Exploiting ayurveda’s success

As in any field, with success comes associated problems. Ayurveda’s recent successes and universal acceptance might lead to dilution in it’s quality. Also we’ll see treatments and massages being done by persons not really qualified for those tasks. Best example is Yoga, with it’s acceptance world over, there’s been an explosion in the number of Yoga gurus and fly-by-night operators. We hope that government would take proactive steps to keep the quality of Ayurveda treatments intact. Here’s a recent article appeared in Times of India:

There were even reports about raids being carried out at some of the centres for immoral activities, said Indulal.

“This would even paint a wrong picture about this ancient system of medicine not only among the people of the country but also the foreigners who show interest in Ayurveda.”

Unlike other streams of treatment like Allopathy and Homeopathy, Ayurveda has treatments that help rejuvenation and wellness. This trait makes it vulnerable to be excessively commercialised, he said.

“To do an oil massage as per the Ayurvedic texts, we need seven therapists and a systematic method has to be adopted as per the advice of the doctor. The choice of oil, massage, preparations etc are prescribed after evaluating the condition of the patient.” [Massage Parlours - threat to Ayurveda]

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Ayurveda in America

This article was written by Francis C. Assissi, who has had a lifelong interest in India’s indigenous medical systems and closely follows current research on ayurveda. This article was initially published in India Currents Magazine.

Interest in ayurveda emerged as Americans started to question the tenets of their own health care system. Today, nearly three decades after it was first transplanted in American soil by Indian pioneers such as Dr. Vasant Lad, and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, ayurveda is still struggling to establish roots as well as legitimacy.

The dissemination of ayurveda in America continues as a result of the confluence of several trends: Indian and American doctors and health scientists approaching the tradition on a more scientific basis; Western doctors and researchers recognizing that ayurveda offers much that they do not know; ayurvedic doctors (vaidyas) from India setting up consultations; and patients seeking non-Western healing modalities.

Most importantly, the signing of the Health Freedom Act (SB 577) in California is seen as a landmark event towards the legitimization of ayurveda and other forms of CAM in America. The bill, which became effective January 2003, allows trained practitioners of alternative and complementary health care to legally provide and advertise their services. It provides that a person is not in violation of certain provisions of the Medical Practice Act (that prohibit the practice of medicine by anyone who is not a licensed physician) as long as that person does not engage in certain specified medical acts. Similar laws have also been passed in Rhode Island and Minnesota.[Ayurveda in America: From Marginality to Legitimacy]

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Turmeric – Curecumin?

The omni present ingredient of Indian cuisine, turmeric, is getting a lot of attention these days. Here’s report on extensive research done on turmeric in an American university.

The researchers state that although turmeric (Curcuma longa; an Indian spice) has been described in Ayurveda, as a treatment for inflammatory diseases and is referred by different names in different cultures, the active principle called curcumin or diferuloylmethane, a yellow pigment present in turmeric (an ingredient in curry powder) has been shown to exhibit numerous activities.

Extensive research over the last half century has revealed several important functions of curcumin, the researchers claim in a review essay scheduled for publication this month in Biochemical Pharmacology. The researchers are Ajay Goel of the Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, and Ajaikumar B. Kunnumakkara and Bharat B. Aggarwal of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. Aggarwal is considered to be the world’s leading authority on curcumin.

The report goes on to reveal a long list of potential therapeutic benefits derived from using up to 12 g of curcumin.

The researchers claim that various preclinical cell-culture and animal studies suggest that curcumin has potential as an antiproliferative, anti-invasive, and antiangiogenic agent; as a mediator of chemoresistance and radioresistance; as a chemopreventive agent; and as a therapeutic agent in wound healing, diabetes, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, and arthritis.[turmeric moves from kitchen shelf to clinic]

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What Government is doing …

Here’s a press release from Ministry of Health, was given as written reply to a question in Parliament by Minister of state for Health and family welfare Smt.Panabaka Lakshmi:

The agricultural and processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) of Ministry of Commerce and Industry has conducted study on medicinal and aromatic plants.  The objective of the study was to identify, market opportunities for India in the medicinal and aromatic plants domain and to coin strategies to promote exports.  India is the second largest exporter of medicinal plants.  The Government has taken following steps to promote Indian herbal medicines in the global market:

I.          Testing for heavy metals in all purely herbal Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medicines to be exported has been introduced with effect from 01.01.06 onwards.  This has been done to meet the regulatory requirements of importing countries.

II.          Under Centrally Sponsored Scheme, 29 State Drug Testing Laboratories have been strengthened and 26 Pvt. Drug Testing Laboratories and other NABL accredited laboratories have been approved for testing of ASU drugs in the country.
[Indian herbal medicines in Global market]

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Roadblocks for Ayurveda exports

A huge number of europeans come to India seeking ayurveda treatments and remedies. But you might find it strange that European Union have placed almost insurmountable hurdles for Ayurvedic medicines export.

