Nasal application of sesame oil-based Anu taila as ‘biological mask’ for respiratory health during COVID-19
Authors
Bhavya Vijay
aCentre for Clinical Research and Education, The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Bangalore, India
Batul Diwan
bCentre for Ayurveda Biology and Holistic Nutrition, The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Bangalore, India
Poornima Devkumar
aCentre for Clinical Research and Education, The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Bangalore, India
Prasan Shankar
aCentre for Clinical Research and Education, The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Bangalore, India
Chethala Vishnuprasad
bCentre for Ayurveda Biology and Holistic Nutrition, The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Bangalore, India
Gurmeet Singh
bCentre for Ayurveda Biology and Holistic Nutrition, The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Bangalore, India
Deepshikha Kataria
aCentre for Clinical Research and Education, The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Bangalore, India
Darshan Shankar
cThe University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Bangalore, India
This article narrates the potential role of sesame oil-based Anu taila for respiratory health and the prevention of COVID-19. Ayurveda recommends the use of sesame oil and A. taila as a part of daily routine (dinacharya) for oral gargling and transnasal application (Nasya) for preventing upper respiratory tract infections. Recent studies on COVID-19 have elucidated the activity of certain fatty acids in restricting viral binding. Based on the evidence gathered from in-silico, pre-clinical, and pharmacological studies as well as references from classical textbooks of Ayurveda, this article infers that the transnasal application of sesame oil and/or A. taila could provide resilience/protection to the respiratory system. It can act as a ‘biological mask’ to prevent respiratory infections like COVID-19. Detailed pharmacological study can give fuller confirmation of our informed “inference” that A. taila offers a cost-effective intervention for the prevention of COVID-19 like infections of the upper respiratory tract.
Keywords: Sesame oil & Anu taila, Respiratory health, COVID-19 prevention, Fatty acids, Ayurveda
Author Biography
Deepshikha Kataria, aCentre for Clinical Research and Education, The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Bangalore, India
dInstitute of Home Economics, University of Delhi, F4, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India
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