The reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020 by Turkish President Erdogan has been met with criticism from various parties, including the Greek Orthodox Church, which has decried it as an "ill-advised decision" that "makes a mockery of the Turkish government's commitment to religious tolerance and religious freedom".

The decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been seen as a political move by Erdogan to appeal to his Islamist-leaning base, with many analysts attributing the loss of his party's votes to the more Islamist-leaning New Welfare Party.

Erdogan's statement that "the resurrection of Hagia Sophia heralds the liberation of the al-Aqsa Mosque" has been interpreted as having religious undertones, with some seeing it as a call to action for Muslims worldwide.

The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque has also been criticized by the US State Department, which has encouraged the Turkish government to "preserve and ensure access to sites and buildings that have hosted different religious communities in a way that respects their diverse histories".

The Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has also criticized the decision, stating that it "offends the rich history of Istanbul itself as a crossroads of cultures".

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been seen as a symbol of Erdogan's efforts to erase part of Turkey's multiculturalism and shore up his Islamist-nationalist base.

The decision has also been criticized by Dr. Özgür Kaymak, a lecturer and researcher on minority rights, who stated that "both Hagia Sophia and Chora embodied Byzantine and Ottoman pasts, and they became symbols of co-existence and multi-faith living practices".

The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque has also raised concerns about the preservation of the site, with some experts warning that the large number of visitors could lead to a catastrophic structural failure if not addressed immediately.

The Turkish Art History Association has also called for the restoration of the monument, citing concerns about the safety of the site.

The damage to the historic Imperial Gate in Hagia Sophia and the marble floors has also been reported, with some experts attributing it to the heavy machines used to clean the site.

The Turkish government has introduced new rules for visiting Hagia Sophia Mosque, which include restricted access and entrance fees for visitors, in an effort to improve coexistence between religious and tourist visitors.

The decision to reintroduce entrance fees was made despite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's initial assurance that entry fees would be abolished when Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque in 2020.

The Turkish government has emphasized that the visitor management plan is based on UNESCO's recommendations and aims to enhance the quality and safety of visits while preserving the historical significance of the site.

Extensive restoration work is underway in various sections of Hagia Sophia, with plans to progress to other parts upon their completion.

The restoration work and visitor management plan are intended to address concerns about the preservation of the site and ensure that its management and maintenance are transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.

However, the reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque has drawn international criticism, with some arguing that it is a political move by Erdogan.

The site's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its historical significance as both a Byzantine cathedral and an Ottoman mosque have added to the controversy surrounding its management and maintenance.

The Turkish government's efforts to balance the needs of religious and tourist visitors while preserving the site's historical significance will be closely watched by UNESCO, the international community, and local residents.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020 by Turkish President Erdogan has been met with criticism from various parties, including the Greek Orthodox Church, which has decried it as an "ill-advised decision" that "makes a mockery of the Turkish government's commitment to religious tolerance and religious freedom".

Title:

Content: After Hagia Sophia, Turkey converts a second ancient Byzantine church into a mosque

Hundreds of worshippers filled the narrow streets of Istanbul's Fatih district on Friday to hear the sounds of Friday prayers ringing out from the newly inaugurated Kariye Mosque.

Once known as the Chora Church, the site spent the last 79 years as a museum. But it is now the latest structure to be converted back into a mosque by the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, following the conversion of Hagia Sophia in 2020. While viewed as a triumph by many Turkish Muslims, the Greek Orthodox Church has decried it as an "ill-advised decision" that "makes a mockery of the Turkish government's commitment to religious tolerance and religious freedom."

Chora's conversion was announced shortly after Hagia Sophia's, but its opening for prayer was delayed by years of restoration work.

The showing for the first Friday prayers at Kariye was relatively quiet compared to Hagia Sophia, which drew hundreds of thousands who filled the streets with prayer rugs for blocks and blocks away from the building. By contrast, the crowd on Friday was relatively average for a mosque in one of Istanbul's more religiously conservative neighborhoods, where Friday worshippers frequently spill out onto the streets.

Both the Chora Church and Hagia Sophia are 4th-century Byzantine constructions. They spent nearly a millennium as Christian holy sites before being converted to mosques by the Ottomans after their conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century. Despite their conversions, they remained revered by Orthodox Christians. After the founding of a secular Turkish Republic in the early 20th century, the decision was made for both to be neither mosque nor church but simply museums.

