**1. Introduction: Ayurveda - the science of healing**

*'The great thing about Ayurveda is that its treatments always yield side benefits, not side effects.'—Shubhra Krishan*

Ayurveda is an age old science that deals with the sacred knowledge of healing and longevity. The word Ayurveda is derived from two words that is 'Ayuh' which means 'life' and 'veda' which means 'science or knowledge'. Thus, Ayurveda itself defines its meaning as the science or knowledge of life. Not only a science, but Ayurveda is a tradition that originated in India and is practised since then.

In other words, Ayurveda is not only taking herbal preparation and waiting for it to give results but encouraging all of us to be an active participant in the journey of healing. This process involves learning about our relationship with the nature and elements and their unique combinations they form known as *doshas*.

The practice of Ayurveda dates back to over five thousand years, during the *Vedic* period of ancient India [1]. The tradition was kept alive by the *vaidyas* and *acharyas* (those who practise Ayurveda) till India got independence in 1947. After independence, Ayurveda saw a resurge in India and emerged as a major healthcare system. Not only in India, but in different parts of the world like China, Europe,

Middle East, etc., Ayurveda has been practised since long as the alternative medicine system was not in reach of major population [2].

Along with Ayurveda, practice of Yoga and eastern spiritualism flourished towards the western world in twentieth century.

#### **1.1 The positive side of Ayurvedic medicine**

The most important advantage associated with ayurvedic medicines is that it gives no side- effects even if it does not cause any good to health. This property of Ayurvedic medicines makes it most popular among all systems of medicine. The practice of Ayurveda is as easy for the new practitioners as it is for the age old [3]. It does not work on the symptoms of the disease rather works on the root cause to treat the ailment permanently. That is why the practice of Ayurveda requires patience.

#### **1.2 Ayurveda and the current pandemic**

Antibiotics resistance across the world is already a problem, especially if Covid-19 deepens as a syndemic in populations with antibiotic resistance [4, 5]. To fight with such a situation, Indian Ayurvedic system of healing can play a vital role. Also, against such a syndemic, there should be something that can act synergistically. For such a synergy, a combination of drugs can prove in a most effective manner that can not only help in fighting against such a syndemic but can also play an efficient role in boosting the immunity and acting as a line of defense against any such future epidemic.
