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News wise — An analysis of Ayurvedic medicines (based on a traditional medical system commonly used in India) purchased via the Internet found that one-fifth of these products contain levels of lead, mercury or arsenic that exceed acceptable standards, according to a study in the August 27 issue of  Journal of the American Medical Association.

Ayurvedic medicines are used by a majority of India’s 1.1 billion populations and worldwide by people from South Asia, as well as others. “However, since 1978 more than 80 cases of lead poisoning associated with Ayurvedic medicine use have been reported worldwide,” the authors write.

Ayurvedic medicines are divided into two major types: herbal-only and Rasa shastra, which is an ancient practice of deliberately combining herbs with metals (e.g., mercury, lead, iron, and zinc), minerals (e.g., mica) and gems (e.g., pearl). Rasa shastra experts claim that these medicines, if properly prepared and administered, are safe and therapeutic. The prevalence of metals in Ayurvedic medicines sold via the Internet and in those manufactured in the United States is unknown.

Robert B. Saper, M.D., M.P.H., of Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, and colleagues conducted a study to determine the prevalence of Ayurvedic medicines available via the Internet containing detectable lead, mercury, or arsenic and compared the prevalence of toxic metals between U.S. - and Indian-manufactured products, and in Rasa shastra vs. non–rasa shastra medicines.
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Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Dr Raman Singh released ayurvedic book by well known doctor Mukesh Jain in which simple treatment of serious ailments are presented. The book under the title “Fight & Win Ailments of Modern Era with Ayurvedic Treatment” is based on latest scientific research in Ayurveda.

Chhattisgarh: Focusing that Ayurveda is effective in the prevention of serious ailments; Dr Raman Singh said Ayurveda is now posed to be a global movement. The recent book by Dr Mukesh Jain will be distributed among the Western community and media during International Ayurvedic events scheduled in Chicago (US) and Burstein (Germany). Dr Jain has been invited to attend these functions.

Forwarded by Padma Shri Prof. Dr. Mahadev Pandey, the book contains  authentic information on how to discover simple treatment and enhance our body immunity against Arthritis, Sciatica, Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Thyroid,  Migraine, Parkinson’s, Obesity, Neuro-Muscular weakness and to prevent Cancer & HIV infection.

Congratulating the author BR Jain, Industrialist from Bhilai said there are many diseases which are chronic and there are no remedies in Allopathic Medicine. Ayurveda is a solution for such illnesses because Ayurveda treatment is done for the root cause of the problem. It is note worthy that Dr Mukesh Jain is well known practitioner of Ayurveda and Panch Karma. He has taken ayurvedic research work and imparted instructions to various citizen forums in 6 countries in Asia and Europe. He has also introduced holistic health camps for making common people aware about various health problems.

Present on the occasion were Minister Ajay Chandrakar, MLA Gauri Shankar Agrawal, Dr Ravi Khichariya, Dr Rajesh Verma, and publisher Nand Kishore Gupta.

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The “Free Medical Dictionary” is a new website that goes into the art and science of healing (Medicine)

Tel-Aviv, Israel (PRWEB) August 19, 2008 — A new Online Medical Dictionaries website (www.medical-dictionaries.org) has been launched lately. The dictionaries are dedicated to providing definitions to medical terminology found in the medical news today.

The Medical Dictionaries website provides quick access to difficult, hard to spell and frequently misspelled medical terms with easy-to-understand definitions and explanations of thousands of medical terms. The Free Medical Dictionary includes over 30 Health and medical dictionaries covering a myriad of medical fields, such as alternative medicine, healthcare, digestive and kidney diseases, women’s health, nutrition and diet, , treatment, prevention of disease and more. The Free Medical Dictionary is free of charge and is ideal for both medical professionals and laypersons alike.

Among others, the Free Medical Dictionary features the Aging Hearts and Arteries Glossary discussing aging and cardiovascular diseases and NDIC Diabetes Dictionary, by the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC), which provides phonetic transcription of the terms with explanations and information about diabetes.

“Health is something that preoccupies most us” says Dalia Grant, medical-dictionaries.org Content Manager. “This free online Medical Dictionaries website has been designed with the intent to cover a vast array of medical terminology focusing on health, diseases and conditions, pharmacology, treatments and much more to better understand and communicate with medical professionals”.

For additional information on the free online Medical Dictionaries, visit http://www.medical-dictionaries.org/

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From time immemorial, people in India have relied upon Ayurveda, the science of life as the means of therapy.

