Recent research highlights the growing scientific exploration and integration of Indian herbal medicine with Western medical systems, particularly in treating specific diseases.

A significant double-blind clinical trial involving 2,000 UK long Covid patients, conducted collaboratively by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the All India Institute of Ayurveda, assesses Ashwagandha’s efficacy in alleviating anxiety, fatigue, and muscle weakness, demonstrating contemporary validation of traditional remedies.

Ayurvedic therapies have shown promise managing chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, where herbal formulations regulate blood sugar levels with fewer side effects than conventional medicines.

Pilot projects in Mysuru integrate Ayurvedic detoxification with lifestyle modifications for diabetes management.

Cannabis-based Ayurvedic medicines are under investigation for neuropathic pain, multiple sclerosis, and mental health disorders, although further clinical evaluations are needed.

Ayurveda is increasingly used as adjunctive cancer care.

The International Ayurveda Symposium highlighted integrative treatments combining Ayurvedic herbs with osteopathic and chiropractic approaches.

IIT Delhi research demonstrated that personalized Ayurvedic medicines plus therapeutic yoga facilitated recovery and anxiety reduction in high-risk COVID-19 patients, especially those with diabetes and hypertension.

Safety concerns, including reports of herb-induced liver injury linked to Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia), underscore the need for enhanced regulation and awareness, advocated by the Ministry of Ayush.

Inclusion of Ayurveda in the WHO International Classification of Diseases is underway to formalize standardization and global acceptance.

Recent research highlights the growing scientific exploration and integration of Indian herbal medicine with Western medical systems, particularly in treating specific diseases.

Title:

