COVID-19, a suggestion for an addition to its treatment

Here I share some research, which could be useful in COVID-19 patients.

Summary:

Mace in a higher dose of 5-10 grams can help in the respiratory difficulty in the patients of COVID-19 to some extent. Rather than its beneficial effect as a spice or a home remedy in a small quantity, its side effects at a higher dose are the desirable effects for the COVID-19 patients. 

Mace in a dose of 5-10 grams would; 

• reduce swelling in the lungs

• improve gaseous exchanges and add oxygen to the blood of the patients

• ease the breathing difficulty

Why this?

We don’t have a definitive treatment

It can be used immediately

It can help if some experts work on this immediately and take it further. 

Details:

There are many substances in traditional medicine with known antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and immunity-enhancing effects. At the same time, traditional medicine makes tall claims for almost every substance it uses. All the said effects might not be obtained in the controlled conditions and modern science logically tends to reject them. The claims or the reported effects of the substances even if true, may not help the patients of COVID-19 given the virulence of the coronavirus and the rapid progression of the disease. In such a situation, someone might ridicule if a medical professional recommends a substance of alternative medicine for COVID-19 patients. When the condition is severe and life-threatening. When even the best experts find it difficult to handle the patients in the most sophisticated intensive care facility and with all the available medicines.

However, there are certain reasons why I am suggesting a high dose (5-10 grams) of Mace, or Javitri, a common kitchen spice, for COVID-19 patients with respiratory symptoms, even the serious patients. Rather than the usual beneficial effects like antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, the undesirable side effects associated with consuming a large amount of Mace might help some of the COVID-19 patients, especially the patients with respiratory symptoms. Those undesirable effects are manifested within hours of consuming the herb.

My suggestion is based on the available studies (some of those are attached), as well as my research on the herb some time back. And I have a first-hand experience of the effect of Mace on the upper and lower respiratory tract. It suddenly came to my mind that it can be useful in COVID-19 patients. I once again checked its mechanism of action, and side-effects, and found promising.

What does Mace do at the dose of 5-10 grams?

1) It would reduce swelling in the lungs and improve gaseous exchanges. Thus, it will add oxygen to the blood of the patients.

2) It would ease the breathing difficulty and improves the condition of the patients.

Further, and more importantly, the reduced swelling would improve the efficacy of the medical treatment by means of a ventilator or otherwise.

Additionally, the other minor effects like antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and it's complex effects on the immune system are all likely to intensify with the larger dose, which otherwise might not be significant when we eat a small quantity of mace as a spice. All in all, mace is going to benefit the patients, the mechanism might not be fully understood as yet. The effect on the respiratory system has been reported and also has been self-tested at a small level, though. There are many molecules with anticholinergic effects such as the dry mouth, dry mucus membrane, constipation, caused by decreased secretions, which are somewhat similar to the side effects of Mace. The active ingredient of Mace, which is responsible, may also be identified and given. But, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, as Aristotle said. Rather than a chemical with anticholinergic effects, or a purified extract of Mace, Mace as a whole would give the desired results.

Had there been a better treatment option available, had so many people not been dying, I would never have proposed this. This is only for the time being until a specific treatment is available.

 

Again, Mace is neither a treatment nor a palliative cure for COVID-19, still, I suggest, because; 

1. The first and foremost reason is, as of now, we do not have a specific treatment for the COVID19. Therefore, we are trying antimalarial hydroxychloroquine and other drugs for coronavirus disease COVID19. Then why not we give Mace, an active substance, a chance for some valid reasons?

2. Secondly, time is very crucial. Every day, every hour we are losing people. We need something immediately, within a couple of hours or days. A new drug molecule needs to undergo testing which might take a lot of time, even if we have discovered by now, which we have not. If we had, nothing like that. Mace, on the other hand, can be used instantly because it is a well-known substance and people have been consuming it for centuries and found to be safe. The effects of such a large amount are also known, and 5-10 grams can probably be used with precautions and under monitoring, though it is a much larger amount than what people eat as a spice. Of course, there are certain side effects of a large dose, but the side effects are the desirable effects for the COVID-19 patients. The side effects are generally not fatal and are reversible, as per the research available.