In Sanskrit language, “Ayur” means life and “Veda” is scientific scripture. Though Ayurvedic medicines are herbal-based, there are many other formulations that are organic in their composition. However, modern medicines and therapies from the West, Allopathy, in particular, have almost eclipsed the traditional concept of Ayurvedic medicines.

The City Corporation of Pune, considering these facts, with an objective to create mass awareness on the relevance of Ayurveda and related medicinal plants, has earmarked a park exclusively to nurture Ayurvedic herbs.

There are over 300 species of Ayurvedic plants grown exclusively in this garden and the authorities intend to bring in more of medicinal plants. Visitors to the park are also enlightened about identifying the plants so that if such herbs exist in their backyard garden or the neighborhood, these will be taken care of as ready means of home remedies.

“This medicinal or Ayurvedic garden is been developed with the aim to make people aware of the various medicinal plants that can be used in our homes from day to day. We’ve planted many medicinal plants that can help cure ailments at our home like sore throat, upset stomach, gastritis problems and many more. People using these plants need not visit a doctor but cure the diseases at their homes. Here there are over 300 species of Ayurvedic herbs planted here,” said Santosh, Assistant Garden Superintendent, Herbal Garden, Pune.
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Dabur Research Foundation (DRF), the 29-year-old, not-for-profit organization that spearheads the research activities of the Dabur group, may soon become a standalone drug discovery firm to undertake international collaborative research programmes for the development of patented medicines. The bifurcation move comes close on the heels of the sale of Dabur Pharma to German healthcare major Fresenius SE.

“All DRF scientists engaged in generic (off-patent) oncology drug development business have been shifted to Dabur Pharma. DRF will now focus purely on drug discovery programmes,” DRF Chairman Anand Burman said. He declined to divulge the details of the ongoing collaborative research programmes due to confidentiality clauses, but hinted that at least one research is in the area of oncology.

According to him, continuing drug research, even after selling off their drug company, makes sense as DRF has been fashioned as an independent research entity.

While over 100 scientists moved out of DRF to be part of the research team of Dabur Pharma, majority of other scientists conducting research in areas like Ayurveda, Phytopharma, biotechnology, personal care products and food were shifted from DRF to Dabur India’s in-house research wing. DRF is now left with its drug discovery scientists and pursues at least three drug discovery programmes in collaboration with foreign universities and companies.

Though the Dabur Pharma website lists out the contract research services offered by DRF, Burman said the promoters are yet to take a final view on the future research programmes of DRF.

Fresenius, which closed Dabur acquisition on August 11, has acquired the rights for all existing products that have come out of DRF. “All discoveries that have been commercialized have gone to Fresenius, besides the patented nanotechnology-based drug delivery system and the entire team of scientists engaged in generic drug discovery research at DRF. Fresenius will continue at the same location for a short period,” Burman said.

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Enters into a JV with Nagarjuna Ayurvedic Treatment Services, Kochi

Travel Org has entered into a Joint Venture (JV) with Nagarjuna Ayurvedic Treatment Services (NATS) in Kochi to tap the wellness segment, especially those seeking Ayurveda treatments in India, US, UK and Dubai. Travel org has announced that it will soon launch Crest Ayurveda, a new division of its medical services to cater to the Wellness Tourism segment. Crest Ayurveda will offer services and treatments at five and four-star hotels and resorts. In India the division will focus on Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and other major cities.

Commenting on the Joint Venture, Venkatesh K, CEO, and Travel Org offered, “Through this JV, we will handle the marketing of Crest Ayurveda and infrastructure aspect, while NATS will provide for the medical treatment services. We have been convinced that Nagarjuna Ayurveda serves to propagate and popularize Ayurveda with keen focus on authentic Ayurveda treatments thereby incorporating modern research and technology to answer current health problems with world class standards.”

Travel Org’s subsidiary - The Signature Crest, a leading chain of fully furnished serviced apartments is also expanding internationally. According to Venkatesh, a six-room villa started operations recently in London and plans are afoot to set-up luxurious service apartments in Singapore, Dubai, Colombo and Kandy. The properties will target the corporate segment offering them all services with an Indian touch.

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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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Kochi: Kerala’s Rs600 crore organized Ayurveda industry is embarking on an expansion and quality improvement drive as it braces to compete with retail giants moving into its turf. After a joint venture with state agencies to ensure uniform testing and manufacturing facilities, the industry wants to set up an Ayurveda export promotion council to boost exports.

The impulsion for the drive comes from the entry of firms such as Reliance Retail, through its Reliance Wellness unit, Hindustan Unilever Ltd’s (HUL’s) Ayush and Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd’s Tulsi brand of Ayurveda drugs and health centres.