Content: Health · Life
Multidisciplinary approach to promote the development of TCM
December 21, 2023 08: 56 Source: Science and Technology Daily
This herb is a general term of traditional Chinese medicine, generally refers to plant-based natural medicines, which constitute thousands of kinds of Chinese patent medicines and classic famous prescriptions.
In recent years, the special efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of various diseases has attracted the attention of the industry.
Zhang Boli, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and professor of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said that the development of traditional Chinese medicine should adhere to the correct innovation.
Chinese medicine shows great potential in treatment of many diseases
Metformin, a hypoglycemic drug often used by diabetics, was originally extracted from French lilac; another kind of Gleipure hypoglycemic drug was extracted from the bark of German willow bark; Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) with wide clinical use, the original source turned out to be apple bark …
"In the past 100 years, people have used scientific analysis methods to apply substances extracted from the natural resources of this herb to clinical applications, saving hundreds of millions of lives," said Professor Weng Jianping of the Department of Life Science and Medicine of the University of Science and Technology of China.
Ge Junbo, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a professor of the Zhongshan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, said that Chinese medicine has great potential in the study of vascular diseases.
As a traditional treatment mode, traditional Chinese medicine has the overall action characteristics of multi-component and multi-target, and contains many therapeutic potentials that have not been fully exploited.
Through the scientific study of herb matter, combined with the advanced clinical evaluation technology system of pan-vascular diseases, researchers are expected to find more effective strategies for treating pan-vascular diseases.
"Chinese medicine also shows great potential in lymphoma treatment.
In particular, medicinal materials such as astragalus root and scutellaria root can change the composition of intestinal flora, so as to enhance the immune system's ability to fight tumors.
Professor Jing Zhicheng of the Peking Union Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences introduced the prospect of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
The team evaluated the role and mechanism of 18 beta-glycyrrhetinic acid, an active ingredient in regional specialty medicine licorice, in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
In addition, the PDE5 inhibitor extracted from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine epimedium also showed good curative effect in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
According to experts attending the meeting, the coordinated development of traditional Chinese medicine is an important direction for the sustainable development of traditional Chinese medicine.
Especially for tumors, as well as cardiovascular, respiratory and endocrine chronic diseases, can be more in-depth integration, the construction of collaborative disciplines, from research to clinical level to carry out coordinated work of Chinese and Western medicine, to reduce the morbidity and mortality of various diseases by means of early intervention of traditional Chinese medicine.
Integrating Herbal Substances with Clinical Medical Research
Making full use of modern science and technology and methods to build a modern Chinese medicine innovation system is becoming the mainstream thinking in the scientific research of Chinese medicine in recent years. "Modern medicine has found that diseases are caused by many factors, and the mechanism of their occurrence and development is also complicated.
The traditional research mode is difficult to solve the scientific principle of complex Chinese medicine treatment of complex diseases, and needs to be changed and innovated in the research mode.
Based on this, researcher Liang Xinmiao of the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed to build a modern Chinese medicine innovation system that “originates from clinical and belongs to clinical ”.
The present invention is based on traditional Chinese medicine with syndromic phenotype in clinic, and uses the traditional Chinese medicine to clarify the material base and mechanism of action, and combines clinical medical research to clarify the effectiveness of the clinical phenotype and its target-pathway-network-disease relationship.
Aiming at the complex system of traditional Chinese medicine, Liang Xinmiao's team also built a pre-research device for the scientific research of herbal substances.
The utility model provides a breakthrough key tool for systematically solving the scientific problems of traditional Chinese medicine material foundation, action target and synergistic mechanism.
In recent years, Professor Zhang Hong of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University Medical School has used positron emission tomography (PET) molecular imaging technology to study Chinese medicine.
He believes that in vivo visualization of herb substances is an important support to promote the research and application of traditional Chinese medicine.
The application of PET molecular imaging technology can realize the qualitative and quantitative non-invasive living evaluation of body function based on molecular recognition and nuclide tracing principle, and is expected to become an important method to promote the scientific development of Herbal Medicine.
"PET molecular imaging technology is highly sensitive and allows for visual pharmacokinetic analysis of radiolabeled herbal drug components.
In addition, PET molecular imaging technology can also perform pharmacodynamic analysis on the nanomolar level molecular cell level of the herb drug, verify the effect of the herb drug at the level of receptors, enzymes, antigens, genes and other levels and explore the herb drug treatment mechanism.
In addition, PET molecular imaging is not limited by the depth of imaging, and can visualize the whole process of disease diagnosis and treatment, which can greatly accelerate the transformation of traditional Chinese medicine from basic research to clinical application.
In the future, we should take multi-component and multi-target Chinese medicine research as the development direction.
Although Chinese medicine and western medicine are two different medical systems, the development concept is converging.
The integration of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine should be strengthened, the modern research of traditional Chinese medicine should be promoted, and the clinical treatment plan should be improved.
However, under the guidance of the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the research on the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine should further explore the synergistic mechanism of multi-component and multi-target, and clarify the effective components and optimize the innovative drug components or monomers.
He suggested that the scientific research of the herb material should change from the discovery of new ingredients to the study of biological activity-oriented natural products, establish a phenotypy-based biological activity screening platform, and pay attention to the blind spots and difficulties of traditional natural product research closely related to biological activity.
In this regard, Professor Zhang Wenhong of Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University also believes that traditional Chinese medicine is a huge treasure, and artemisinin is a classic success case.
At present, the research of traditional Chinese medicine is mainly the research of single molecule, single drug extract or compound, and the future should be multi-component and multi-target traditional Chinese medicine research as the development direction.
"The science of herbal substances is an important way to realize the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine, but the development of traditional Chinese medicine requires subversive innovation and establishes a scientific and rigorous evaluation system for the clinical effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine," Zhang Wenhong said.
Zhang Boli introduced that in recent years, in order to promote the high-quality development of traditional Chinese medicine, he led the scientific research team to carry out a series of pioneering and innovative work, and established a whole chain of new Chinese medicine research and development system for component Chinese medicine.
They created the theory and key technologies of component Chinese medicine, established a "standard component, group effect relationship, component compatibility, and optimized design" of component Chinese medicine R & D mode, and put forward a matching strategy of "strengthening the main effect, taking into account the secondary effect, and reducing the secondary effect."
The team also developed key technologies such as high-throughput preparation of traditional Chinese medicine components, chemical characterization, screening of effective components, compatibility activity and safety evaluation, and successfully developed 77 components of traditional Chinese medicine.
At the same time, they have carried out the work of secondary development of Chinese patent medicine, built the key technology of intelligent manufacturing of Chinese medicine with quality digitalization as the core, promoted the upgrading and transformation of traditional Chinese medicine industry, and formed the "World Alliance of Chinese Medicine" to lead the Chinese medicine to the international. (Reporter Luo Chaosu)
(Editor: Qiao Yiqiong, Yang Di)

A significant double-blind clinical trial involving 2,000 UK long Covid patients, conducted collaboratively by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the All India Institute of Ayurveda, assesses Ashwagandha’s efficacy in alleviating anxiety, fatigue, and muscle weakness, demonstrating contemporary validation of traditional remedies.