"Both Hagia Sophia and Chora embodied Byzantine and Ottoman pasts, and they became symbols of co-existence and multi-faith living practices. Their conversion fundamentally implies a hierarchy, prioritizing the Islamic past over all other layers, Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Jewish, Syriac, et al," Dr. Özgür Kaymak, a lecturer and researcher on minority rights at Istanbul's MEF University, told Religion News Service in an email.

Rededicating the sites as mosques is more than just a status change. According to Islamic tradition, artwork of human figures are forbidden in places of prayer, while in Orthodox Churches, icons of Christ, saints and other biblical figures are a defining feature.

In Hagia Sophia, the mosaics of Jesus and Mary have been covered with curtains since the conversion. While Erdoğan promised Hagia Sophia would remain fully accessible and free to all visitors, Turkey reneged on that earlier this year, reimposing an entrance fee on tourists and relegating them to the upper level, while the main floor is exclusive to Muslim worshippers.

Observers have also criticized the Turkish Directorate of Religion's caretaking of the site, noting damage that did not exist when it was under the purview of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Though Chora is significantly smaller than Hagia Sophia, it is home to some of the best-preserved examples of late-Byzantine art, including mosaics, icons and frescoes, and is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site.

"For us it's a very important place because it remembers our culture and our traditions here," Father Evangelos Markantonis, an Orthodox priest who was leading a group of theology students to Chora on Friday, told Religion News Service.

"Though we cannot venerate as Orthodox Christians, we have to try to find things we can be united on. Only with dialogue and good deeds can we continue our lives," Markantonis, who is also a professor at the University of Athens, said when asked about the controversy.

Erdoğan had long refused calls from his right to convert churches like Hagia Sophia and Chora, telling supporters in 2018 to fill the nearby Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also known in English as the Blue Mosque) before they talked about needing to pray in Hagia Sophia.

Nonetheless, he made an about-turn in 2020.

"My dear nation, the conquest of Istanbul and the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a Mosque are among the most glorious chapters in Turkish history," Erdoğan said at the time in a speech inaugurating the Hagia Sophia as a mosque.

"This is the most honorable day that Islam has been looking forward to, Greek Constantinople has become Turkish Istanbul," he added, quoting the Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet.

"The resurrection of Hagia Sophia heralds the liberation of the al-Aqsa Mosque. The resurrection of Hagia Sophia is the footsteps of the will of Muslims across the world to come out of the interregnum," Erdoğan said in his concluding remarks.

Chora's opening as the Kariye Mosque comes just weeks after Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) suffered its largest electoral defeat in two decades during Turkey's nationwide municipal elections.

"The recent conversion of Chora into a mosque may be due to Erdoğan's many problems, including his geopolitical power politics, his appeal to religio-nationalism to revive his electoral popularity after the March elections or his tactic to divert attention from Turkey's economic downturn," Kaymak said.

Many analysts have attributed the loss to AKP bleeding votes to the more Islamist-leaning New Welfare Party, which has pressured Erdogan over his response to the Israel-Hamas war and humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

Muslim worshippers at the mosque on Friday said they viewed its rededication as an Islamic site to be a national win for Turkey.

"This mosque is one of the symbols of the Conquest. We are proud and happy. There are very beautiful frescoes inside. They were also nicely renovated before they were closed. May it be good for our country and our nation," a bystander, Ahmet Öteyüzoğlu, told Turkish media.

"Thank God for these days. Not everyone has the opportunity in their lifetime," another bystander named Mehmet Çelik told the Turkish news service Anadolu Agency, in reference to having been able to pray at both the rededicated Hagia Sophia and Kariye Mosques.

However, Greece, the U.S. State Department and Orthodox Christian institutions worldwide have all criticized the decision to revert the structure into a mosque.

"I want to publicly express my intense dissatisfaction, interpreting the feelings of all Greek women and men, for the completely unnecessary conversion of a historic Byzantine temple, the Monastery of Chora, into a mosque. It is, I believe, an action that offends the rich history of Istanbul itself as a crossroads of cultures," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said shortly before leaving for Turkey for a planned meeting with Erdogan.

"We encourage the Turkish government to preserve and ensure access to sites and buildings that have hosted different religious communities in a way that respects their diverse histories," a State Department spokesperson said in response to questions from Greek media.

"The Turkish government's appropriation of both as the property of one faith group not only constitutes yet another sign of that government's contempt for Turkey's rich Orthodox Christian heritage but further imperils the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the remaining Christians of that land," the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate said in a statement.

