The state’s first siddha clinical trial for reducing COVID-19 symptoms in asymptomatic patients will begin in the COVID Care Centre (CCC) attached to the Thanthai Periyar Government Engineering College (TPCE) shortly, sources revealed.
Vellore:
This follows the Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI) permitting Dr. S Thillainvanan, Siddha Assistant Medical Officer (AMO) attached to the Pernambut government hospital to undertake the trial for a three-month period, it was revealed.
Following Centre’s AYUSH ministry move to encourage research in traditional medicine to fight the pandemic, this trial will be funded by the Vellore district administration headed by Collector A Shanmuga Sundaram.
Patients in the CCC located at Bagayam will be administered 10 ml ‘Aduthodai Manapagu’ twice, daily for a week, two tablets of ‘Amukkara Churanam’ thrice daily for a week, 1 or 2 pills of ‘Brammananda Baivaravam’ for one week, 60 ml of ‘Kabasura Kudineer’ twice daily for a week and two chewable tablets of ‘Thalisathy Vadagam’ for a week, officials revealed.
The intervention will be undertaken by male/female adults in the 18 to 60 years age group who have tested COVID positive based on RT-PCR test and suffer from mild to moderate symptoms after getting their written consent, officials added. Pregnant and lactating women and those suffering from severe COVID symptoms including respiratory distress needing mechanical ventilation or non-respiratory organ failure, uncontrolled diabetes and those suffering from chronic renal failure needing daily dialysis would not be part of the study, officials added.
The study will start form September 3 with a sample size of 20 and conclude in 3 months.
“The clinical trial’s phase 2 conclusion will reveal the safety and efficacy of Siddha medicines mentioned above,” Collector Shanmuga Sundaram said.