Have you seen the scramble for Giloy these past few months? Mint and basil pots have been actively replaced by Giloy in most households, a plant that's become the quintessential sanjeevani booti of the modern world. People are growing it, juicing it, powdering it -- whatever the form -- they are consuming a lot of it. While its benefits are well known, the hysteria surrounding it right now seems a bit stretched. “Consuming Giloy juice can help you get rid of fever, which is one of the signs of Covid-19. Its anti-inflammatory properties can also help in tackling respiratory problems like cough, cold, and breathing problems,” says Parag Kaushik, co-founder, Upakarma Ayurveda. But it is not an antidote for Covid-19, just like no amount of vitamins or kadhas are. Antiviral herbs, respiratory restoratives and expectorants are an integral part of curing fevers and bronchial issues in herbalism. But they can only be considered supportive care in Covid-19 and not the cure.

No single drug remedies
Immunity is the big word right now and there are no shortcuts for building that. But there isn't such a thing as 'one herb cures all'. “It is usually a combination of a healthy lifestyle and the correct and therapeutic use of a combination of herbs that can protect us effectively in the present times. That said, overuse of anything, even if it is a known nectar, is equally harmful for us,” says Dr Manoj Kutteri, Wellness Director at Atmantan Wellness Centre. Also, Ayurveda is a slow process and builds our inner mechanism gradually. “Consumption of Ayurvedic herbs is subject to one’s own body mechanism and pre-existing conditions. The effects of Ayurvedic herbs are not instant. Ayurveda works slowly and it depends upon each person on how much time will it take to show the desired results,” explains Kaushik.