Ayurveda and COVID-19: What Was Used and What the Evidence Shows
A plain look at the Ayurvedic products used in India during COVID-19, what small trials and reviews found, their limits, and why no product is proven to prevent the illness.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Urgent guidance first
If you or someone you care for finds it hard to breathe or seems seriously unwell, get urgent medical care at once (in the US, call 911). Do not rely on a herbal product for COVID-19. The World Health Organization states that there is currently no evidence to support herbal teas or herbal supplements to prevent or cure COVID-19. [1] Do not stop prescribed medicines or skip vaccination on the advice of a herbal product label. For prevention basics see vaccines and infection prevention.What was used
During the pandemic, India's AYUSH system (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) promoted several products, and a number were tested clinically. [2] Those named in the research include:- AYUSH-64, a herbal formulation tested as an add-on to standard care.
- Kabasura Kudineer, a herbal decoction, also tested as an add-on.
- Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), ashwagandha and ginger (shunthi) as single herbs.
- Chyawanprash, a classical herbal jam, for prevention.
What the trials found
| Product | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| AYUSH-64 as add-on to standard care | A living review found it likely shortened time to symptom resolution by about 2.35 days in mild to moderate illness [2]. One open-label trial of 80 patients reported faster clinical recovery and said larger double-blind trials were needed [3] | Promising but limited |
| Kabasura Kudineer add-on | The review found a likely 1.93-day shorter symptom time and shorter hospital stay [2] | Promising but limited |
| Guduchi added to standard care | May reduce hospital stay, but the confidence interval crossed zero [2] | Insufficient evidence |
| Ashwagandha plus ginger | A 60-person open-label exploratory trial (48 analyzed) reported clinical recovery in 6.9 versus 13.0 days against standard care; viral clearance (76% versus 60.8%) was not a statistically significant difference [4] | Insufficient evidence (small open-label trial) |
| Chyawanprash to prevent infection | Five trials in India (153,343 people) did not show a clear result; heterogeneity and bias were high [5] | Insufficient evidence |
The same living review rated the certainty of evidence for most outcomes as moderate to low, mainly because of bias and small samples. [2] A separate review of 17 trials of traditional formulations (1,646 patients) reached favorable conclusions, but the outcomes were mixed (for example no change in C-reactive protein and a slight rise in D-dimer). [6] NCCIH makes a similar point for complementary approaches in general: most studies were not randomized and the evidence was judged inadequate. [7]
Reading these trials with care
Many were open-label (everyone knew who got the herbal product), so expectation can colour symptom reports. Several were small. The trials were run in India and published between 2020 and 2022, so they may not reflect later variants or today's population immunity. See how to read an Ayurveda study. No source we read shows that any Ayurvedic product prevents COVID-19. NCCIH says there is not enough high-quality evidence for ashwagandha in treating it. [8]Long COVID
Proper evidence not found. In this review we found no controlled trials of Ayurvedic products for long COVID in the sources we read. See fatigue, energy and immunity for general points on tiredness.Frequently asked questions
Does Ayurveda prevent COVID-19?
No good evidence shows this. The WHO says no herbal supplement is proven to prevent or cure it, and the Chyawanprash prevention trials gave no clear result. [1][5]
Which Ayurvedic product had the best results?
AYUSH-64 as an add-on to standard care had the most favorable pooled result, with moderate to low certainty. [2]
Were these products safe in the trials?
The living review said the three products it pooled seemed safe as add-ons, but trials were small and short. Liver injury has been reported with some of these herbs outside trials. [2][9]
Should I use these instead of standard care?
No. They were tested only as additions to standard care, and the WHO sees no evidence for herbal cures. [2][1]
Can herbs interact with my medicines while I am ill?
Yes, ashwagandha for example may interact with medicines for diabetes, blood pressure and others, so ask a clinician or pharmacist first. [8] See also Ayurveda for colds, allergies and asthma.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety
- Liver. Tinospora cordifolia (guduchi) is among the herbal products an expert report lists as implicated in autoimmune-like liver injury. [9] Some Indian authors argue that look-alike plants and poor quality control are responsible instead. [10] Ashwagandha has also been linked with rare liver injury. [8] See Ayurvedic herbs with known safety concerns.
- Medicines. Ashwagandha may interact with drugs for diabetes and blood pressure, sedatives and immune-suppressing medicines. [8]
- Metals. Some Ayurvedic products contain toxic lead, mercury or arsenic. [11]
- Tell your clinician if you use any herbal product while ill or recovering: Telling your doctor about Ayurveda.
References
- World Health Organization, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Food safety and nutrition. Read 2026-10-22.
- AYUSH therapeutics for COVID-19: a living systematic review and meta-analysis (first update). J Integr Complement Med 2023. Read 2026-10-22.
- AYUSH-64 as an adjunct to standard care in mild to moderate COVID-19: open-label randomized trial in Chandigarh, India. Complement Ther Med 2022. Read 2026-10-22.
- Ashwagandha and Shunthi in mild and moderate COVID-19: an open-label randomized exploratory trial. Complement Ther Med 2023. Read 2026-10-22.
- Safety and efficacy of Chyawanprash as prophylaxis for COVID-19: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Cureus 2024. Read 2026-10-22.
- Traditional formulations for managing COVID-19: a systematic review. J Integr Complement Med 2024. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH, COVID-19 Symptoms and Complementary Approaches: What You Need To Know. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH, Ashwagandha: Usefulness and Safety. Read 2026-10-22.
- Nomenclature, diagnosis and management of drug-induced autoimmune-like hepatitis: expert opinion meeting report. J Hepatol 2023. Read 2026-10-22.
- Is Tinospora cordifolia responsible for drug-induced liver injury? Curr Drug Saf 2024. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH, Ayurvedic Medicine: In Depth. Read 2026-10-22.