© Religion News Service

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

The decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been seen as a political move by Erdogan to appeal to his Islamist-leaning base, with many analysts attributing the loss of his party's votes to the more Islamist-leaning New Welfare Party.

Erdogan's statement that "the resurrection of Hagia Sophia heralds the liberation of the al-Aqsa Mosque" has been interpreted as having religious undertones, with some seeing it as a call to action for Muslims worldwide.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque has also been criticized by the US State Department, which has encouraged the Turkish government to "preserve and ensure access to sites and buildings that have hosted different religious communities in a way that respects their diverse histories".

The Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has also criticized the decision, stating that it "offends the rich history of Istanbul itself as a crossroads of cultures".

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

How did the Greek prime minister describe the reconversion in May 2024?

An act that belittles Istanbul's history

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been seen as a symbol of Erdogan's efforts to erase part of Turkey's multiculturalism and shore up his Islamist-nationalist base.

Title:

Content: >
December 9, 2021

Christian leaders look forward to Turkey's new law on religious foundations

This is an issue of vital importance for local Christian communities whose places of worship are entrusted to and managed by their governing bodies

Religious minorities in Turkey are looking forward to the increasingly Islamo-nationalist government making good its promise of outreach to non-Muslims by giving them freedom to establish and run their religious and social institutions.

The Turkish government is preparing to issue a new regulation on the administrative management of foundations linked to non-Muslim faith communities, which have been paralyzed for years by a legislative impasse that blocks the renewal of their governing bodies.

This is an issue of vital importance for local Christian communities such as Armenians and Assyrians, whose places of worship – many of them historic --, other real estate and public institutions are entrusted to and managed by foundations.

Burhan Ersoy, head of the state-run Directorate of the Foundations, has confirmed that the plan for the drafting of a new regulation concerning the elections for the assignment of offices within the foundations has come into being, Fides reported.

The draft of the text has been drawn up, taking into account requests and proposals from the various minority communities, and it is expected that the new rules, after obtaining government approval, would be implemented by April 2022.

The previous electoral regulation for the top management of foundations had been suspended in 2013, after the government chose to establish new procedures to make the management of real estate more functional and transparent.

This led to some confusion with representatives of the various minority communities unable to come to a consensus to either accept or reject the new electoral rules, Ersoy said.

The Syrian Orthodox Christian Süleyman Can Ustabaşı, current representative of the non-Muslim Foundations within the Assembly of Foundations, has said that the structure of foundations and their membership profiles had changed over time.

The Turkish government already had consultations with the representatives of religious minorities to resolve the dispute over board elections for their foundations.

But Ustabaşı now urges Turkish authorities to carry out another consultation with representatives of minority communities before the new text is to be implemented in 2022.

The legal status of the Foundations is still based on the Peace Treaty of Lausanne, signed in 1923 by Turkey and the Entente powers (British Empire, France and Russian Empire) victorious from the First World War.

The treaty guaranteed equality before the laws and the freedom to promote and manage "religious and social institutions" for non-Muslim communities in Turkey.

However, the state had seized properties run by these foundations and had to contend with litigation as these foundations claimed the rights guaranteed by the Treaty of Lausanne.

Also, starting from 1936, legislative provisions had allowed foundations of non-Muslim communities to acquire new properties. But in 1974, this guarantee was canceled and the state begun seizing assets acquired by these foundations.

Between 2013 and 2018 about 1,084 properties were returned to the foundations linked to non-Muslim communities, and 20 places of worship restored and given back to the foundations, according to official data.

Greek Orthodox Laki Vingas, in a speech published by the Armenian-Turkish newspaper Agos, said that the legislative deadlock on the question of the regulation of the foundations has had a negative effect on the life of the different ecclesial communities.

The block in the processes of renewal of the governing bodies of foundations had led to the expulsion of young people from the institutions linked to their communities, and also that many voluntary activities were "unfortunately interrupted".

Non-Muslim places of worship

Within the general Assembly of the Turkish Foundations are some 167 minority foundations. The Turkish Greek community has 77, the highest number of foundations. The Armenian community has 54 and the Jewish community has 19 foundations.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after a cabinet meeting held on October 25 announced that authorities had put on the agenda the question of the elections of the directorates of the foundations linked to religious minorities.

He also spoke of fundamental tools for the management of assets and resources destined for non-Muslim places of worship.