Their entry into the ancient Indian system of health care is a sign of “the appeal Ayurveda holds for consumers”, says P.R. Krishna Kumar, head of the Confederation for Ayurvedic Renaissance Keralam Pvt. Ltd (CARe-Keralam), a group of 15 Ayurveda firms that are trying to reinforce the strength of their traditional knowledge of the “science of life” with marketing muscle.

Vaidyaratnam Oushadasala, which makes and markets Ayurvedic drugs and runs a nursing home, plans to set up 500 retail outlets across the country in two years, taking the total to 1,500, said managing partner E.T. Neelakandhan Mooss. The outlets will have a qualified Ayurveda doctor to attract patients. The firm has two manufacturing units, and will set up a third at Pollachi in Tamil Nadu to take advantage of the availability of herbs and cheap labour there. Vaidyaratnam also proposes to double the bed capacity of its nursing home at Thrissur in Kerala to 200.

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KOLKATA: Domestic FMCG major Dabur India, which has identified the consumer health care segment as a prime growth driver, is soon going to rejig its product portfolio. The company has decided to focus on over-the-counter (OTC) products for lifestyle problems, as part of its plans to make Ayurveda contemporary for modern day consumers.

For starters, Dabur has identified gastro intestine, stress, rejuvenation and pain as areas for future product roll-out. The company’s research arm—Dabur Research Foundation—is already working on developing multiple products for these segments. As part of its strategy, it plans to develop a portfolio of at least 7-8 lifestyle products by year-end.

“Our internal research suggested there are no natural or Ayurvedic products for the burgeoning lifestyle diseases. Hence, we have decided to focus on OTC products for such problems. As a result, we expect to increase the contribution of OTC segment to consumer health care division’s (CHD) Rs 155-crore turnover from 60% to 80% in two years,” Dabur India executive director (CHD) Depend Gang told ET.In line with this, the company is in the process of rolling out three new products—Bhringraj Ayurvedic Tel (a hair fall control oil), Super Thanda Tel (a cooling oil) and Dabur Active Blood Purifier. Dabur India also intends to launch above-the-line campaigns for these new products with their newly-appointed brand ambassador Juhi Chawla.

Dabur has just completed a packaging revamp of its existing OTC range and now plans to do so for the ethical products, which are promoted through Ayurvedic practitioners.

“The new packaging will try to make Ayurveda more contemporary for today’s consumers. The packaging up gradation is already complete for half of the OTC range,” said Mr. Garg.

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By analyzing the genetic structure by Ayurveda tools, we can expect the future of health at a very early state. We can also prevent and train a person to lead a healthy life by adopting the required changes in lifestyle and diet.

Ayurveda, The ancient Indian system of medicine, deals with the knowledge that can define the quality and quantum of social and personal health status and ways to restore, maintain and upgrade it on the basis of the principles of Vedic metaphysics.

The body, senses, mind and soul are four components of a physiological functional parts in human life. The body, senses and mind are basically the grosser to finer manifested forms of basic elements of nature; panchamahabhuta - Akash (sky), Vayu (air), Agni (fire), Jala (water), Prithvi (earth) – and soul, the life principle. The harmonious activities within these components and integral activities in between the components reflect the status of personal and social health of a person.

The activities of the five elements at body- senses level are described through their grosser manifested form; three doshas i.e., Vata-Pitta-Kapha and at mental level through their precursors Satva-Rajas-Tamas.

The factors responsible for integral health status and any type of illness, including accidents, are related to our habitat, lifestyle, dietary habits, thinking habits, professional working approach and environment.

The manifestation of any disease is the victory of disease causing factors in the on going fight with the autonomous defence mechanism available within every sustainable biological system. The under/over/faulty-utilization of this autonomous healing mechanism weakens this natural wealth. The availability of this natural healing power depends upon our basic constitution of seven categories (Vata, Pitta, Kapha, Vata-Pitta, Vata-Kapha, Kapha-Pitta, Sama Prakriti), which we all have since birth.

In the Vedic era, the constitution of the parents was diagnosed before the couple planned for having a child. Based on the findings of the personality type of the parents, a diet and lifestyle regimen was tailor made for before, during the pregnancy as well as for the time of birth, so that the new born could lead a complete, healthy and purposeful life.

To achieve the optimum integral health status, Dr Ramniwas Prasher has developed a health rejuvenation programme ’SATMYA’- Vedanta Integral Health Care Systems, based on Vedanta philosophy and Ayurveda system of medicines.

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