This petition seeks to conduct a proper scientific inquiry into the touted 'immunity boosting' effect of Arsenicum Album that is distributed during COVID-19 under the recommendation of AYUSH, India. A responsible government should not propagate such unscientific claims which can potentially cause harm at a community level.

The effect of Arsenic in the body at even in minute concentrations can be unpredictable and potentially lethal. There has been evidence of immunity lowering effect to carcinogenic effect of Arsenic when ingested even at concentrations of few hundred micrograms per litre. Secondly, the idea of 'immunity-booster' is in itself unscientific, immunity being not an ever-protective shield but more of a double-edged sword. Thirdly, since the founding principles of Homeopathy itself have been refuted internationally, and any effect beyond placebo has been debunked, such an unscientific measure should not come from a responsible government, especially at the time of a pandemic.

Hence we urge the governments-both central and state, to conduct a thorough scientific inquiry for evidence before conducting such a large scale public health intervention, and withhold the distribution of Arsenicum Album which can cause another slow epidemic of its own- both psychological and physical. 

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/arsenic

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/12/no-scientific-case-homeopathy-remedies-pharmacists-placebos

https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthy-eating/what-can-you-do-to-improve-your-immune-system