series documents the successful management of four moderate cases of confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) based on the Ayurveda approach without any adverse effects and any post-COVID presentation. A retrospective analysis of four patients with moderate COVID-19 symptoms was conducted in this study at the All India Institute of Ayurveda. The patients were between the age of 23 and 38 years, were diagnosed as COVID-19 positive through a rapid antigen test (RAT), in July–August 2020, and were managed through Ayurveda interventions. The interventions include Ayush Kwath (10 g twice a day) and Sanshamani Vati (500 mg thrice a day) along with dietary restrictions and nonpharmacological suggestions. The therapeutic interventions were carried out for 7 days. Symptomatic assessment was done every day telephonically, and RAT was conducted after 7 days. Post-COVID complications were assessed in individual cases during the follow-up period (3 months after the completion of treatment). Complete relief in symptoms was observed within 6–7 days in all the cases. No side effects or adverse drug reactions were noticed both during and after the treatment. No post-COVID complications were observed in the four studied cases. The case series suggests that timely Ayurveda intervention has very good potential not only in treating mild-to-moderate patients of COVID-19 infection but also in preventing the post-COVID complications. It could also have a role in reducing the burden of a patient’s turning into a severe category or with complications. However, large-scale randomized controlled trials are required to further validate the same.

INTRODUCTION: Ayurvedic treatments are in use to treat Diabetes Mellitus (DM), either as a stand-alone treatment or as an adjunct to conventional care. There is need for a comprehensive assessment of the efficacy and safety of Ayurvedic interventions in DM through a systematic review. Therefore present work is planned to create quality based evidence on the efficacy and safety of Ayurvedic intervention for DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data for systematic review will be collected by a comprehensive search of databases will be made to get maximum research articles on clinical trials such as randomized, non-randomized controlled, multiple arm, and quasi-randomized controlled trials. The primary outcome will be treatment response on improvement in subjective criteria, i.e. associated symptoms with DM, effect on fasting blood glucose level, postprandial blood glucose level and HbA1C level. The secondary outcome will be the assessment of the health-related quality of life and safety of interventions. For the systematic review three reviewers will extract the data separately in a pre-determined format. For each included study, a narrative synthesis will be conducted. A meta-analysis will be performed if the collected data is suitable for meta-analysis. CONCLUSION: The systematic review serves as a representative of the evidence of safety and efficacy of Ayurveda interventions in treating DM. Outcome of the review may also provide scope for planning further researches. PROSPERO STUDY REGISTRATION NO: PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020159659