If some experts of Allopathy and Ayurveda look into it and can immediately use it on a couple of patients, it can help. If found useful it can be used for a large number of patients in India as well as elsewhere. In that case, it can save many.

Definitely, the use of Mace cannot prevent all the deaths, not even the majority of those. But it can add value through decreasing the severity of illness and improving gaseous exchange in almost all the patients of COVID-19. And can also prevent deaths.

Note: The attached document compiles some of the human and animal studies on this, though in a very haphazard manner. It helps in determining dose, understanding its beneficial effects, precautions, drug interactions, etc. The expert opinion should prevail.

Coronavirus: Our survival battle

Today, I talk to you about things that should not be talked about in the present scenario of the Corona pandemic.

America is saying that China spread Coronavirus. China is accusing America of spreading Corona. Whoever might have done that, or the virus has spread in a natural way, the world is facing serious consequences.

Some people associate it with modern lifestyles and strange food habits. Others consider it a deliberately created biological weapon. What is the truth? It can be revealed only by an investigation.

The diseases have been spreading even before this. Some of them were even more dangerous than Corona. The Spanish flu in 1920, before that the Cholera in 1820, and the plague in 1720 killed millions of people. These are some of the pandemics we all know, and pandemics must have there even before these. At that time people used to eat organic food, lifestyle was also very close to nature. Would anyone have had the technology to genetically modify and create new lethal bacteria or viruses at that time? Would any country have spread the Spanish flu or plague to ruin another country? Who knows? And who knows if Corona has also been deliberately created, and spread? Even if one knows, what will be the benefit of such a debate in the present scenario? We have to fight Corona now.

One thing is certain, that humans have to fight continuously with many diseases for their survival. We are not afraid of a disease we can treat. We have discovered a cure for many such diseases from which death was certain, and millions of people died because of those. Had the treatment of the Corona been possible, it would be a common disease like pneumonia, whose patients are there in every hospital, they get cured every day. It is a matter of time, a vaccine against Corona would be developed, and also treatment. And the resistance against the virus would also develop in the people.

But for now, protecting ourselves from the virus is the only option. And in any case, prevention is better than cure.

This is our survival battle. The more aware, the more prepared we are, the more protected we are.

Friends, at this time of Corona pandemic, stay home, be careful. If we remain alive, the discussion, analysis, the debate can go on.

Stay Home, Stay Safe

Corona reminds us of the era before the discovery of antibiotics when the death rate from infection was very high. Today, common medicines like amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin prevent many people from dying. We do not currently have any effective drugs against Corona, nor are there any vaccines. Therefore, we have only two weapons to fight the corona. First, to protect ourselves from corona infection. Second, to prevent the coronavirus from spreading.

Once this disease spreads, we are seeing how despite having the best doctors in the best hospitals in the world, patients are dying in front of everyone. All the developed countries like Italy, Spain, America are unable to do anything except counting the dead bodies.

Tablighi Jamaat, an institution that no one knew a few days ago. Now the Corona has spread to every corner of the country through people gathered for a conference of Tablighi Jamaat. Because the instructions to stay careless were being given there!! Are we really living in 2020 or still living in the medieval period ??

It is not a matter of joke that in such a difficult situation people are going to the market for non-urgent work. Some people are going to see what the lockdown is like !! People are gathering unnecessarily.

It is a shame that people are not cooperating. The entire country will bear the brunt of the negligence of those few careless, irresponsible people.

Lamhon ne khata kee
Sadiyon ne saza pai
means, mistakes were made in seconds, it's aftermath lingers forever.
This is happening in front of us today, and we are witnessing it.

Hey guys !! Now the time is critical.. Stay at home. It would have been too late If some time is passed in questioning and explanations. Whatever your argument or doubts regarding staying home or not, we will see later. for now Please stay home.. Otherwise, we will have to regret it later.

