Anushka Mansharamani
The Ayush Ministry is expected to adopt the red ant chutney made by Gordon Ramsay, Celebrity Chef, to act as a viable remedy to fight COVID-19.
On 31st December, the Orissa High Court informed the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the directors general of Ayush Ministry to investigate and decide within 90 days on the proposal made for the use of the red ant Chutney as a probable remedy to treat COVID-19.
The red ant chutney is used in soups to treat flu, cough, cold, fatigue, and other such diseases in several states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Tripura, Bihar, Manipur, West Bengal, Nagaland, and Himachal Pradesh.
A Public Interest Litigation was filed in order to seek the intervention of the Court to examine and research the proposal made for red ant chutney being a possible treatment of COVID-19.
This PIL was filed by Nayadhar Padhial, an engineer, in June, and thereafter the Court issued a directive on the same.
According to the petition filed, it was submitted that the chutney includes formic acid, protein, calcium, Vitamin B12, Zinc, and iron that boost the immune system thereby stating that:
“This could be the reason for less prevalence of Covid-19 in tribal areas. A thorough research to prepare formulations from could prove beneficial.”
Therefore, in the view of the PIL, the bench directed the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the directors general of Ayush ministry to examine the proposal and pass appropriate orders within 90 days.