Title:

Content: Tuesday 10 August 2021 1:10 pm

Long Covid cure? Researchers to trial traditional Indian herb treatment

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine will work with the All India Institute of Ayurveda to determine whether a traditional Indian herb can help people recover from long Covid.

Ashwagandha, commonly known as Indian winter cherry, is traditionally used in the Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine to boost energy, reduce stress and strengthen the immune system.

Experts said recent trials had proven the herb’s efficacy in reducing anxiety, stress, improving muscle strength and reducing fatigue symptoms in patients with chronic diseases.

Long Covid patients can suffer from cognitive dysfunction, poor mental health, extreme fatigue and muscle weakness.

It is estimated these symptoms affect 10 to 20 per cent of Covid survivors and can last for one to three months or longer in many cases.

The study, funded by the Ministry of Ayush of the Government of India, will include a double-blind clinical trial involving 2,000 people living in the UK with long Covid.

Half of the trial participants will take 500mg Ashwagandha tablets twice a day for three months, while the other half will be given a placebo.

Researchers will randomly select participants to have a monthly follow-up of self-reported quality of life, impairment to activities of daily living, mental and physical health symptoms, supplement use and adverse events.

The study is expected to last for over a year.

“Ashwagandha has been shown to reduce symptoms of other conditions that are similar to those of long Covid, so we are hopeful that it will be an effective way to combat the condition,” said Sanjay Kinra, professor in clinical epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

The research is also supported by the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Indian Traditional Sciences and the Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine Unit at the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Research is the only way to ensure appropriate integration of traditional medicine knowledge into mainstream medical practice,” said technical officer at WHO Geneva, Geetha Krishnan, who helped to facilitate the research project.

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In what areas have the medical uses of traditional Indian medicine been studied?

What does traditional Indian medicine generally treat?

It addresses the psychological aspects of health conditions.

What is the traditional Indian medical system called?

What mental health problems does traditional Indian medicine treat?

Support the management of symptoms related to mental health.

Ayurvedic therapies have shown promise managing chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, where herbal formulations regulate blood sugar levels with fewer side effects than conventional medicines.

Title:

Content: News

Take up pilot project on Ayurveda treatment: MLA Ramdas

August 29, 2022

Mysore/Mysuru: Studies conducted across the world have found that several traditional medicines commonly used in India as part of Ayurveda are effective in maintaining blood sugar levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Ayurveda is a traditional medical system that has been used for thousands of years in India and some of the herbs included are also used in other parts of the world. In this direction, a systematic project must be developed to treat diabetes, suggested MLA S.A. Ramdas. The suggestion was accepted by Ayurveda practitioners and experts in the field.

The MLA was speaking after inaugurating a free Ayurvedic treatment camp organised at the Sri Ganapathy Ashram on Nanjangud Road yesterday. The camp was organised inside the auditorium of Lakshminarasimha Kuteera of the Ashram by the Government Ayurvedic Research Centre and Ayurveda Academy of Chamarajpet in Bengaluru.

Ramdas suggested the doctors and officers launch a pilot project in a particular locality or a Ward and assured of making all facilities on behalf of the Government. He said that the project can be taken up on Sept. 17, the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for one year to achieve tangible results for the target population, he suggested.

Modern diabetes drugs are known for side effects and toxicity while Ayurveda works by controlling blood sugar and limiting the harmful effects of other drugs. Turmeric, for example, has been used for the treatment of diabetes in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, he added.

He said new Ayurvedic remedies were still in great demand for treating diabetes because of the limited efficacy and undesirable side effects of current drugs. A multi-pronged and individualised approach must be used to manage health conditions such as lifestyle modification, Ayurvedic detoxifying and purifying therapies and Ayurvedic medicines containing plant, animal, or mineral-origin ingredients, he added.