Exporters have been strapped by a European Union (EU) stipulation that requires 30 years safe usage data. This effectively prevents the entry of new players from India who also face the possibility of being blacklisted for the presence of heavy metals in their medicines.

The absence of an official system that certifies or guarantees the quality of the export consignment has also curtailed exports of herbal medicines.

Ayurvedic products to be marketed in EU countries require data on safe usage for 30 years, including 15 years of documented safe usage in an EU country, While many ayurvedic drugs have been in use in the country for decades, exporters have found it difficult to get data on safe usage for 15 years from any EU member country. [EU stipulation a hurdle for herbal exports]

Our Ayurveda remedies were being used for centuries, but it’s a shame that our exporters are facing this dilemma. Government of India should take this up with EU and try to ease the path for the exporters.

[For information on Ayurveda resorts please visit www.ayurvedatravelmall.com]

Real Story – Fight against fatigue

Here’s a story of an English woman who battled and won against chronic fatigue with help of Ayurveda…

By 2003, says Wilkinson, every part of her life was affected by tiredness. She had given up her career and had space to take stock. “In 2004 I began to train as a counsellor; I was used to academic work from university, but now even writing essays felt so hard because of the constant fatigue.” Although medical professionals advise going to see your doctor first, to eliminate anything serious, Lauren didn’t consult her GP: “It didn’t occur to me there might be an answer.” That was, until she heard friends enthusiastically discussing Ayurveda.

Wilkinson had her first appointment with the Ayurvedic practitioner Sascha Kriese in November 2005. Kriese, who took a degree in Ayurvedic medicine at Thames Valley University, began the session, as always, by taking her pulse, using three fingers placed on her wrist. Pulse reading is a key diagnostic method in Ayurveda. According to a crucial Ayurvedic concept called the tri-dosha system, the human body is governed by three constitutional hu-mours – the manifestations of the five fundamental elements in our body – called doshas: vata, pitta and kapha. In a healthy body, the three doshas are balanced; if they fall out of balance, ill-health will result.[Wide awake diet]

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Economist article on Ayurveda

Prestigious Economist’s magazine’s latest issue has an article on ayurveda. It details resurgence of ayurveda and Government of India’s efforts to invigorate it.

MODERN, Western medicine tends to pooh-pooh its herbal cousin. It is true that synthetic pharmaceuticals are purer, more reliable and often more effective than herbs. But many of them have herbal origins, and the sight of pharmacists botanising (collecting herbs from the countryside for sale as medicine) was common in Europe within living memory.

India, too, has a long tradition of herbal medicine, and its government is keen that this tradition should be brought into the mainstream, to the profit of the country’s burgeoning drug industry. To that end, it is spending about $40m on what is known as the Golden Triangle Partnership, to assess the country’s herbs scientifically, and select those suitable for serious investigation. [Growing Wiser]

Ayurveda Clothes !!!

Don’t question the effectiveness of such an attire, but at least it’s a testimony of growing popularity of Ayurveda.

 Threads for Life, the first Ayurvedic apparel company in the US, successfully launched its first collection at Sunya Currie Collection at 1130 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice, California. Infused with over 25 medicinal plants and herbs to help address both serious and every day ailments, each garment is 100% organic and woven by hand. A socially responsible and environmentally friendly company, Threads for Life addresses alternative healing availabilities for conscientiously aware consumers by providing beautiful and functional garments and accessories, ideal for a healthy and healing lifestyle.

Based in the 5,000 year-old medicinal science of Ayurveda, each Threads for Life garment is infused by hand with unique formulas to address various emotional and physical health challenges. Through the trans-dermal process of fiber to skin contact, the herbs and plants are diffused into the pores of skin to restore vitality and balance for healing and optimum health. [Threads For Life Launches Organic Clothing Line]

Efforts on revival of Guggul cultivation

Faced with dwindling supplies of  ayurvedic medicinal plant Guggul, Ayurveda industry,government and various ayurveda bodies are trying to revive the cultivation of this plant.

It’s a wonder shrub that is giving India’s Rs 5,000 crore-worth ayurveda industry sleepless nights. Guggul, a four-metre shrub, known for its powers of reducing high cholesterol levels besides bringing relief to patients suffering from rheumatic arthritis and thyroid, has started to disappear from India.

Even though the gummy resin, harvested from the plant’s bark through tapping, is used in over 100 ayurvedic formulations, 90% of the industry’s requirement for the plant is met by Pakistan.[Magic shrub to get a revival]