As the countries across brace for vaccine production against Covid-19 treatment, the Orissa High Court has proposed using red ant chutney as a remedy for coronavirus.
A division bench of justices BR Sarangi and Pramath Patnaik, in its order, has directed director generals of AYUSH ministry and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to consider using red ant chutney as possible treatment for Covid-19.
The ministry has been given six months’ time for perusing the proposal.
In it December 24, the judges said: “Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this court disposes of the writ petition and directs the director-general of the ministry of Ayush and the director-general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to take a decision on the representation filed by the petitioner and pass appropriate order within three months.”
“Red ant chutney” is a mixture of red ants and green chillies. It is traditionally used as a remedy for flu, cough, common cold, breathing difficulties, fatigue and other ailments among the tribal belts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
It is believed that hot chutney has medical qualities as it contains antibacterial properties to combat infections in the digestive system.
It also contains protein, calcium and zinc content that is apparently good for the immune system.
This comes after a PIL, filed by a Baripada-based engineer Nayadhar Padhial, that sought the court’s direction against the alleged inaction on part of the research team on the proposal.
The research aims to probe the efficacy of red ant chutney as potential treatment for coronavirus.