University of Mysore Vice-Chancellor Prof. G. Hemantha Kumar, Assistant Director of Government Ayurvedic Research Centre Dr. Lakshminarayana Shenoy, Joint Secretary of Ayurveda Academy Dr. Prashanth Ghokale, Junior pontiff of Ganapathy Ashram Datta Vijayananda Theertha Swamiji and others were present.

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In what areas have the medical uses of traditional Indian medicine been studied?

What does Berberine, a commonly used herbal material in traditional Indian medicine, treat?

What does traditional Indian medicine generally treat?

It addresses the physical aspects of health conditions.

Pilot projects in Mysuru integrate Ayurvedic detoxification with lifestyle modifications for diabetes management.

In what areas have the medical uses of traditional Indian medicine been studied?

What does traditional Indian medicine generally treat?

It addresses the physical aspects of health conditions.

What is the traditional Indian medical system called?

Cannabis-based Ayurvedic medicines are under investigation for neuropathic pain, multiple sclerosis, and mental health disorders, although further clinical evaluations are needed.

In what areas have the medical uses of traditional Indian medicine been studied?

Treatment on neurological conditions
Treatment on mental health disorders
Treatment on pain

What mental health problems does traditional Indian medicine treat?

Support the management of symptoms related to mental health.

Ayurveda is increasingly used as adjunctive cancer care.

Title:

Content: Home » News » education-career » Yoga, Ayurveda Could be Effective in Treating High-Risk Covid-19 Cases, Claims IIT-Delhi Research

Yoga, Ayurveda Could be Effective in Treating High-Risk Covid-19 Cases, Claims IIT-Delhi Research

By: Education and Careers Desk

News18.com

Last Updated: September 13, 2022, 16:36 IST

New Delhi, India

The researchers claimed that that high-risk COVID-19 patients undergo severe anxiety, which may further deteriorate their condition (File Photo)

IIT Delhi researchers suggest that in addition to the treatment for COVID-19, Yoga and Ayurveda maybe instrumental in relieving such patients from anxiety and aid in speedy post-treatment recovery

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Yoga and Ayurveda maybe effective in the treatment of high-risk cases of COVID-19, suggests a research study by IIT Delhi on successful treatment of 30 high-risk COVID-19 patients. This study was conducted by a team of researchers at IIT Delhi and Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar.

The researchers claimed that that high-risk COVID-19 patients undergo severe anxiety, which may further deteriorate their condition. They further suggest that in addition to the treatment for COVID-19, Yoga and Ayurveda maybe instrumental in relieving such patients from anxiety and aid in speedy post-treatment recovery.

Also read| IIT Delhi Launches App to Prevent Bengaluru Floods Like Situation, to Predict Waterlogging

The findings of the study have appeared in the Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. The research team consists of Dr Sumitra A Bentur, Private practitioner, Greater Noida (West), Uttar Pradesh, Dr Alka Mishra, Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, Uttarakhand; Dr Yogish Kumar, Advait Clinic, Delhi, Dr Sonika Thakral, IIT Delhi, Sanjiv, IIT Delhi and Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, University of Delhi, Prof Rahul Garg, IIT Delhi.

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As per the institute, the patients were prescribed Ayurvedic medicines through telemedicine, and administered a personalized therapeutic yoga programme using video conferencing. Almost all the patients were classified as high-risk owing to one or more of co-morbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease (which are known to lead to severe outcomes in cases of COVID-19), and/or age above 60, said IIT Delhi.

“The treatment given to the patients was personalized (in accordance with the classical texts) and took account of each patient’s medical history and the symptoms presented, which made it more effective as compared to a fixed standardized treatment plan," said the IIT.

The treatment included ayurvedic medicines, daily yoga-sessions including deep relaxation techniques, pranayama and basic asanas and some lifestyle modifications. Based on the administered treatment, the cases were categorized into YAS (Yoga-Ayurveda based treatment, with possibly allopathic supplements: 4 patients), YASP (Yoga-Ayurveda based treatment, with possibly allopathic supplements and paracetamol: 6 patients), YAM (Yoga-Ayurveda based treatment, and Modern Western Medicine (MWM), that is, allopathy as adjunct: 6 patients), MYA (first tried MWM, later switched to Yoga-Ayurveda: 14 patients). added the institute.

