Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a huge turmoil and an existential crisis and most countries are experiencing unprecedented challenges related to healthcare, social, political and economic systems. As the pandemic situation in India was improving after the massive disruptions caused by COVID-19, the second wave arrived. WHO reports indicate that India is now home to nearly 43% of the global new cases of COVID-19 and the numbers continue to soar exponentially as this goes to print.

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... ring substantial burden of the global COVID-19 deaths now, India's healthcare system is overburdened and overwhelmed. India managed the first wave with a relatively lower fatality rate than most of the developed countries. The main reasons attributed to the milder assault and a safe escape include the demographic profile of younger population, lower obesity prevalence, and crossimmunity from other coronaviruses. In addition, although largely undocumented, the role of home-based, deep-rooted traditional health practices particularly, by the underprivileged social strata cannot be undermined. Data from the AYUSH Sanjivani App developed by the Ministry of AYUSH (MoA), Govt of India, indicates that over 80% of Indians have used simple home remedies and traditional medicine for prevention and to a lesser extent for treatment of mild-moderate COVID-19. A public health approach of traditional medicine and yoga in prophylaxis of COVID-19 has been well-recognized [1] . However, today the situation is rapidly changing with the second wave and the entry of mutant strains. This time, the virus seems to have arrived back with a stronger assault and has created a much larger cloud of fear, panic and anxiety.