India, UK to conduct clinical trials of 'Ashwagandha' for Covid recovery in UK

The Indian government has commissioned a study to analyse the effects of the herb ‘Ashwagandha’, on people suffering from Long Covid.

A report by The Print says, the study is a joint project by the All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

It will be a year-long study and will be conducted on 2,000 people in Leicester, Birmingham, and London. The World Health Organisation is also a knowledge partner to the study.

The participants will be required to take Ashwagandha for three months and the trials will start in late September. The study will examine if the overall quality of life of the participants has improved after three months when compared to the placebo group.

This will be the UK’s first double-blind placebo-controlled trial of an Ayurvedic herb as a medicinal product.

Ashwagandha or Indian ginseng is an ancient medicinal herb and according to several research papers published, it is known to have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and enhances brain function and increases the body’s resilience to stress among other things.

Also watch: Ayurveda for Covid-19: preventative self-care tips from AYUSH Ministry