In this war against Corona
Contribute yourself
Please, please
Stay at home

2G and other telecom scams:

India has many inventions to its credit (‘zero’ for example!) and it has been very prosperous during ancient times. However, it faced many setbacks over last couple of thousands years and degraded.

A few hundred years back scientific revolution took place in the world, but India could not be a major stakeholder. In 19^th century an industrial revolution took place, India missed that train as well. Perhaps both the times we were functionally not ready to be a part of the revolution.

In late 20^th century when IT revolution was taking place in the world, the reins of the country was under a visionary leader, Late Sri Rajiv Gandhi. He sensed the opportunity when no one ever heard or thought of that. He took the initiative. Thereafter they had to built infrastructure and facilities to spread technology to the extent of becoming a revolution.  

There were three major options before the country.  

1.     To go at a slow pace in the hands of public sector undertaking and in a very controlled environment: The sector might not have grown at a pace required to be on the global forefront to reap the benefits of the revolution. We might still have been waiting in a queue to get a mobile phone connection as we waited for landline phone under OYT (own your telephone) and non-OYT schemes until early 90s. Tariff would have be high enough to be a constraints in its mass spread. In this case, we would have almost missed the IT revolution as we missed scientific and industrial revolutions.

2.     To invite existing global players: With all transparency and efficiency, this would have been exorbitant. The growth might have been faster, but the cost might have again been constrain in the rapid mass spread of the technology. Further, at the cost of Indian tax payers, global companied would have grown, and home up their capability to implement mega technology projects and benefit their countries in longer run.

3.     To encourage indigenous companies for the execution: This definitely needed incentives and facilitation in terms of monitory gains and relaxed policy framework.

It was a wise decision to go for the third option.

There are people who worked with an aim to develop the nation and to benefit from the given incentives. At the same time, as always, there are people who start working to find out loopholes and take advantage. However, both of them help the sector to grow.

The scams in telecom sector, people say, helped companies to get the licenses etc at a lesser rates and also caused loss of revenue to the government. To my view, in a stiff competitive environment, when the companies had to pay less to the government, they charged less from the consumer. That way ultimately the consumer was benefited. Secondly, the lower tariffs definitely helped the user base to grow faster and cross the threshold where it becomes common means of communication. The technology of mobile and landline phone is in existence for quite some time now. The challenge was to make it available for common people at affordable price. That is what they have overcome.

A story is coming to my mind. A security guard one day told the king that he was going to be attached. The king was saved because of the prior information from the guard. The king asked how he came to know. The guard told that he saw that in a dream yesterday night. The king rewarded him and removed from the job. Why? Rewarded for saving the king and the kingdom and removed from the job for sleeping during duty hours.

That is what they have to do. They should thank everyone for being a part of the development of the sector and should also punish those who were indulged into wrong doings. At the same time, they need to keep in mind that their actions are neither retrograde nor vitiate the environment to the extent that people are scared to be a part of our development in the future.

Anti Establishment tone of the Civil Society

One thing I have observed from Anna and other similar efforts by the people. is ‘we the people of India’ feel helpless and are ready to tolerate anyone and anything if one gives hope of a better tomorrow.

Anna episode is not the first such effort to eradicate corruption. People try to forget the past and support the new leader who can ‘fight against the government’ for them. People almost always support the one who speak against the government (definitely anti-establishment attitude is common). But the leader, especially the people around take the support for granted and more often than not abuse the authority given to them. People at the end get disillusioned, disappointed and dump the leader and revert back.

This time a good Lokpal Bill is on cards and will become law. What tactics is being used in the mean time is that all necessary? In Hisar the Team Anna, campaigned (maybe Anna have sanctioned the campaigning), but has the people of the country at large sanctioned?

Once the country has supported Anna and his Team, does it mean whatever they say is justified. And even if not, ‘we the hapless people of India’ have to tolerate? Do they have inherent right to speak on anything on any issue including Jammu and Kashmir? One can send his department dues to the PM? If found to have over drawn, then return the amount and self-declare innocent?