The issue of the foundations come at a time when Turkish authorities have expelled more and more Protestant Christians -- foreigners and Turkish converts-- on grounds they constitute a "threat to national security".

Turkey had also recently transformed museums into mosques, such as the Hagia Sophia and the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora.

Both churches had been turned into museums after the end of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of modern Turkey.

The Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora was built by the Byzantines in the 5th century. The Ottomans then turned it into a mosque after they captured Constantinople in 1453. And it remained a Muslim worship space until the end of the Second World War when it was transformed into a museum.

The same happened to the Hagia Sophia Museum in Iznik, and the high-profile reconversion of the Hagia Sophia Museum, Istanbul's most identifiable monument.

Many observers believe that President Erdogan, weakened internally by a bad economy and a lack of political perspective, is compensating with erasing part of the country's multiculturalism, aimed at shoring up the ranks of his Islamo-nationalist base.

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What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The decision has also been criticized by Dr. Özgür Kaymak, a lecturer and researcher on minority rights, who stated that "both Hagia Sophia and Chora embodied Byzantine and Ottoman pasts, and they became symbols of co-existence and multi-faith living practices".

The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque has also raised concerns about the preservation of the site, with some experts warning that the large number of visitors could lead to a catastrophic structural failure if not addressed immediately.

Title:

Content: [ditty_news_ticker id="27897"] Video Shows Fragments Falling from the Dome of Hagia Sophia - Orthodox Christian Laity

Video Shows Fragments Falling from the Dome of Hagia Sophia

0

Source: Greek Reporter

A still from a recently released video shows visitors rushing to take cover as fragments fall from the dome of Hagia Sophia. Credit: Daily Motion/BirGün

A video from 2022 that came to light recently shows fragments falling on visitors from the dome of Hagia Sophia, the former epicenter of Christian worship at Constantinople, today’s Istanbul.

The footage released by the Turkish newspaper, BirGün, raises serious questions over the safety of the former Orthodox Christian cathedral, now a mosque.

BirGün notably quoted officials as saying that “pieces are falling from the roof, due to the humidity created by the crowd, but no precautions are being taken”.

The president of the Turkish Art History Association, Serif Yasar, argued for restoration of the monument as soon as possible, suggesting that “If Hagia Sophia is not restored, it will collapse with the first earthquake.”

The monument was restored as a mosque three years ago after serving as a museum from 1935-2020 and has since received 21 million visitors, according to Turkey’s tourism and culture minister.

Yasar added that when the church was a museum, the scientific council overseeing it urged that groups of no more than 25 people should be allowed to enter the building at any one time.

This enormous lift in visitation has likely brought to the forefront the need for repairs and it was indeed reported in September that the Turkish government had decided to start long-term maintenance of Hagia Sophia.

Turkey to implement visitor management policy at Hagia Sophia

In early October Turkish historian Ilber Ortayli expressed fears that the large number of visitors to Hagia Sophia could lead to a catastrophic structural failure if not addressed immediately.

Writing in the Hürriyet daily, Ortayli said that the monument, which attracts three million pilgrims annually apart from tourists, has undergone significant damage since its conversion into a mosque.

He asserted that even a modest number of 20-30 thousand people annually, including scientists, historians, archaeologists, representatives of the Muslim religion, politicians, and public officials, could be considered excessive for the endurance of the monument.

In June 2022 a number of tiles of the ancient marble floors in Hagia Sophia were damaged by heavy machines used to clean the site.

In April 2022, The Turkish Association of Art Historians stated that the historic Imperial Gate in Hagia Sophia had been badly damaged.

The group posted a picture clearly depicting the damage to the oak wood of the 15-century-old gate.

Turkey unveiled plans in late October for a visitor management policy at Hagia Sophia, including charging foreign tourists with an entrance fee to be implemented starting Jan. 15.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that extensive restoration work is underway in various sections of Hagia Sophia, now a mosque, with plans to progress to other parts upon their completion.

He emphasized that, based on UNESCO’s recommendations, a visitor management plan would be enforced to enhance the quality and safety of visits while preserving the historical significance of the site.

Related Articles
Officials argue for repairs to Hagia Sophia after footage shows fragments falling from the dome – Neos Kosmos

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The Turkish Art History Association has also called for the restoration of the monument, citing concerns about the safety of the site.

The damage to the historic Imperial Gate in Hagia Sophia and the marble floors has also been reported, with some experts attributing it to the heavy machines used to clean the site.

