ABSTRACT
Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa, and Momordica charantia are medicinal plants that are commonly used in the form of herbal tea, which is formulated to strengthen the immune system, especially against COVID-19 infection. Excellent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunostimulatory properties have been reported for their bioactive compounds, which have been shown to aid in stimulating immune systems as well as lowering the risk of severe COVID-19 such as lung injury. Yet, no bibliometric study on the subject is available. Hence, the purpose of this study is to quantitatively examine the existing articles related to the therapeutic potential of these three herbs, as well as their mechanisms of action in combating the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A total of 121 papers were retrieved from Scopus database up to 14th March 2023. The bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer software. Based on the literature search, Z. officinale was the most researched plant. India appeared as the most prolific country, with the highest number of articles contributed by two authors from India (Rathi, R. and Gayatri Devi, R.). In terms of keywords, the plants were associated with immune modulation, management of symptoms, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities. Several important bioactive compounds were responsible for these effects such as gingerol, paradol, shogaol, curcumin, calebin A, momordicoside, karaviloside and cucurbitadienol. These compounds were hypothesized to prevent and cure COVID-19 by regulating inflammatory response, downregulating oxidative stress and modulating immunostimulatory activity. This review paper therefore supports the potential of Z. officinale, C. longa, and M. charantia to be formulated as a herbal blend for treating and preventing COVID-19 infection.
ABSTRACT
In this study, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic process on the use of herbal products (HP) (except cosmetics and cleaning products obtained using medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP)) was evaluated. For this purpose, a survey consisting of 22 questions was conducted between January 6 and February 6, 2021. Surveys were applied using the Google Form program. The study, taking into account Turkey's seven regions, has been completed with the participation of 442 people. 10.4% of the participants stated that they started using HP with the pandemic process, and 30.4% increased the amount of use with the pandemic process. The results show that HP are mostly used to empowered immunity (42.5%) and are mostly obtained from herbalists (47%). It was observed that MAPs were mostly consumed by the participants in the form of herbal tea (31.6%) and a significant portion of the participants (37.3%) paid attention to the organic certification of the products they purchased. It was observed that the effect of age, gender, presence of children, and whether or not they had COVID-19 on the use of HP during the COVID-19 Pandemic was significant (p <0.05).
ABSTRACT
Herbal teas are aromatic beverages commonly prepared by pouring hot water over the cured leaves or by boiling them. They have been used as traditional medicines for decades because of their health benefits. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potency of Lipton tea, Evergreen tea, Green tea, Mountain forest tea, Oolong tea, and Egret river tea in managing dry cough, vomiting, sore throat, pneumonia, diarrhea, and respiratory distress. The selected teas were tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans using the agar well diffusion method. All plates were inoculated and incubated for 24 hours at 37oC. After incubation, each plate was observed for the formation of clear zones around the well. Our findings revealed that S. aureus, Strep. pyogenes, and E. coli were highly susceptible to green tea extracts. However, all the tea samples showed no activity on C. albicans. This result proffers that different varieties of common and exotic herbal teas have a great effect in suppressing related symptoms of covid-19 and therefore, may be used as adjuvants with other anti-viral and antibiotic medications when treating infection. Copyright © 2007 The authors.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The coronavirus epidemic started in Tunisia in March 2020. Health personnel have been in the front line in the fight against this virus since that date. The COVID units of the hospitals and the different hospital services have been reinforced by student nurses (trainees, volunteers.). Objective(s): To evaluate the degree of stress perceived during the COVID-19 pandemic by student nurses. To identify coping skills during a COVID-19 pandemic. Method(s): Descriptive, retrospective study conducted in March 2021 on the 60 senior nursing students enrolled in the military health school. We used the Cungi (1997) stress scale and developed a self-questionnaire on coping skills used by the students. Result(s): Our population was 54.3% male and 45.7% female. The average age was 22.6 years. The majority of the senior students (54.3%) worked in units dedicated to the care of patients with COVID-19. On the Cungi Stress Rating Scale, students had very low (13%), low (27%), and high (60%) stress levels. The main coping methods used were watching movies and listening to music (81%), playing sports (80%), praying (75%), rigorously applying social distancing measures and wearing protective gear (73%), talking with friends or psychologists (62%), doing yoga or meditation (34%), drinking herbal tea, alcohol, or taking psychotropic drugs (23%). Conclusion(s): The COVID-19 pandemic is a time of major stress for nursing students. The coping methods used seem insufficient. Psychological support should be provided.
ABSTRACT
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by sending a survey developed using SurveyMonkey. Local IRB approved the study. Responding to the survey was implied as providing consent. The survey was sent to all ayurveda professionals practicing in the United States. The list of professionals were obtained from the National Ayurveda Medical Association and through personal contacts of the principal investigator. The survey was open for 45 days and reminders were sent twice to the potential participants. Results: Eighty eight ayurvedic professionals completed the survey. Majority were females from California and belonged to Ayurveda Practitioner category and practiced mostly parttime. Ayurveda counselors and Ayurveda doctors (India based education) were the other categories of professionals, who also responded to the survey. The respondents reported that they adopted telehealth to continue their practice during the closures, but still majority reported that there was an economic impact of COVID-19 on their practices. Health promotion was the predominant type of service provided by these professionals. The methods included diet and lifestyle advices that incorporated dosha based diet and yoga and meditation practices. Additionally, they also provided some classical ayurveda formulas and simple herbal teas such as coriander tea and hot water to prevent easy susceptibility to viral infections. An important advice included a specific dosha based individual daily routine to improve general and mental health. Background: To understand the ayurveda practice patterns in the United States during COVID-19 Conclusion: Ayurveda, the oldest Indian System of Medicine may be a useful natural health care systemthat can be used for health promotion during a pandemic. The self-care practices do provide patient empowerment.