Why Civil Society in India always is a coterie of a few and rest all are to say ‘Jinda Baad’? Why we can’t take the corrective measures when the Civil Society is losing its track. Don’t we have better people to replace those who are becoming arrogant and misusing people’s power? Why can’t we question what Civil Society is doing? On the one hand, they say the discussions of the Lokpal Drafting Committee should be made public, and on the other hand, we get to know the decisions of Civil Society members and not the proceedings.

Should it be assumed that the handful people of the Civil Society are the sacred people, like the ROYALS in the ancient time, who will only do good for the people.

It is easy to mobilize people against government in India at any given point of time. Because majority of people feel the government is not chosen by them. Why:

• Low vote percentage (so far 56-64%)
• In First Pass the Post system the winning candidate may not have the majority of the votes
• The party which people defeated in the election may find parallel route of coalition to enter into government 

A government may have support of only 30-40% people!!

We should strengthen Civil Society and not surrender to it. The final aim should be getting the work done through the normal political process, using the power of Vote. Please do not say we already used our democratic power to choose a government. We did not do that properly. We must accept.

Phenomenon called Anna:

Anna, a name needs no introduction today. From Kisan Baburao Hazare to Anna Hazare to Anna he has travelled a long journey through sheer hard work, dedication and altruistic outlook.

Anna is a rare example of a ‘self-made-man’, who rises from nowhere and becomes a role model for the masses. He is concerned about problems of people and takes initiatives to solve them. He goes out of the way to help people. At times his ways are innovative and unprecedented. For example, what he has done at Ralegaon Siddhi.

The creativity and out of the way going traits, which make such leaders exceptional also prevents them from joining an organization. They can vividly visualize what is in their mind and how will that yield results, but cannot convince that to people there, hence, the organizations may not allow them to work freely. Besides, organizations have their own discipline and decorum which they least bothered about. Such leaders, therefore, grow like a cult.

They take immense pride in their work and its worth even if it is at a small scale. They want more and more people to get benefitted. But as they try to expand, they face a lot of competition with people whose interests are jeopardised. People also find it difficult to follow an unconventional path, at least in the beginning. For example, Anna’s village, if he wants the whole country to be like that there will many lobbies working against and how many people will be willing to adopt that life style, anyone can guess. At the most such ideal work remains a good example, get recognition, praise and awards, but does not spread. They eventually die as a museum piece! Thus the story ends with Kisan Baburao Hazare to Anna Hazare. Some lucky ones become Anna. How?

To begin with such leader is rigid and reserved. People approach him to get support for their cause, but he could support only a few, because both sides are tied with principles and high conscience. However, he realizes that without collaboration he cannot reach out to more people.

As time passes his experience increases, he becomes confident and is willing to take up larger responsibilities. He starts delegating work and collaborating with newer people. As long as a public interest is served, he is ready to go ahead.

Some more people watch his methodology and growing acceptance, though do not ask to support their cause! They wait till the situations are favourable and one day in the camouflage of a larger nation interest these people (‘sponsor’) with a hidden agenda approach the leader through activists (‘managers’). The leader gets trapped! Once they creep in, a lot of people from widely different areas surround the leader. The movement, to common man looks spontaneously growing. But the disproportionate public and media response is actually managed. Their methodology remains dubious.

The leader takes it as the last battle of his life. He concentrate on his core demand, on that he is still very rigid and show is basic instinct intact, but to some extant his vision is blurs for the minor detail. He seldom bothers about the methodology so long the public interest is served. The leader at times during the course of the movement feels concerned and constrained but feels helpless in the environment largely dominated by the sponsor. The leader remains in the stat of dilemma. But the people around him constantly feed their version of reality and keep him aloof.

Typical structure of such movements is a pivotal figure, managers, supporters and sponsor.

Pivotal figure: A well acceptable personality with unimpeachable credentials, who want to serve the people at any cost till his last breath.

Managers: The people around the pivotal figure who manage the show. They want to serve people and want to ‘establish’ themselves. Some of them are pure managers and other the pointsman of the sponsor. They work diligently and have unquestionable dedication for the cause. They are great people in making who may end up in waiting! They are practical and know the ground reality of organizing a country wide movement which need a lot of resources and networking. They do it.

