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News wise — Eastern and Oriental medicine practitioners have long known that Ashwagandha, an herb commonly used in the 5,000-year old practice of Ayurvedic medicine, helps fight disease when used in combination with a liquid known as Anupana. Anupana may be derived from many different substances, from olive oil, to beer, to ghee. Each liquid is thought to have different properties, so an Ayurveda practitioner selects an Anupana that has the qualities that best fit a given situation. Traditionally, one method of administering Ashwagandha and milk was to boil them together.

A team of American researchers is examining whether drinking whole cows’ milk with the herb can increase the body’s white blood cells, which help boost immunity. They have found that it does.

This first-of-its-kind study was led by Heather Zwickey of the National College of Natural Medicine’s Helfgott Research Institute, Portland, OR, and her colleagues Jeremy Mikolai, Andrew Erlandsen, Andrew Murison, Will Gregory, Padma Raman-Caplan and Kimberly Brown. Mikolai, Erlandsen and Murison will be presenting the team’s findings during the 23rd annual meeting of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP; www.Naturopathic.org), being held August 13-16, 2008 in Phoenix, AZ. The full findings of the study are being published this fall.

Background:

According to Zwickey, investigations into herbal remedies rarely take into account how the herb has been administered throughout the tradition of the medicine’s life cycle, such as coupled or mixed with water, tea, or oil. While many consumers today may consume the herb with water or no liquid at all, researchers know that Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (WS)), has typically been taken with an Anupana substance. It is believed to aid in the digestion and effectiveness of the plant.

To determine if an anupana substance would help enhance Ashwagandha’s immune properties, the research team used milk in a co-administered intervention along with the herb extract. Cows’ milk was chosen over goats’ milk and other potential substances because Ayurvedic medicine considers it to be a strengthening, nutritive driver for medicines. This made it an appropriate choice for an immunological study. A follow-up study will compare the results of the herb extract alone to the combination of herb with milk and to placebo controls.
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A team of researchers led by an Indian scientist has found that an herbal extract of an Indian Frankincense Salai, commonly found in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, can effectively reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

The new study led by Siba Raychaudhuri, a faculty member of the University of California, Davis, in the United States found that arthritis patients taking the herbal remedy showed significant improvement in as little as seven days.

“The high incidence of adverse affects associated with currently available medications has created great interest in the search for an effective and safe alternative treatment,” she said.

During the study, the team conducted randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of 70 patients. The extract the researchers used was enriched with 30 pct AKBA (3-O-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid), which is thought to be the most active ingredient In the plant.

“AKBA has anti-inflammatory properties, and we have shown that Salai (also known as Boswellia serrata) enriched with AKBA can be an effective treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee,” she added.

B. serrata has been used for thousands of years in the Indian system of traditional medicine known as “Ayurveda”.

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Bangalore-based Himalaya Drug Company, which has pioneered the contemporization of Ayurveda through the use of scientific research, recently signed an MoU with the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore (UAS, B) to facilitate collaborative research on medicinal herbs and plants with a view to discovering new therapeutic drugs, building a corpus of knowledge on herbs and preserving endangered herbs and plants.

Himalaya will study herbs and plants in specific regions to understand therapeutic benefits and differences in therapeutic properties of herbs across regions; prepare joint research projects; while UAS will assist in training of farmers to promote better agricultural practices, study and documentation of rare, endangered herbs; facilitate joint research projects on tissue culture of rare and endangered herbs and assist Himalaya in setting up a herb garden that will be a centre for national and international research activities.

In addition, UAS will provide training to farmers under Himalaya’s contract farming Programme, assist Himalaya in setting up a botanical garden which would serve as a centre for national and international research activities and provide technical assistance and education to Himalaya scientists as the company moves towards its process of organic certification.

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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.

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BERHAMPUR: While scientists and renowned pharmaceutical firms all over the world are busy trying to find a cure for AIDS, an Ayurveda diploma holder of the city has claimed to have found a partial cure for the disease. Incidentally the man Sarat Acharya happens to be the second son of former chief minister Binayak Acharya.

Sarat, though a diploma holder, is a regular reader of palm-leaf books. He started preparing medicines way back in 1971 after going through the directions given in the books. He has already prepared medicines for asthma, hepatitis, and piles and cured many patients.

According to him, he came across the AIDS medicine when a patient with fungus in mouth approached him for treatment recently. Sarat reportedly found the symptoms of the disease in the book and cured the patient after preparing the medicines. Later, Sarat took up the task to ascertain the name of the disease from the books.

It took him about a fortnight to go through several rare old palm-leaf books available at various places of the district and he finally found out that the disease is called Dugdha Amla Pitto (DAP). After thorough study, he found the symptoms of AIDS in DAP and then came the curable medicine.

Quoting the palm leaf books, Sarat said while the internal medicine prepared from different herbals is meant to be consumed by the patients for at least three months; the external medicine needs to be applied on the foot of the patient for six months.

Describing the details of his finding, Sarat had apprised the National AIDS Research Institute, New Delhi, and some Ayurvedic research institutes seeking further advice on the matter.