The Turkish government has introduced new rules for visiting Hagia Sophia Mosque, which include restricted access and entrance fees for visitors, in an effort to improve coexistence between religious and tourist visitors.

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Content: New rules come into force for the visit of Hagia Sophia Mosque in Turkey - Sunrise Gate
Tuesday 16 January 2024 2: 04 PM Cairo Cairo 24 °
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New rules come into effect for visiting Hagia Sophia mosque in Turkey
DBA
Published on: Tuesday 16 January 2024 - 1: 54 PM | Last updated on Tuesday 16 January 2024 - 1: 54 PM
The project for the Hagia Sophia mosque was closest to the heart of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – but it was also the project that drew international criticism.
In the summer of 2020, Erdogan restored Hagia Sophia to be a mosque after it was originally a church, converted into an Ottoman mosque, converted into a museum.
At the time, Erdogan assured citizens that entry fees would be abolished, adding that the cultural edifice would remain open to everyone – Muslims or non-Muslims alike.
There will be another major change from January 15, with access to the Hagia Sophia restricted and visitors will have to pay fees again.
Turkish Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Arsoy hopes this will improve coexistence between religious and tourist visitors.
Arsoy said recently that tourist visitors are making noise and disrupting calm and prayer.
Until recently, visitors and worshippers were allowed to enter the interior of Hagia Sophia together, with barriers and signs keeping a certain distance between them.
However, from now on, worshippers and tourists will be introduced through different entrances.
Although worshippers can use the same entrances as before, tourists will be guided through an upstairs hallway.
According to Arsoy, tour guides will not be allowed to accompany visitors through the corridors, and earphones will be used instead.
“Our priority there is prayer, ” Arsoy said, noting that the building is a world cultural heritage site and should therefore remain open to all visitors around the world.
Zuleiha Duman, 29, who returned to Istanbul from Germany to see Hagia Sophia after it was converted into a mosque, said she found it taking away.
Welcoming the new rules, she said: “As long as the entrance fee isn ’ t too high, I think it ’ s acceptable. ”
“Why shouldn ’ t Turkey and the government take advantage of this place?
These funds can be channeled to preserve more religious places. ”
Hagia Sophia has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of Istanbul ’ s history since 1985.
Built by Emperor Justinian, Hagia Sophia was the largest place of worship in Christianity for nearly a thousand years, it was the main church during the Byzantine Empire, and from the seventh century, the emperor was crowned inside.
After the Ottomans entered Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 1453, the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque.
On the orders of the founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the building was converted into a museum in 1934 until the summer of 2020.
Hagia Sophia is as symbolically important to Orthodox Christians around the world as St. Peter ’ s Basilica is to Catholics.
After the building was converted into a mosque, criticism poured in from the Greek Orthodox Church.
The UNESCO Foundation also criticized the decision without consultation.
For Erdogan, turning the place into a mosque was his “childhood dream, ” as he himself said, and pleasing to religious voters.
A few external changes were made at the time, for example, a green carpet was placed above the marble floor.
It seems clear that all these things did not detract from the popularity of this teacher.
According to official statistics, some 13.6 million people visited the Hagia Sophia landmark in 2022, not all of them from Europe.
The number of visitors from Indonesia in particular has risen, Hagia Sophia Imam Binyamin Topoglu told Turkey ’ s Anadolu news agency in 2023.
The amount of the fees has not yet been determined.
Tourism Minister Ersoy says the proceeds will be spent on cultural assets, for excavation or preservation of monuments such as the Hagia Sophia.
You might like it, too.
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The decision to reintroduce entrance fees was made despite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's initial assurance that entry fees would be abolished when Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque in 2020.

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

The Turkish government has emphasized that the visitor management plan is based on UNESCO's recommendations and aims to enhance the quality and safety of visits while preserving the historical significance of the site.

Extensive restoration work is underway in various sections of Hagia Sophia, with plans to progress to other parts upon their completion.

The restoration work and visitor management plan are intended to address concerns about the preservation of the site and ensure that its management and maintenance are transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.

However, the reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque has drawn international criticism, with some arguing that it is a political move by Erdogan.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

The decision aimed to rally anti-Kemalist voters.

The site's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its historical significance as both a Byzantine cathedral and an Ottoman mosque have added to the controversy surrounding its management and maintenance.

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

The Turkish government's efforts to balance the needs of religious and tourist visitors while preserving the site's historical significance will be closely watched by UNESCO, the international community, and local residents.


