The AYUSH ministry on Tuesday dismissed claims that prolonged consumption of 'kadha', recommended as a preventive health measure for boosting immunity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, damages the liver, saying it is a "wrong notion" as ingredients used for preparing it are used in cooking at home. Speaking at a press briefing, secretary, AYUSH Ministry, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, said ingredients like cinnamon, basil and black pepper used for preparing the 'kadha' have a positive effect on the respiratory system.

The Ministry of AYUSH had in March issued some self-care guidelines as preventive health measures for boosting immunity with special reference to respiratory health amidst the coronavirus outbreak. As part of the guidelines, among other things, it recommended drinking herbal tea or 'kadha' (decoction) made from basil, cinnamon, black pepper, dry ginger, and raisins once or twice a day. "There is no evidence that it (kadha) damages the liver. It is a wrong notion because the ingredients that go into the 'kadha' are used as masala in cooking at home," Kotecha said.