Dr.Prasher from Vedanta Ayurveda, New Delhi, an herbal organization working on AIDS, responded and asked Sarat to send the details of the writer, language and period of the palm-leaf books as well to proceed in his research.

Sarat is currently treating two HIV patients and both are showing encouraging results after taking the medicines prescribed by Sarat.

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A workshop on “Launching the Outcome of the Ayurveda Research” made under Ayurveda Department Research Fund was held under the patronage of Minister of
Indigenous Medicine, Tissa Karaliyadda at the Bandaranaike Memorial Ayurvedic Research Institute, Navinna recently.

Minister of Indigenous Medicine Tissa Karaliyadda said that Ayurvedic research should be given priority as the government expects to take the treatment to International level.

The Borella Ayurveda Teaching Hospital, Ayurveda Research Institute, Ayurveda Drugs Corporation, Ruhunu University and Central Provincial Council jointly made the researches. Department of Ayurveda has spent Rs. 30 lakhs in this regard.

Over nine researches have been made under the project. Results of the researches made on diabetes, male infertility and dermatological disorders were launched at this workshop. Under multi-faceted research on cultivation of the bushy type Kothalahimbutu plantation for sustainable leaf/stem harvesting, survey on the food preparations of indigenous cereals and pulsars in Sri Lanka were also launched. Enhancing of the quality of drugs produced by Sri Lanka Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation and introduction of new products were submitted.

A team of doctors under Prof. Samarakoone has made research on producing drugs in crystal forms as remedy. They have successfully carried out the research on Tripal decoction. Research institute anticipates issuing this decoction in crystal form to the patients, after analyzing its chemical reaction. Borella Ayurvedic Teaching Hospital has commenced betel leaf treatment for diabetes patients. Patients are being treated on Mondays and Thursdays and achieved successful results.

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A recent research done by scholars of Burdwan University in the suburbs of Kolkata has shown that the berries of a wild weed used in Ayurvedic formulation can help to eradicate mosquitoes spreading dengue and act as a resistant to synthetic insecticide. The weed which helps in eradicating dengue is known as Solanum villosum which a member of the family of nightshade possessing medical properties and are used as Ayurvedic herbs.

About two fifth of the total population of the world is now at risk from dengue which is characterized by high fever, pain and rashes. Dengue haemorrhagic fever is the most complicated type which most likely affects children. In the recent years there have been quite a few deaths in Kolkata because of this disease. With this path breaking discovery a cure for Dengue is likely to be found soon.

This research has been carried out in the University of Burdwan where the juice from the berries have been extracted and used on the mosquitoes spreading yellow fever and dengue. The researchers have found out that the extracts of this weed is highly effective in killing the larvae of S.aegypti responsible for spreading dengue. The researchers claimed that the extracts of this weed is not as strong as Malathion but it has the capability to kill the mosquitoes of stagnant water.
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Thiruvananthapuram: UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday said the messages of universal love and total rejection of caste-ism were more relevant at a time now when religion was being used to divide people.

Speaking on the occasion of the foundation stone laying ceremony of the building of the Santhigiri Research Foundation at nearby Pothenkode, Gandhi said the founder of Santhigiri Ashram, Navajyothi Karunakara Guru’s messages on universal love and casteism were more applicable as religion was being used to trigger trouble.

The Santhigiri Research Foundation was at present operating as an umbrella body co-ordinating initiatives in research being conducted by its various wings including those of Ayurveda and Siddha systems.

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Clinical study of Ayurvedic Approach, Mamsagni Rasayana & Panch Karma in the Active Management Of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: 28 Patients

• Mukesh D Jain BSc BAMS MD PPHC (Apollo Hosp) FISCA FAMY (France)

• Prof M P Pandey Former Dean of Ayurveda, Ravi Shankar University, Program Director, Panch Karma Clinic on Neuro Muscular Disease, Sanjivani Ayurvedic Wellness Center, Supela, Bhilai 490023 India

Abstract:

A small care through clinical research trial involving Gold bhasma based Mamsagni Rasayana (MRG) along with Til-Mash pinda swedana, Shat-Bala Prasarni anuvasana vasti yielded mixed results in 28 boys with Duchenne Muscular dystrophy (DMD). Although this Ayurvedic program did not have the hope for the genetic effect of restoring dystrophin production, it did reduce serum CPK levels. This could be a sign of decreased muscle damage. It is possible that Ayurvedic treatment with MRG allow longer survival by increasing production of muscle CPK enzyme.

Introduction:

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a severe genetically x-linked progressive degenerative disorder of muscle tissue, affects only males. DMD is characterized by (i) Onset of muscle weakness usually before 4 years of age, (ii) Selective muscle involvement of pelvic and pectoral girdles, (iii) Hypertrophy of the calves muscle, (iv) grossly elevated serum CPK levels and (v) Relentlessly progressive weakness of muscle, leading to inability to work within 10 years of onset and later to contractures and thoracic deformity. There is no specific cure in any system of medicine and the death usually occurs before the age of 20 years caused by respiratory failure or less frequently by cardiac involvement.(1)

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