The patients, most of whom presented with many symptoms prior to the yoga and Ayurveda treatment, were followed-up telephonically regularly until recovery. More than half of symptomatic patients started improving within 5 days (90 per cent within 9 days), more than 60 per cent reported at least 90 per cent recovery within 10 days, added IIT Delhi.

Six patients with oxygen saturation (SpO2) below 95 per cent, benefited through Makarasana and Shithilasana; none progressed to composite endpoints (consisting of admission to Intensive Care Unit, invasive ventilation or death). Considering that approximately 19.3 per cent of the patients with these comorbidities progress to composite end points, the p-value was found to be 7.21 x 10−3.

“The study also demonstrates an urgent need to scientifically examine the Traditional Indian Knowledge systems at the top academic institutions. A timely and suitably designed randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of Ayurveda and Yoga based personalized integrative treatment for COVID-19 would have equipped the people with much more credible and dependable information about their use in managing COVID-19" said Prof Rahul Garg, IIT Delhi, who conceptualized the project.

“Most patients reported that the therapy had a profound impact on their recovery process, with many experiencing improvements with respect to their comorbidities too. By the end of the treatment, several patients had decided to adopt Yoga in their lifestyle, and several turned to the Ayurveda doctors in the team for management/treatment of their comorbidities", said Dr Sonika Thakral who coordinated with the patients for routine follow-up.

“On the whole, the belief of the patients in the efficacy of these traditional systems of medicine was extremely enhanced," said Dr Alka Mishra who administered Ayurveda treatment to some patients. “We are observing an increasing trend towards ancient systems of medicine", said Dr Yogesh Kumar who also administered Ayurveda treatment to some patients.

“The said interventions are believed to have collectively accelerated the recovery process by checking anxiety, instilling peace of mind and enhancing the overall well-being of the patients," said Dr Sumitra A Bentur, private practitioner, who designed the Yoga intervention and conducted Yoga sessions for some of the patients.

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first published: September 13, 2022, 16:30 IST
last updated: September 13, 2022, 16:36 IST

What does traditional Indian medicine generally treat?

It addresses the physical aspects of health conditions.

The International Ayurveda Symposium highlighted integrative treatments combining Ayurvedic herbs with osteopathic and chiropractic approaches.

Title:

Content: Home » In dialogue with great Ayurveda personalities / expert meeting at the 25th International Ayurveda Symposium in Birstein

In dialogue with great Ayurveda personalities / expert meeting at the 25th International Ayurveda Symposium in Birstein

by admin

Birstein – The International Ayurveda Symposium in Birstein (Hessen) is an annual highlight that every Ayurveda doctor, therapist and consultant should have on their agenda. From September 15th to 17th, 2023, doctors and professors of international renown will come together at the “European Academy for Ayurveda” to share their wealth of experience, this year for the 25th time in a row. Information at: www.ayurveda-symposium.org

The anniversary conference is filled with over 40 specialist lectures, workshops and panel discussions and stands for Ayurveda competence throughout Europe. Only here do the participants exchange ideas directly with the great personalities of Ayurveda and experience practical knowledge that is not found in any textbook.

For the 25th anniversary, the International Ayurveda Symposium takes up one of the major health issues of our time: strategies for the treatment and prevention of cancer. Research Director Vaidya P. Rammanohar (Amrita Center for Advanced Research in Ayurveda, Coimbatore) reports on how Ayurveda in integrative oncology can fill global unmet needs in cancer treatment. Prof. Dr. Tanuja Nesari, Director General of the Indian umbrella organization “All India Institute of Ayurveda” in Delhi, addresses phytotherapeutic approaches: Her lecture shows how traditional Ayurvedic medicinal herbs are used in complementary cancer therapy.

Ayurvedic therapists will appreciate the numerous workshops to supplement their practical skills. The focus here is on physical therapies, for example Kalari therapies from southern India or the combination of Ayurveda with osteopathic and chiropractic techniques. In addition, Hans H. Rhyner MD, pioneer of Ayurveda medicine in Europe, will pass on his very personal diagnostic methods from 40 years of practice to the next generation.

