In the Western scientific paradigm it is customary to identify a traditional therapy and medicine, isolate the active ingredient, standardize the potency and clinically test its safety and efficacy outside of the remedy’s traditional use. What needs to be studied is the authentic cultural treatment as a system of healing, not whether an isolated compound can be grafted into our modern medical system. We need to study the difference between an ingredient’s chemical identification and its physiological medicinal and / or toxic properties. The first study should be whether a therapy and its medicines are toxic as traditionally used. Then follow with a study of its efficacy.

Some Ayurvedic formulations contain herbs that are natural forms of drugs or substances generally considered toxic in their customary forms. We need to study Ayurvedic remedies, formulations, and therapies in a way that satisfies our Western scientific method while preserving those therapeutic elements considered important by Ayurveda. We should not simply study isolated compounds but the medicines, therapies and medical system as a whole.

There are unique preparations in Ayurveda that intentionally combine specially prepared minerals with botanicals for the purpose of increasing the effect of the botanicals. It is these formulas that are the most suspect to our Western eyes as they often contain mercury, lead and / or other ingredients that have been proven to be toxic in forms we are familiar with. These Ayurvedic formulas have long and complicated preparation methods often lasting months or even years. They are believed to have amazing curative powers in the treatment of uncontrolled ailments of modern era, but are they toxic as well? They are traditionally believed to be safe when properly prescribed, prepared and taken. They address serious medical problems like cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis, kidney problems, mental and brain function disorders, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophies and other serious Neuro-muscular diseases, etc. But it is important that we insure and determine proper preparation and whether there is any risk of toxicity when prepared and used properly. The preparations with lead and mercury are not currently approved by the US FDA and therefore can not be used by people in the United States until proper studies are done.

In the West they have very high standards for purity and the means to test for it. It could be said that they have these high standards because they can test for positive identification of ingredients and the presence of unwanted substances. It is especially important to consider the possibility that indigenous medicines may be prepared in ways that western scientists do not fully understand and the difference between medicine and poison may not be uncovered by modern chemical analysis, no matter how sophisticated. They must also establish uniform testing protocols for heavy metals in Dietary Supplements that include sample preparation, testing methodology and acceptable daily dose.

In summary, Ayurveda uses hundreds of substances therapeutically. It is important to assess Ayurvedic herbal medicines according to Western scientific standards and investigate them for levels of toxicity and contamination that are unacceptable. We must also differentiate between products that are manufactured in the USA under FDA guidelines and regulations and those that are manufactured in other countries never intended for export and brought into USA. At the same time, we must, keep a scientific and open mind about the Ayurvedic preparations and medicines that have intentional ingredients we have come to regard as toxic by Allopathic standards but which have undergone special preparatory procedures that have yet to be documented by Western scientific standards. It may be that these very medicines hold the promise of cure for diseases modern Western medicine is currently unable to adequately address.

- An article by  Mukesh D Jain, Bhilai (mjainbhilai@gmail.com) as provided to AyurvedNews.com

Hon. President of AYUSH Academy of Ayurvedic Medical Sciences & Fellow of French Association of Medical Yoga. Double graduated in Basic Sciences, Ayurveda with Modern Medicine and Surgery both from Sagar & Ravi Shanker Universities. A teacher, researcher, an author of two scientific books on Ayurveda & Yoga; On editorial board of several journals including Global Ayurveda & Light on Ayurveda Journal. Currently head of Panch Karma Clinic on Neuro-Muscular Diseases in Bhilai.

Announcing the foray into Bangalore, Rajiv Vasudevan, CEO, AyurVAID Hospitals said, “There are many reasons why the entry of AyurVAID into the Bangalore market is a notable event. It is for the first time that a full fledged Ayurveda hospital in this scale and format has been set up outside of Kerala. With an outstanding team of physicians, includingtwoM.Ds in Panchakarma, complemented by a well trained nursing team, the AyurVAID Hospital in Bangalore shall offer gentle yet effective solutions for chronic illnesses and lifestyle disorders commonly found in Bangalore today. AyurVAID Hospital shall serve a growing section of society who wish to go beyond symptomatic relief andfor agentle medical solution that addresses the root cause of the illness for a long lasting solution. AyurVAID will serve to fill a significant gap in the medical services available to the people of this dynamic and vibrant city of Bangalore”.

Ganesh Subramaniam, CFO, AyurVAID Hospitals added “With several leading medical insurance third party administrators (TPAs) having accreditedAyurVAID Hospital, Bangalore, as a network hospital, medical insurance policy holders can avail of cashless facility for inpatientAyurveda medical care, subject to the underlying terms of their insurance policy.”

