BY SANDRA GUY

Each day our online work intersects with thousands of people tweeting, blogging and otherwise sharing their coping mechanisms for sheltering in place.

The stories are as unique as snowflakes – and pose questions about what we’ll really learn from the coronavirus pandemic.

• Will we embrace patience, or rush headlong into our previous habits?

• Will we learn to be better environmental stewards, or jump back into guzzling every resource at our fingertips?

• Will we claim our responsibility for our own health because it has such radical implications for others’ health?

• Will people pressure legislators and policymakers to improve poor communities’ access to fresh fruits, vegetables, healthy foods and affordable healthcare?

Those huge questions remain to be answered.

They’re all anxiety provoking, and as everyone tries to simply maintain their perspectives, a central theme has emerged: The great effort spent in trying to relax, only for a moment, whether it’s ensuring a well-lit workspace or taking yoga-stretching breaks.

A popular option is to use essential oils – though there’s no U.S. government certification of them and they’re a no-no for children and allergy sufferers.

Those who wisely use diluted versions of these plant extracts tout the benefits of adding a drop or two of wintergreen to oil to relax tight muscles or adding lavender to bath salts for a soothing soak.

What if this philosophy led to a greater good, just as much as the challenges of our responsibilities to self-discipline, nature, society, healthcare and the environment?

One researcher hopes it will — by delving into the properties of Ashwagandha, a common Indian herb used in Ayurvedic medicine.

Chemically, powder from Ashwagandha’s roots contains compounds comprising 12 alkaloids, 40 withanolides and several sitoindosides and flavonoids isolated from different parts of the plant.

Studies indicate that Ashwagandha’s root power improves the body’s defense against chronic diseases, not only by boosting immunity, but also by producing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that protect against cellular damage caused by free radicals and inflammatory mediators.

Akhlaq A. Farooqui, a retired research scientist at The Ohio State University who now writes books on medical research, is working to isolate two of Ashwagandha’s compounds in pure form.

The goal is to conduct multi-center, double-blind clinical trials to see whether the compounds would work to ease symptoms of neurological disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, head injuries, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and the after-effects of stroke.

“Scientific validation and the documentation of Ayurvedic medicines are essential for their quality evaluation and global acceptance,” according to an article Farooqui co-wrote in a journal article.

Farooqui said the long-term goal would be to create a pharmaceutical tablet, but researchers would have to first understand the correct dosage and side effects even after clinical trials.