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The focus on “Panchamabhuta – healing dimensions of the five elements” examines the influence of ether, air, fire, water and earth on our health. In particular, the connection to the five senses is the focus here, for example with the contribution of Dr. Mihir Hajarnavis (Tilak Ayurveda College, Pune) on the Indian tradition of eating with your hands, or treating hearing loss with oil baths (Karana Purana) by Prof. Sanjeev Sharma, Director of the National Institute of Ayurveda at the University of Jaipur.

The program is framed by the special flair on the campus of the European Academy for Ayurveda. Indian robes set accents in the stylish rooms, the lecturers give confidential insights into their careers at the fireplace evening – and scents from the Ayurveda gourmet kitchen float above everything, which brings the “five elements” closer to the participants in a culinary way.

In 2023, the symposium will only take place live and on site.
The opening event on Friday is open to all interested parties free of charge and will also honor the 30th anniversary of the academy with a ceremony. The alumni meeting with Gurukul is also free. SN Gupta, Vice-Chancellor Maganbhai Adenwala Mahagujarat University (Nadiad), will give professional and personal inspiration to former and current students at the “European Academy of Ayurveda”.

Date: September 15-17, 2023
Weekend ticket: €320 (€275 for alumni, students and DÄGAM/VEAT members)
Program and registration: www.ayurveda-symposium.org

About the European Academy for Ayurveda
Since 1993, the academy has followed its vision of bringing people into contact with traditional medicine from India. The founders Mark and Kerstin Rosenberg have created a place in Birstein where participants can learn and experience Ayurveda in all its facets: A modern educational facility has been created around a historic forester’s lodge in Vogelsberg (Hesse), with locations in Austria and Switzerland as well as a digital eAcademy. Close cooperation with Indian universities and institutions connect the academy with the source of Ayurvedic knowledge and ensure the quality of the educational offerings, as well as certification according to ISO 9001. A lively Ayurveda spa center borders directly on the campus. In this way, teaching and applied therapy go hand in hand – unique in Europe.

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IIT Delhi research demonstrated that personalized Ayurvedic medicines plus therapeutic yoga facilitated recovery and anxiety reduction in high-risk COVID-19 patients, especially those with diabetes and hypertension.

In what areas have the medical uses of traditional Indian medicine been studied?

What mental health problems does traditional Indian medicine treat?

Support the management of symptoms related to mental health.

Safety concerns, including reports of herb-induced liver injury linked to Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia), underscore the need for enhanced regulation and awareness, advocated by the Ministry of Ayush.

Title:

Content: Dr Abby Philips who warned against the use of a herb widely used in alternative medicine, has been sent a letter from the Kerala State Medical Council for Indian Systems of Medicine.

Dr Abby Philips / YouTube screenshot
news Controversy Saturday, February 05, 2022 - 13:46

An interview given by a Kerala hepatologist on the ill effects of ingesting a widely used herb Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) has landed him in trouble, with the Kerala State Medical Council for Indian Systems of Medicine sending him a notice. For the past seven months, Dr Abby Philips has been receiving several letters, with the most recent one from the Council, for an interview he gave to a Malayalam YouTube channel on Herb-Induced Liver Injuries, in June of last year.

In the video, the Aluva based doctor speaks about liver injuries that are specifically caused by consuming unsafe or toxic herbs as treatment. Speaking to TNM, he said that he referred to published evidence regarding all pseudoscientific practices and specifically some herbal drugs which are toxic to the liver. “I specifically spoke about Giloy, which is very liver toxic, based on a paper from Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Bombay,” Philips said. He is a faculty of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL), and has authored guidelines and recommendations to specifically treat ‘herbal liver injuries’, specifically on how to treat and diagnose drug induced liver injuries.

Soon after the interview was released, a complaint was filed and the issue was kicked from one department to another. “A complaint was sent to the Prime Minister’s grievance redressal cell, stating that I was denigrating Ayurveda and causing a split in public opinion. This letter was sent to the AYUSH ministry, which forwarded it to the National Medical Commission (NMC),” he said.

The letter, pointing out Philips's statement in the interview, stated that ‘the said derogatory and misleading clause be immediately removed…otherwise the Ministry shall be compelled to initiate defamatory proceedings against the contravening doctor.’ The NMC’s department of Ethics and Medical conduct forwarded it to Kerala's Ayush department saying that some action should be taken. The state Ayush department forwarded it to the Travancore Cochin Medical Council (TCMC) asking to take specific action as needed. “Finally, I got a letter from the Kerala State Medical Council for Indian Systems of Medicine,” he said and added that the ‘funny’ part is that he is not even a part of the said council, but is a member of TCMC in the Modern Medicine division.

