Archive for the ‘Education Buzz’ category

Nod to B-Pharma courses at Paprola college

June 1st, 2009

Shimila: The Government of India has given its approval to the state government to start B-Pharmacy courses at Rajiv Gandhi Government Ayurvedic College, Paprola, from the coming academic session.

Ayurveda adviser to the Government of India Dr SK Sharma stated this here today. He said the government had already released Rs 2 crore to Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, for running the classes. Besides, the government had also allowed this college to start BSc and MSc nursing courses. It had also sanctioned Rs 3 crore for this programme and out of this amount first instalment of Rs 2 crore had already been sent to the state government. He said if the state government provides necessary infrastructure then these courses could also start from this academic session.

He said if the government filled the vacant posts of teaching staff in Paprola college then postgraduate programme for panchkarma, rog nidan, bal rog, swasth brit and dravya gun could be introduced.

250 ayurveda-related manuscripts digitised

May 19th, 2009

PUNE: A Hyderabad-based ayurveda institute has digitised about 250 manuscripts on ayurveda which are currently archived at the city-based Bharat Itihaas Sanshodhak Mandal. For this purpose, the Indian Institute of History of Medicine (IIHM) in Hyderabad had sent a team of five research scholars to digitise the manuscripts. The work which began on April 24 winded up on May 13.

The manuscripts date back to the 15th century right through to the 19th century, and are written in Marathi, Modi, Sanskrit, Bengali, Kannada, Urdu, Persian and Hindi. “The manuscripts are very informative regarding various issues related to health, for instance, proper eating habits, effective herbal medicines and concoctions and the like. The digitised versions of these documents will be used for further study by the Hyderabad-based institute,” said research scholar Bhujan Bobade, who is coordinating the digitisation process for the five-member team. He is currently associated with Hyderabad-based Andhra Pradesh Manuscript Library and Research Institute (APMLRI).

Read the complete article at source – TOI.

New Medical Varsity to come up in Kerala by next year

February 6th, 2009

Thrissur, Kerala: The proposed Kerala University of Medical and Allied Sciences will start functioning from next year, Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy has said. She was speaking after inaugurating the project office of the proposed university on the Thrissur Government Medical College Hospital campus.

She hoped the project would achieve considerable progress in the next few months. Health Secretary Usha Titus said that courses would begin in the university from the 2010-2011 academic year.

“The proposed university will have departments of various medical disciplines like Modern Medicine, Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Unani and allied subjects. The departments will be developed as centres of excellence with modern research facilities,” she said. The university will be set up on about 75 acres on the Thrissur Government Medical College campus.

Banaras University scientists claim chickpeas can cure Leukoderma

January 31st, 2009

Varanasi, Jan.30 : Scientists at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Uttar Pradesh have claimed that chickpeas or, Choley as they are known in local parlance here can cure Leukoderma, a chronic skin disease that causes loss of pigmentation, resulting in white patches on the skin.

So far there has been no knowledge of any kind of permanent and certain treatment for curing Leukoderma. Moreover, the allopathic medicines and ointments are not only expensive but also fail to cure the disease permanently.

peas.jpgScientists have found that application of a poly-herbal ointment with chickpeas as its base can effectively treat Leukoderma. “We used lot of things to cure Leukoderma, but never been successful in curing this disease. This time we are curing patients by putting chickpea ointment on their affected areas. We also recommend the patients to consume lot of chickpeas in their regular diet too,” said S.N. Ojha, one of the doctors.

Amino acids found in chickpeas promote synthesis of melanin (skin pigment) formation cells, regenerate the pigment cells and help treat the chronic skin disorder. “When we took up this project, we followed the Ayurvedic methodology to prepare an ointment to cure this disease. In Ayurveda, it is mentioned that chickpea can cure the problem of Leukoderma. The ointment made out of chickpea protein is very effective on patients suffering from Leukoderma,” said Yamini Bhushan Tripathi, a scientist at the Medicinal Chemistry Department of BHU.

Although Leukoderma is not a contagious disease, it is viewed as leprosy, an object of social stigma. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body starts producing antibodies that destroy cells known as melanocytes giving the skin its normal colour.

Ayurvedic Students press for re-evaluation

January 16th, 2009

Patna, India: Students of an Ayurveda College under the Baba Saheb Bihar University, demanded re-evaluation of their test papers, by nearly stripping, to attract the attention of the passers-by and the powers that be, chanted anti-Vice Chancellor and anti-examination controller slogans. They said because of massive irregularities in the evaluation of the test papers, students who had earned over 80% in one paper were given zero in others.

They found it impossible to believe that while in the state colleges, 95% of the Ayurvedic students were able to pass, in the private institutions the success rate was a meager 5 to 7% only. The protesters demanded re-evaluation of their test papers saying they would continue to protest until action was taken to address their grievance.

Manipal University launching courses in alternative medicines

December 30th, 2008

Manipal: Alternative medicines such as Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy will soon be part of the curriculum of Manipal University.

This was announced by H.S. Ballal, Pro-Chancellor of the varsity on Monday during the inaugural session of a two-day national workshop “Ayurvision – 2008″ focusing on “Recent advances in Amavata” (rheumatologic diseases). The workshop was organized by the Kasturba Medical College and Hospital.

Prof. Ballal said, “Manipal University has yet to get approval from the regulatory body to start courses in alternative medicines.”

Ayurveda has bright prospects. The biggest factor that favours Ayurvedic medicines is that they do not have toxic effects. But, a lot of work needs to be done to bring in standardization of Ayurvedic medicines.

Some herbs were being used in Allopathic medicines also. Ayurveda was popular in the western countries and a lot of research on it was being done there.