Sponsor: A group of people with huge resources, who are well connected and well versed in getting his work done. It is the invisible binding force behind the movement, responsible for unexpected and disproportionate support and coverage. His expectations are not clear till very late. He makes entry when there is time to reap the benefits. If the movement fails, the sponsor does not surface and his venture capital is dead! The sponsors are mainly big players and may also include foreign powers. They hi-jack the leader and get their work done and abandon the leader and the public and the nation at large.

Supporters: The common man who always thinks his voice will be heard this time! More often than not he is disappointed. The Anna supporters when go next time to get their work done will have to pay for the same!

Media and spectators are integral in any show, so also here!

Above all these compulsions and constraints, a leader like Anna has enormous power of honesty, dedication and people’s faith. The energy could be and must be utilize to do undoable tasks. Passing JanLokpal is one and there are many more. But not in the way which gives short term gain at the cost of long term pains! It is the responsibility of the political class to harness this energy for public good. They should rise above the party line and work for the people.

Anna and people should distinguish between those who are hi-jacking him for their ulterior motive and those who could be instrumental in making the good laws. Rather than inciting people to go against the ‘rule of law’ he should represent the section of the society whose faith in the Parliamentary democracy is fading and should bring them back to the main stream political process. That will make India strong, not the ‘sponsored’ agitations.

Was JP movement the need of the hour?

After Independence there was a lot of hardship, despite that India achieved a lot and there was a lot to do. Who had time to go for agitations? Why there was the need for JP Movement?

Here are some events in the Indian history:

Ancient civilization

Medieval period, ruled by kings, tyrant at times

British Colonial rule, 200 years

Independence (1947)

Partition and communal violence (1947)

Indo-Pak War (1947)

India became a republic (1950), for the first time in the history

Integration of States and reorganization, one of the toughest tasks to make India, from 17 provinces and 562 princely states

Five year plan initiated (1951)

Heavy industries and public utilities were nationalized

Infrastructure, space, nuclear, AIIMS, IITs, IIMs and lot more on priority, we see the fruits now

Indo-China War (1962)

Indo-Pak War 1965

Price rise, unemployment and food crisis and overall stagnation of economy, currency devaluation (You should evaluate whether the situation was as a result of prevailing conditions, repeated war and other hardship or because of rampant corruption in government?)

Humiliating import of wheat from the US

Green revolution (1965)

Congress got fewer sheets (1967)

Nationalization of Banks (1969)

Split in congress (1969)

Congress won with huge majority (1971) Does that not mean only leaders broke away from congress not the people!

Separation of Bangladesh (1971)

Abolished Privy Purses (for former Indian royalty), and the official recognition of the titles (1971)

Abolished privileges of Indian Civil Servants (1972)

The third Industrial Policy statement (1973) and FERA (1973) which asked foreign companies to sell the majority equity to Indian shareholders (a threat to MNCs and western countries interest)

India tested its first nuclear weapon (1974) (against opposition from major powers)

JP movement 1974

Emergency (1975-77)

Congress’ humiliating defeat (1977),

Morarji became the PM (1977)

Interim government of Charan Singh (1979)

Massive success to interim government so fast!!

Congress bounced back with impressive majority (1980).

What did you observe? Was there a link between the political events and JP movement? Was corruption the main reason for JP movement? Was that the right time for a mass movement, strikes, agitation and ‘bandh’ or the cooperation and hard work was the need of the hour? What was the need of JP movement? Was the government or the central leadership alienated from the public?

To me it seems, JP, an undisputed socialist, well connected, respected by all sections, over the period of time had developed some distance from the ruling party. He wanted to do something for the people of Bihar, and also to show his potential to the government. With these intents he started a movement in Bihar. But his movement got massive support and became pan-India within a short span. Why? The rich people who got affected by nationalization of banks, FERA and breakaway congress leaders and opposition parties and of course foreign powers, crept into the JP movement. It changes the objective and the outcome of the movement. What you feel?