Philips said, “They have not identified or informed me about the kind of professional misconduct I am accused of. One cannot defame a ‘system’ or a ‘supposed science’. I have been asked to respond in my personal capacity but there is no mention of a deadline or what the misleading clause is.” He clarified that there is no separate clause under the Medical Code of Ethics for saying alternative medicine is pseudoscience. While the notice mentions a punishment clause, there is no mention of the crime committed. Dr Philips is now planning to reply through a lawyer asking the Council for proof of what his professional misconduct is, according to the Code of Ethics.

“Just this month, our group alone reported 43 Giloy liver injury cases all over India from 13 hospitals, which was also published in the official journal of the American Association of Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). I am talking with evidence, so how can they say it is demeaning or degrading?” he asked.

Dr Philips said that he did not have a problem with AYUSH being an independent body, but complained there was no regulation. “Ayush is a regulatory body which is supposed to regulate all alternative medicines and their practice in India. But when a study states that a particular herb is potentially toxic, AYUSH should make the public aware of the issue and caution them. Instead, they are defending the concern and further promoting its sale,'' he alleged.

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Inclusion of Ayurveda in the WHO International Classification of Diseases is underway to formalize standardization and global acceptance.

Title:

Content: Traditional Indian medicine set to make a global debut, seeking inclusion in WHO’s ICD-11 list

The inclusion of Ayurveda and related systems on the WHO list will provide it with a common language that allows health professionals to share standardised information across the world

October 14, 2023 06:17 pm | Updated 06:17 pm IST - NEW DELHI

A view of the World Health Organisation headquarters.

In a move meant to put the Indian system of medicine on the world map and provide it with a common standardised language, the Union government has sought for Ayurveda and related systems to be included in the 11th revision of the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD), as the second module of a supplementary chapter on traditional medicine conditions.

The ICD provides a common language that allows health professionals to share standardised information across the world. The traditional medicine module of the 11th revision provides a list of diagnostics categories to collect and report on traditional medicine conditions in a standardised and internationally comparable manner.

Speaking exclusively to The Hindu about the development, Ministry of Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha said: “We are hopeful that the addition of Module-2 for Ayurveda could happen as early as by next January.”

To aid regulation, research

“Ayurveda and related Indian traditional health care systems are formally recognised and widely practised health care systems in India, which is making a strong and valid point for its inclusion,” said Mr. Kotecha, adding that efforts to effectively regulate traditional medicine as an integral part of the health system require standardised and evidence-based information.

Mr. Kotecha further explained that the traditional medicine chapter under ICD-11 is a formative step for the integration of such forms of medicine into a classification standard used in conventional medicine. “It also provides the means for doing research and evaluation to establish its efficacy,” he said.

The Ministry added that this chapter would also help to respond to growing demands for more and better regulation of traditional medicine, and its integration in mainstream health care and health information systems.

ICD-11 covers Chinese medicine

After a decade of repeated consultations, ICD-11 had facilitated the inclusion of Module-1, which covers traditional medicine conditions originating in ancient China, which are now commonly used in China, Japan, Korea, and elsewhere around the world.

The eleventh revision contains around 17,000 unique codes and more than 1,20,000 codable terms, which are now entirely digital. ICD-11 came into effect from January 2022.

The joint use of ICD-11’s chapter on traditional medicine along with other chapters on neoplasm, patient safety, and injuries, can enhance the reporting of adverse events. It will enable the integration of traditional medicine into insurance coverage and reimbursement systems, in line with larger WHO objectives relating to universal health coverage. It will also link traditional medicine practices with global conventional medicine’s norms and standard development.

The development of Module-2 for Ayurveda-related diagnostic systems is being actively supported by the Ministry of Ayush. It extensively banks on the implementation experience gained on the ground by the National Ayush Morbidity and Standardised Terminologies Electronic portal, and the Ayush Health Information Management System, the Ministry said.

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What is the World Health Organization doing to promote traditional medicine, including Ayurveda?

Establishing rules for the safe, fair, and effective use of traditional medicine