Effect of TeleYoga before COVID-19 and during pandemic: A Narrative Review

BACKGROUND

Yoga plays a beneficial adjunctive role in various disorders due to its physiological and psychological benefits. COVID-19 pandemic led to a paradigm shift in delivery of health interventions from on-site to online/ tele-intervention mode. Focus shifted to tele-yoga as a reasonable and feasible alternative to in-person yoga. Studies have evaluated its effect among patients suffering from various disorders, their care givers, healthcare workers, and the general public. We have assessed the effect of tele-Yoga, including its appropriateness, acceptability, and benefits, via this narrative review.

METHODS

We searched PubMed data base using predefined keywords. Inclusion criteria included controlled trials and Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) which are completed and published in English language up to February 2022 with tele-yoga/online yoga as part of intervention. Exclusion criteria included articles in other language or articles whose full text is unavailable .

RESULTS

After removing duplications and reviewing articles based on title, abstracts, and available full texts, seven studies with 391 participants were included. Majority of the trials took place in United States, with United Kingdom, Canada, and India following closely behind. Yoga can be safely administered via various online /tele interventions in both diseased and healthy individuls. Tele yoga or modules incorporating tele-yoga has been shown to improve symptoms like dyspnea ,psychiatric/psychological burden including stress,anxiety and depression levels and may promote positive effects like spirituality.

CONCLUSION

Tele-yoga is feasible and beneficial in healthy and diseased individuals. Larger well-designed RCTs comparing in-person yoga with tele-yoga are needed to ascertain their full benefits.

Effects of Active Compounds of Nigella sativa in COVID-19: A Narrative Review

BACKGROUND

SARS-CoV-2 infection that led to the COVID-19 pandemic has changed human health and the economy globally. SARS CoV-2 is a type of Coronaviruses that has caused pneumonia and its complications with many deaths over the past two years. The use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, accepted as generally safe for patients with autoimmune diseases or malaria, was attempted in many trials for COVID-19 treatment. Nigella sativa (NS) (black caraway, also known as black cumin, nigella or Kalonji) is an annual flowering plant of the Ranunculaceae family, chemically composed of the main constituent natural Thymoquinone (TQ) (30%- 48%) in forms of thymohydroquinone, dithymoquinone (Nigellone) is a native to wider regions, including parts of eastern Europe, west Asia, North of Africa and east of Myanmar. In this review, we explored the Randomized Controlled Trial, Controlled Trial, and Systematic review studies that support Nigella sativa Thymoquinone-targeted SARS-CoV-2 targeting. Therefore, A literature search was performed for publications published on the electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CNKI, and Google Scholar) for Nigella sativa, black seeds, Kalonji, coronavirus, SARS-CoV -2 and COVID-19. This review aimed to find relevant evidence of Nigella sativa preferences as a natural feasible remedy with no side effects in COVID-19. Studies reported the benefits of NS as beneficial, another appropriate remedy for patients with COVID-19. However, all studies have shown limitations, such as limiting clinical symptom outcomes due to regulations imposed by isolation policies and lack of adequate funding. Therefore, the evidence suggests that the chemical contents of NS are a safe and possible treatment for COVID-19 patients that helps to improve COVID-19 infection in patients with no side effects.

CONCLUSION

Nigella sativa seeds were one of the well-documented herbal products. Three reviewed randomized controlled trials reported that NS reduced covid-19 risk and could improve immune function. It was also helpful in upper respiratory infections such as asthma and bronchitis, with one RCT showing that honey and NS significantly improved symptoms, viral clearance, and mortality of COVID-19 patients. This review concludes that NS has a positive barrier effect on people at risk of acquiring a COVID-19 infection.