AyurVAID has many firsts that distinguish it – It adopts a rigorous, standardized and documentation-driven approach; it has a unique medical services model that appropriately integrates classical Kerala Ayurveda medical practice with contemporary medical science, and it is the first Ayurvedic hospital to be empanelled by leading TPAs as a network hospital thus making cashless hospitalization possible. Besides the rigorous 5-year education programs that include detailed study of the classical Ayurveda medical science, as well as essentials of modern medicine, surgery and pharmacology that Ayurvedic physicians undergo, AyurVAID further trains its’ professionals in its unique approach and business model.

A project for Physico chemical characterization and toxicity studies of 8 widely used Bhasmas (Rasa Aushadhies) was also sanctioned under the Golden Triangle Project which is being carried out by various laboratories of CSIR i.e. Indian Institute of Toxicological Research (IITR), Lucknow, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad. Under this project, one of the reputed manufacturers of Rasa Aushadhies was chosen for manufacturing of the selected Rasa Aushadhies as per the classical texts which were made available to CSIR laboratories for physio chemical characterization and their toxicity studies. On the basis of 28 days toxicity studies, all the 8 Rasa Aushadhies have been found to be non-toxic. 90 days chronic studies are under progress. CSIR would be getting the results of this scientific research published to set at rest doubts regarding the safety of Rasa Aushadhies prepared properly as per classical texts. Further, the work of finalizing SOPs for the various herbo metallic compounds (Rasa Aushadhies) used in Ayurveda has been undertaken by the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Committee of India. Supplementary Good Manufacturing Practices for Rasa Aushadhies have also been prepared of which draft publication has been done.

Samples of 600 Indian medicinal plants collected from the wild as well as various medicinal plant gardens in India by the Council for Scientific Research in Ayurveda and Siddha were sent to the Indian Institute of Toxicological Research (CSIR), Lucknow, Sri Ram Institute of Industrial Toxicology, New Delhi and Centre for Research in Indian Medicine, Shastra University, Thanjavur. The test reports received from these three laboratories disclose that Lead, Mercury and Arsenic have not been found in these 600 Indian medicinal plants samples above the permissible limits laid down by WHO which is 10ppm for Lead, 1ppm for Mercury and 3ppm for Arsenic. This study clearly indicates that Indian medicinal plants collected from the wild or cultivated have been found to be free from lead, mercury and arsenic contamination contrary to the claim made by Dr. Robert Saper et al in their second article “Lead, Mercury and Arsenic in US- and Indian- Manufactured Ayurvedic Medicines sold via the Internet” published in JAMA, August 27, 2008.

The bias of Dr. Saper against Ayurvedic medicines becomes very apparent from the fact that he has included even those Ayurvedic medicines being sold in USA in Table 3 of the above mentioned article in which lead is below WHO’s maximum permissible limit of 10ppm. Further, as per Dr. Saper’s article, these medicines are sold by internet which does not indicate the source of their origin. Further, some of the medicines mentioned in Table 3 of the article, namely Akangvir Ras, Agnitundi Bati, Arogyavardhini Bati are herbo metallic compounds which contain these metals as therapeutic agents after purification process. Dr. Saper has visited India and has been in touch with several Ayurveda experts and is fully aware that these herbo-metallic preparations used in Ayurvedic system of medicine contain heavy metals like lead, mercury and arsenic as therapeutic agents after proper de-toxification process and no significant adverse drug reactions have been reported regarding their use in India. Dr. Saper is also fully aware that a high level scientific research is being undertaken in India for physio chemical characterization and safety of herbo metallic preparations for Rasa Aushadhies.

It needs to be emphasized that as per the directions issued by Department of AYUSH, herbo metallic compounds are not being officially exported because of heavy metal concerns and only purely herbal Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha medicines are being exported from India with effect from 1.1.2006 after certification of heavy metals below the permissible limit by the manufacturing unit. In view of the above, the above mentioned article of Dr. Saper and his associates is seriously flawed and discloses a strong bias against Ayurvedic medicines. Indian scientists and research institutions will be responding to the issues raised by Dr. Saper, howsoever flawed they may be, through research articles based on their work on Ayurvedic medicines in due course.

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.

Maharastra has about 56 ayurvedic colleges out of which only four are run by government. Since last two week students of post graduate government aided ayurvedic colleges in the state are demanding stipend. Dr Reema Patil, president MASA asked, “If MBBS students are entitled to stipend, why not us?”

Principal secretary of medical education Amitabh Chandra said that the government was looking into their demands. “We have to look into the financial implications and then decide,” he said.

Their demands also include better job opportunities for the 3,500-odd Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) graduates passing out every year. Students believe that the government has been hypocritical in its approach towards promoting ayurvedic medicine.

A government resolution of 1981 states that BAMS degree is equivalent to MBBS, “however, not a single BAMS doctor finds any place in government projects,” said Patil.

It should be mentioned, the National Rural Health Mission has sought the services of ayurvedic doctors as MBBS doctors are unwilling to practice in rural areas. “We have recruited 2,000 ayurvedic and unani practitioners to rural areas,” said Madhukar S Chaudhari, mission director of Maharashtra Rural Health Mission.