Biohacking refers to attempting to improve one's genetic heritage to live better and longer.

Biohacking involves strategies like nutrition, sleep, and physical activity to strengthen the body physically and mentally.

Intermittent fasting, a biohacking pillar, involves concentrated daily eating and should be done under medical supervision.

Popular biohacking techniques like intermittent fasting and ketogenic diets may have health benefits, including weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity.

Physical activity, including HIIT and strength training, is a key component of many biohacking regimens to improve cardiovascular health and increase muscle mass.

Supplement intake is a common biohacking practice, although its effectiveness is often debated and requires further research.

Biohackers use medical screenings like blood tests and genetic analysis to identify health risks and prevent chronic diseases.

Mental health practices like meditation and mindfulness are popular among biohackers, positively impacting well-being and cognitive function.

Extreme biohacking practices can pose significant health risks without proper medical supervision, including malnutrition, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances.

High-dose supplement intake can cause adverse interactions, worsen health conditions, and lead to toxicity, requiring medical supervision.

Medical supervision is crucial in mitigating the risks of extreme biohacking, as it allows for monitoring and personalized guidance to minimize harm.

The scientific community has raised concerns about the biohacking industry's lack of standardization and regulation, emphasizing the need for evidence-based approaches and medical oversight.

Biohacking can improve health and well-being when combined with traditional medicine and a healthy lifestyle, but it's essential to approach with caution and evaluate scientific evidence.

Biohacking refers to attempting to improve one's genetic heritage to live better and longer.

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Content: Home » biohacking, reprogramming mind and body to live better

biohacking, reprogramming mind and body to live better

by admin

It’s called “biohacking” and it comes from Silicon Valley. Listen: The long life diet: the longevity formula is calorie restriction …

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It’s called “biohacking” and comes from Silicon Valley.

A relatively new word that comes from the union of “biology” and “hacker” and indicates the attempt to positively influence the functioning of the organism, by hacking, ie trying to “force”, one’s genetic heritage. A strategy to live better and longer launched years ago by Californian top managers and which then spread throughout the world. How to upgrade the “operating system” of the human body? No manipulation, here we are talking about “reprogramming” and new lifestyles. “Our genetic heritage has enormous unexpressed potential that can be activated,” he explains Fabio Piccinidoctor and psychoanalyst, researcher of Food Sciences of theMarche Polytechnic University, author of the book “Biohacking Techniques: how to optimize metabolism to increase health and longevity”. “Biohacking aims to activate epigenetic modifications by awakening dormant genes to enhance the body’s resources.” While genetics studies the structure of DNA, epigenetics the way genes express themselves, i.e. how much they are turned on or off. “We’re talking about a set of strategies that aim to strengthen the body from a physical and mental point of view, first of all through nutrition, sleep quality, physical activity, cognitive stimulation”. One of the pillars of biohacking and the intermittent fasting, Piccini adds, which plans to concentrate the diet in a precise time span of the day (to be followed always under medical supervision). «But it is equally important to take care of sleep, we know very well that sleep debt accelerates aging and that 30-40 percent of people sleep too little. Just as it is essential to check thehydration. Physical training must also be intermittent, with recovery periods in place to allow the muscle layers to rebuild. And then, you have to keep learning something at any age, another pillar of biohacking: studying music or a new language, for example, to counteract cognitive degeneration”.

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THE QUALITY OF LIFE

Sandra Milo is one of the supporters of this well-being and longevity strategy. «I’m lucky, at 90 I’m in full health and I still have a great desire to enjoy life. I don’t know if it’s a matter of genetics, nor do I think there is a “magic formula” of longevity, but I have certainly always been careful to lead a healthy life. There is nothing more beautiful than reaching old age with a smile and in full autonomy », says the actress who baptized the first Biohacking Suite in Rome. “Our mission is not so much to lengthen life but to improve its quality by lowering the rate of morbidity,” explains Dr. Claudio Urbani, specialist in regenerative medicine, neuroscience and stress therapy, head of the longevity center Umb. «Biohacking aims to modify dormant functional responses from non-use, from muscular or cardiovascular function to flexibility. It is about regaining possession of the body and the mind-body axis, starting with stress management». Diagnosing your own state of “aging” involves a series of tests. «The measurement of oxidative stress which measures the quantity of free radicals and indicates any inflammatory states, plethysmography to evaluate the functionality of the microcirculation of the legs, impedancemetry to study body composition, fat and lean mass, nutritional status and hydration level. And only after the check is a tailor-made program created for each person. Among the suggested therapies, there is also that of the cold which stimulates the metabolism and reduces inflammation ».