ABSTRACT
The Ministry of AYUSH recommended the use of a decoction of the mixture of Ocimum tenuiflorum, Cinnamomum verum, Piper nigrum, Zingiber officinale, and Vitis vinifera as a preventive measure by boosting the immunity against the severity of infection caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The present study aimed to identify the probable modulated pathways by the combined action of AYUSH recommended herbal tea and golden milk formulation as an immune booster against COVID-19. Reported phytoconstituents of all the medicinal plants were retrieved from the ChEBI database, and their targets were predicted using DIGEP-Pred. STRING database and Cytoscape were used to predict the protein-protein interaction and construct the network, respectively. Likewise, MolSoft and admet SAR2.0 were used to predict the druglikeness score and ADMET profile of phytoconstituents. The study identified the modulation of HIF-1, p53, PI3K-Akt, MAPK, cAMP, Ras, Wnt, NF-kappa B, IL-17, TNF, and cGMP-PKG signaling pathways to boost the immune system. Further, multiple pathways were also identified which are involved in the regulation of pathogenesis of the multiple infections and non-infectious diseases due to the lower immune system. Results indicated that the recommended herbal formulation not only modulated the pathways involved in boosting the immunity but also modulated the multiple pathways that are contributing to the progression of multiple disease pathogenesis which would add the beneficial effect in the co-morbid patients of hypertension and diabetes. The study provides the scientific documentation of the role of the Ayurvedic formulation to combat COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Background: Since late 2019, there has been a global COVID-19 pandemic. To preserve medical capacity and decrease adverse health effects, preventing the progression of COVID-19 to severe status is essential. Jing-Si Herbal Tea (JSHT), a novel traditional Chinese medicine formula was developed to treat COVID-19. This study examined the clinical efficacy and safety of JSHT in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled 260 patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. The enrolled patients were divided into the JSHT (n = 117) and control (n = 143) groups. Both groups received standard management. The JSHT group was treated with JSHT as a complementary therapy. Results: Compared with standard management alone, JSHT combined with standard management more effectively improved the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction cycle threshold value, C-reactive protein level, and Brixia score in the adult patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, especially in the male and older patients (those aged ≥60 years). The results revealed that the patients treated with JSHT combined with standard management had 51, 70, and 100% lower risks of intubation, Medisave Care Unit admission, and mortality compared with those receiving standard management only. Conclusions: JSHT combined with standard management more effectively reduced the SARS-CoV-2 viral load and systemic inflammation and alleviated lung infiltrates in the patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, especially in the male and older patients (those aged ≥60 years). JSHT combined with standard management may prevent critical status and mortality in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. JSHT is a promising complementary therapy for patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 has rapidly spread across the globe and has been declared a pandemic. Presently, drugs or vaccines are unavailable, and patients are treated on a symptomatic basis. Traditional healthcare can contribute to theprevention of infection in healthy individuals as well as in the treatment of infected patients. Ayurvedic medicines have become even more relevant in the present context, as there is a descriptive illustration of causation and management of diseases similar to COVID-19 under Janapadodhwamsa in ancient text. Meanwhile, the Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India has recommended herbal remedies for the prevention of COVID-19 infection. These remedies include consumption of herbal tea (twice a day), consumption of golden milk for immunity boosting measures, steam inhalation, and medicated honey as a remedy against sore throat, etc. In this review, we have tried to evaluate the effectiveness of the recommended Indian remedies in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 conditions with available scientific literature. The literature search was carried out in electronic databases, namely PubMed, ScienceDirect, ACS Publications, Clinicaltrials.gov, Springer, and Google Scholar. COVID-19, being primarily a respiratory disease, 9 herbs with proven benefit in the management of COVID-19 were selected and analysed for their immunomodulatory, anti-viral, antibacterial, and other activities. Further literature pertaining to their constituents was also evaluated for the in silico effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 targets. The scientific evaluation revealed that the recommended Indian remedies might be useful in tackling the COVID-19 situation, though more scientific interventional studies will be required to forti-fy the claimed benefits.
ABSTRACT
Background: Cook County Health (CCH) was founded in 1834 to provide health aid to the indigent residents of Cook County. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, this safety net for healthcare provided care to thousands of people, with over 1 million unique visits per year. In 2011, the Acupuncture Department was added to the Pain Management Center, as an Integrative Medicine approach to pain management, with Frank Yurasek appointed as Director, under the direction of Dr. Maria Torres, MD, PMC Chair. Pain Management Center patients, suffering in order of complaint, from: back, neck, hip, shoulder, knee pain, gun shot, beating and stabbing victims, workplace injuries, and motor vehicle accidents. Pre-pandemic patient levels averaged 20 to 25 treatments daily, Monday through Friday. That number went to zero in March of 2020, due to the pandemic. Telehealth Program: Following shutdown, the acupuncture department met to develop and deliver Telehealth Acupuncture services to its patients, who had come to depend on acupuncture as an opiate sparing intervention. Customized Acupuncture Telehealth visits included tailored acupressure instructions to provide pain relief, as well as exercise, stretching and breathing routines based on simplified Qi Gong practices, diet modifications, and herbal tea recommendations. Follow-up calls were made to monitor progress and modify program components as needed. The weekly flow chart, follow-up scripts, and response summaries will be reviewed in this presentation. Proposal: Acupuncture Pain Management patients have begun to return to the clinic for in person follow-up care. Completion of a proposed anonymous, short questionnaire will be discussed with acupuncture patients. Those interested in participation, will pick up the questionnaire, complete, and leave behind with the front desk Clerk. In the past, the utilization of acupuncture patient questionnaires has provided valuable feedback, and we look forward to providing the patient feedback on our Telehealth Acupuncture visits.