After being under control in the past couple of months, Covid-19 cases have again surged in the country. Several states have imposed curfews and weekend lockdowns after the new variant of the virus, Omicron, began infecting innumerable people.
However, in a piece of positive news that has made headlines, two people from Assam have made a herbal drink from a mix of plants that has been found to be 98% effective against the Covid-19 virus. According to The Hindu, Pankaj Gogoi from Dhemaji and Pranjal Gam from Golaghat applied for a patent for the drink.
People living in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have traditionally used herbal medicines to battle illnesses. Pankaj and Pranjal got their drink tested at the Institute of Life Sciences which falls under the Central government’s Department of Biotechnology.
In their report on August 25, 2021, it was found that the herbal drink was 98% effective as an “anti-viral” against Covid-19.
The two have communicated with the various departments and ministries that can take their case forward. In December, the Prime Minister’s Office advised them to seek further guidance from the Institute of Life Sciences.
A senior official from the Department of Biotechnology asked them to approach the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council for “guidance in terms of pre-clinical testing, Drugs Controller General of India approvals, marketing approvals, etc”.
The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy) hasn’t responded yet.
“What we know for sure is that the drink based on indigenous knowledge of herbs is absolutely safe to use,” Pankaj Gogoi stated.
What a remarkable invention indeed!