© breaking latest news

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Biohacking involves strategies like nutrition, sleep, and physical activity to strengthen the body physically and mentally.

Intermittent fasting, a biohacking pillar, involves concentrated daily eating and should be done under medical supervision.

Popular biohacking techniques like intermittent fasting and ketogenic diets may have health benefits, including weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity.

According to the studies, how does intermittent fasting help?

It reduces the risk of lifestyle-related diseases, such as metabolic disorders.

Physical activity, including HIIT and strength training, is a key component of many biohacking regimens to improve cardiovascular health and increase muscle mass.

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Biohacking & Toxic Masculinity: How Women Dismantled The Boys Club

Author: Medical reviewer:
Beauty & Health Editor
By Jamie Schneider
Beauty & Health Editor
Jamie Schneider is the Beauty Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.A. in Organizational Studies and English from the University of Michigan, and her work has appeared in Coveteur, The Chill Times, and Wyld Skincare.
Medical review by
Bindiya Gandhi, M.D.
Physician
Dr. Bindiya Gandhi is an American Board Family Medicine–certified physician who completed her family medicine training at Georgia Regents University/Medical College of Georgia.
Image by Sonja Lekovic / Stocksy
We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines. Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links.

Take a quick search for “biohacker” on TikTok (a tag with over 137 million views), and you’ll discover a slew of men discussing their muscle gains, testosterone levels, and cold plunge routines. You’ll see some women on the page, but the space is undoubtedly dominated by male energy. And think of the outspoken biohackers you may listen to on podcasts—chances are most of them are men, too.

This gendered approach to biohacking, while pervasive, is simply misguided. But now, women are asserting their authority in health optimization, and we expect their emphasis to soar in the year ahead.

Meet the experts

Molly Maloof. M.D.

Molly Maloof. M.D. provides health optimization and personalized medicine to high-achieving entrepreneurs, investors, and technology executives. Since 2012, she has worked as an advisor or consultant to more than 50 companies in the digital health, consumer health, and biotechnology industries. Her company, Adamo Bioscience, is working on sexual health optimization.

Gabrielle Lyon, D.O.

Gabrielle Lyon, D.O. is a board-certified family physician leading a disruption in modern medicine that focuses on the largest organ in the body: skeletal muscle. With a background that includes a combined research and clinical fellowship in geriatrics and nutritional sciences at Washington University and undergraduate training in nutritional sciences at the University of Illinois, she is a subject-matter expert on protein for health, performance, aging, and disease prevention.

Stacy Salvi

Stacy Salvi is the vice president of product and strategy at the medical device company Movano Health—the creator of the Evie Ring, the first medical-grade health wearable designed for women.

Mona Vand, PharmD

Mona Vand, PharmD studied pharmacy at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences before developing her platform that shares holistic wellness advice.

Why biohacking isn’t just for “bros”

“Women are the original biohackers,” declares family physician, Molly Maloof, M.D. “Our hormones change throughout our lives, and this requires us to adapt accordingly.” Our biology means that women often need to constantly edit their health routines and experiment with lifestyle habits as time goes on. Isn’t that the very definition of biohacking?

Let's back up: Here at mindbodygreen, we think of “biohacking” as the practice of making lifestyle tweaks to optimize health and promote longevity. Not shortcuts—contrary to popular belief—but low-lift, everyday habits that complement and enhance an existing well-being routine. Think: optimizing your exercise regimen using tools and techniques (the “biohacks”) to enhance muscle growth. It’s essentially all about advancing health with “do it yourself” biology—a topic that can pique anyone’s interest, regardless of gender.

“[Women] have a most complex physiological lifecycle that requires us to track and manage fertility, pregnancy, breastfeeding, sexuality, perimenopause, and menopause. So we should be looking at biohacking as a path to even greater health and owning the opportunity to improve our lives,” says Maloof.

Yet many women feel intimidated to enter the biohacking scene as it exists today, turned off by the male-dominated energy in the room.

Women are the original biohackers

Molly Maloof, M.D

“Biohacking has always grabbed my attention, and I want to learn, but it sometimes makes me really stressed out, because I go into this state of perfectionism where I have to do all the things,” says doctor of pharmacy and wellness practitioner Mona Vand, PharmD. “The few biohackers that I followed were all males… it just doesn't really resonate with my energy.”