“An agreement has been signed between the Himalaya Drug Company and the Manipal Life Science Centre, a constituent of Manipal University. The varsity wants to develop Ayurvedic medicines on a scientific basis,” added Prof. Ballal.

Punjab Govt grants approval to set up Ayurvedic University in Hoshiarpur

September 3rd, 2008

Chandigarh: Punjab cabinet which met here Wednesday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has granted its approval to the setting up of Ayurvedic University in the State.

An official spokesman said that the University would be located in the foot- hills of the Shivalik range in Hoshiarpur district known for its rich and exotic fauna and flora. The district had been chosen since its soil is congenial for the growth of herbal medicine parks which were supplementary and complementary for the promotion of Ayush in Punjab.

The need for this university which would be only the 3rd in the world of its kind was felt in view of the growing awareness of alternative system of medicine to promote Ayush which covered Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani Siddha and Homeopathy apart from Ayurveda which were earlier popular in large number of states of our country have now caught global imagination with many countries of Asian, European and American continents evincing deep interest in these.

With growing popularity and wide acceptability of Ayurvedic and Yoga, India had now become a major medical Tourism Center for international tourists as a sizable chunk of Medical Tourists preferred Ayurvedic medicinal treatment as a traditional health care system.

Cabinet Okays combined medical university in Kerala

August 22nd, 2008

In Thiruvanthapuram the Kerala governments gave the green signal for setting up a medical university in Thrissur. The Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan gave details about the university to the reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting. On Thursday gave nod for the formation of a combined university for all systems of medicines with separate board of studies, faculty and board of examination for each stream.

The proposed Kerala University for Medical and Allied Sciences will handle all the academic activities, including the conduct of examinations from 2009-10. Before this all the colleges under each stream including paramedical colleges would be affiliated to this university. The University Act and statute will be formulated within six months and will be presented in the Assembly.

For deciding the policy matters of the university, the government has appointed a high-level committee headed by Health Minister P K Sreemathi in which the secretaries of Health, Higher Education & medical education heads from allopathy, Ayurveda and homoeo have been made members. Dr Usha Titus has been appointed as the project director.
» Read more: Cabinet Okays combined medical university in Kerala

Zen Resort Bali Surya Meditation and Ayurveda Retreat: Inner Peace…

August 20th, 2008

Zen Resort Bali Surya Meditation and Ayurveda Retreat: Inner Peace and Divine Healing Power with Swathimaa and Raymond Prohs

Zen Resort situated in a serene and peaceful environment in north Bali, surrounded by rice fields, vineyards and natural forest, is the venue of this September 2008 Bali Surya meditation and Ayurveda retreat with international healers and renowned teachers Swathimaa and Raymond Prohs, both senior students of the Indian Saint Sri Kaleshwar who is the first to reveal the actual spiritual practices of India’s saints to Western students.

Zen resorts’ secluded location and pristine nature is idyllic to appreciate and connect with the nature’s elemental forces, the sky, earth, air, water and fire, which according to Vedic understanding account for all Creation and provide the hidden natural powers to balance our energy and mobilize the natural processes to heal ourselves and achieve inner peace, realize contentment in life and living and thus experience the Divine.

The Bali Surya retreat is designed to relax, heal and rejuvenate the body, mind, heart and soul. Through out the day, the resorts’ soothing and inspiring music and Sanskrit chants will help you to gently detach from your personal concerns and worries.

The daily retreat program begins with sunrise Surya meditation and a morning of yoga and time for eco-forest walks, rice field trekking, along a secluded beach or simply slumbering in a hammock or on a sun-bed getting a tan while reading and thinking of personal resolutions to change course for a more sustainable and satisfying life style and living.

At noon there is an hour of Surya meditation and water exercises in the infinity pool merging with the rice field terraces and the sea horizon beyond. The early afternoon is devoted to satsangs and seminar discussions as well as personal Sai Shakti healing consultations with Swathimaa and Raymond. In the late afternoon it is time for Ayuvredic consultation and treatments designed according to each individual’s personal constitution and health assessment. Following dinner under the stars, the retreat group gathers around a cozy fire for an evening of singing and chanting to relax for a night of deep sleep.
» Read more: Zen Resort Bali Surya Meditation and Ayurveda Retreat: Inner Peace…

Leech therapy ‘cures’ paralysis, osteo-arthritis

July 18th, 2008

Lucknow: There is new hope for those suffering from diseases like paralysis, osteo-arthritis, hair-fall and skin disorders. The “Kaya Chikitsa” department of the Faculty of Ayurveda in the Institute of Medical Sciences at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) now offers treatment of these diseases through the leech therapy. Ayurveda experts at the BHU have been successfully using blood-sucking leeches to treat human ailments, including paralysis and osteo-arthritis.

“We have treated many complex cases of osteo-arthritis, skin disorders like leucoderma, alopecia (type of baldness), paralysis induced by brain thrombosis, besides filarial and diabetic wounds which usually take time to heal,” says Dr O.P. Singh, an expert in the leech-based prick and suck therapy.

The leeches, that often feared by humans for their blood sucking power, embody chemical enzymes which can work as catalyst in treatment of human ailments, by diluting blood clots in the infected body part, reducing the pain of the diseased part and ultimately improving the blood circulation in the problematic body area.

“Once the leech is allowed to prick and suck blood from infected body part of the patient, it not only sucks away the infected blood, but also salivates the treating attributes of the chemical enzymes into the patient’s body,’’ Dr Singh explained.

Giving the details of the procedure of the treatment process, Dr Singh said the leeches, before being administered on the patient’s body, were kept in a bowl of turmeric water that act as disinfectant and activating agent for the disease-treating leeches. The leeches are then set upon the infected part of the patient’s body to prick and suck blood.

» Read more: Leech therapy ‘cures’ paralysis, osteo-arthritis