Application of traditional, integrative and complementary and alternative medicines (TICAM) as an adjunct towards control and management of Covid-19 global pandemic: Can’t we integrate them suitably to provide additional benefits?

Abstract

Corona disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has assumed a global pandemic status more than a year back, necessitating exploration of newer strategies for prevention and treatment. In many countries, the second wave has already struck and is being tackled with some experience gained from the first phase. With the loss of innumerable human lives so far, it is felt that the modern or conventional system of medicine alone may not be enough to tackle this colossal problem, particularly in countries with a huge population and with inadequate or limited medical infra-structural facilities like adequate number of modern life-saving devices and hospital beds. Therefore, other suitable treatment methods might be needed to supplement the existing facilities. Convincing evidence-based data collected recently from different disciplines of traditional, integrative and complementary and alternative medicines (TICAM) open up the possibility of successful integration of certain systems into the mainstream or modern medicine regimens, at least as supportive or adjunct medicines to give more benefits of amelioration to the ailing mankind. The present editorial aims at bringing such possibilities to the fore.