Referring to Maharishi Charak, chief guest Mr Shripad Yesso Naik, MoS, AYUSH Ministry said that the role of Ayurveda has been instrumental in combating epidemics since time immemorial

Maharishi Ayurveda organised online International Ayurveda Symposium in Association with AYUSH Ministry, GoI, FICCI and the All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi on Saturday, 23rd May 2020 between 04:00 PM and 06:30 PM, IST. Speakers from across the world participated and deliberated on the role of Ayurveda, especially in times of pandemic.   

Addressing the symposium, Mr Shripad Yesso Naik, MoS, AYUSH Ministry said, “Ministry of AYUSH has come up with the guidelines to strengthen the immunity, which would help combat the pandemic like COVID-19. And the role of Ayurveda has been significant in times of COVID-19 as the Ayurvedic measures are being tested across the world. The Ministry of AYUSH and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare have come up with the guidelines and given green signal for the clinical trial of the Ayurvedic Rasayanas.”

Adding further, he said, “What Maharishi Charak — the father of Ayurveda system of medicine mentioned 2000 years ago in ‘Charak Samhita’, “Rasayana treatment is also an answer to epidemics”, has now been turning out to be a reality. The role of Maharishi Ayurveda in organizing such international symposiums to make the people aware of the role of Ayurveda is praise worthy.”

The aim of the symposium was to inculcate awareness around COVID-19 and the role of Ayurveda in combating this pandemic and to propagate the vision of our Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi regarding the efficacious role of Ayurveda and to regain its glory that will benefit humanity at large.  

Addressing the symposium, Mr. Anand Prakash Srivastava, Chairman, Maharishi Ayurveda said, “The COVID-19 pandemic is the warning from nature to everyone to strengthen one’s immune system as nobody with the comorbid condition can survive. There are fear and panic everywhere. In this testing time, how Ayurveda — a 5000 old medical science originated in India, has helped the world in combating this pandemic. Ayurveda focuses on the person and not on the disease. It’s a science of life. Immunity boosting diet, routine life and Rasayana will help combat any pandemic.

Adding further, he said, “Almost 83% of the closed cases have survived. However, some people suffering from other comorbidities could not. If infected people would have given proper Ayurvedic Rasayana, the rate of survival might be more. The Ministry of AYUSH has gone the extra mile in issuing immunity-boosting guidelines in the pandemic scenario. Thousands of Ayurveda doctors trained by Maharishi Ayurveda have delivered exemplary services to the COVID-19 infected people.”

This International Symposium also provided viewers with an in-depth glimpse into all that the Indian Government, especially the AYUSH Ministry, has achieved by far in their battle against COVID-19.

Deliberating on the session, Mr Anurag Sharma, MP & Chairman, FICCI AYUSH Committee, said, “There is a need for all countries and governments to come together to fight against COVID-19. A special initiative on behalf of FICCI and AYUSH has also been taken to provide frontline healthcare workers with immunity-boosting Ayurvedic packages to help them combat the virus while working in susceptible conditions. As for the Indian approach to reducing the outbreak, a wonderful thing to be noted for all healthcare companies and product manufacturers is that they are all prepared to provide their products free of cost as long as the virus is eventually removed.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sudhanshu Trivedi, MP, Rajya Sabha said, “The COVID-19 pandemic is more devastating than the 2^nd world war. It has brought unprecedented havoc at every sphere of life — whether it is health or economy. Ayurveda is one of the oldest documented medical sciences, whose elements have been tested the first time in such an organized manner in collaboration with the IITs and ICMR. Earlier, there was no structured medicine system to be tested. This effort is all set to bring a paradigm shift in the landscape of medicine and cure for any sort of disease.”

Presenting the international perspective, Dr Tony Nader, World Leader of Maharishi’s Movement, said, “Instead of grappling with negativity, fear, anxiety and stress, we must emphasis on wholesomeness, happiness and gratitude as it plays a major role in protecting oneself from such an unusual situation. Bharat is the Veda Bhumi. It is consciousness that creates knowledge.”

Dr. Ulrich Bauhofer, President of the German Ayurveda Society, said, “The six ‘Ayurvedic tools, which can support us in self-protection and make us mentally resilient are — Nidra – (Proper sleep); Yoga — (Aasanas, Pranayama and Dhyaan); Aahar — (70% of our immune system resides within the digestive tract); Surya — (Exposure to sunlight to enhance Vitamin-D levels); Medhya Rasayanas — (Plants, like Ashvagandha, play an essential role in improving one’s mental health); Sankalpa — (optimism, positivity and confidence will prevent the suppression of the immune system).”

The COVID-19 epidemic has affected human life in the most adverse manner possible. With the virus killing people on a large scale and taking a massive hit on human life, there is a desperate need for individuals to strengthen themselves such that they do not get affected by COVID-19. In this process of boosting the immune system, Ayurveda is at-hand to provide help. Building a connecting right from ancient medicine to modern sciences, Ayurvedic treatment has been proved successful in strengthening the innate ability of people to fight off diseases, especially in the case of COVID-19 patients. With the help of this International Symposium, viewers not only got to understand the benefits of Ayurveda from the Indian perspective, but also witnessed how essential it is for treatment on a global level.