This male energy is not only frustrating but can potentially harm women’s health in the long run. After all, building muscle, prioritizing protein, and keeping an eye on various health metrics are crucial for longevity—in some cases, these proactive measures can save lives. When women don’t get involved, it can totally impact their well-being.

“Physical strength is nonnegotiable,” says functional medicine doctor Gabrielle Lyon, D.O. “I've been a physician since 2006, and I've never heard someone say, ‘I regret being physically strong.’” And the muscle-building space impacts more than just physiological changes, she says. “You optimize fertility, you make healthier babies, you help the epigenetics of your child,” Lyon adds. “You age better, your skin is better, you're less likely to fall and break a hip… There's nothing that doesn't get better the stronger you are.”

So let’s be clear: Dismantling the biohacking boy’s club is not just about helping women feel included; there are real health implications at stake here.

Why the biohacker space actually really needs a dose of feminine energy

I’d be remiss not to mention how biohacking culture can easily become synonymous with hustle culture (some experts don’t even like to use the term, as it implies you can achieve optimal health with quick fixes). But as more women enter the biohacking space, we expect it to become more intuitive and less about hitting every single benchmark. From there, we predict women will focus more on sustainable changes long-term instead of a gazillion quick hacks.

“I used to think it was a flex to do a million things at the same time and habit stack,” Vand recounts. “I now carve out time for doing things that have no efficiency to them, that are strictly for joy or rest and relaxation, versus benefiting my longevity or health. It can be a little bit obsessive when you get into this thought pattern, and I just don't resonate with it.”

This doesn’t mean biohacking will become “softer” as it embraces feminine energy. But there’s an opportunity here for women to introduce some much-needed flexibility into a space that has long felt needlessly rigid.

How the biohacker game is changing — and where it’s headed next

Thanks to a growing awareness that healthcare protocols should not be gendered, more women are now starting to pay attention to markers of performance like lean muscle, hormetic stressors, VO2 max, HRV, zone 2 training, etc. “Cold plunging, saunas, and harder, more physical activities are not just for the boys anymore,” adds Lyon—and we expect an even bigger shift to come in 2024.

“I think it’s super exciting to see biohacking become more mainstream and more women joining the conversation,” adds Maloof. She praises apps like Wild.AI, for women who aim to make lifestyle adjustments based on their menstrual cycle, and Zero, for women who want to dabble in time-restricted eating, both of which have helped to herald the shift.

Other existing health optimization companies are now inviting women into the conversation by introducing specific features informed by their unique physiology. WHOOP, for example, is currently working on upgrades to their popular health-tracking band: “We did a study recently where we learned a lot about how a woman's body changes during pregnancy and how her heart rate variability (HRV) will evolve. It'll decrease, and then about seven weeks before she gives birth, it will increase sharply,” explains Will Ahmed, WHOOP founder and CEO, on the mindbodygreen podcast

If a woman didn’t know that this was supposed to happen, she might look at this stark increase with a critical (or anxious) eye. “We've been able to take population-level data on pregnant women and now have a feature in the app, where a woman can see how her body is evolving alongside what other pregnant women are experiencing,” he adds.

Similarly, creatine supplements—from the ingredients to the packaging—are no longer marketed toward dudes looking to bulk up, and we are certainly here for it. After all, muscle mass is a predictor of longevity and healthspan, so supplements that promote it can help all of us “hack” our health in a big way.

And as Lyon notes, women have lower endogenous creatine stores compared to men (meaning, they have less available). And the amino acid has been associated with significantly increased muscle mass1 in both men and women, without increasing the risk of adverse outcomes2, like weight gain. “Most of the women in my practice will go on creatine, and they find anecdotally that it really improves both anaerobic and aerobic exercise performance,” Lyon shares.

Not to mention the supplement’s brain health perks: Taking creatine has been shown to benefit both working memory and processing speed3 as well as cognitive longevity4. “It is above and beyond simply sport performance,” adds Lyon, who has certainly seen an uptick in women curious about creatine.

As women feel intimidated (or even restricted) by biohacking spaces, some experts have taken it upon themselves to create new ones that center the feminine. For example, neuropsychophysiologist Kayla Osterhoff, MPH, offers a Women's Biohacking Mini Course, consisting of lifestyle routines and tips aligned with female physiology.

Osterhoff also recently presented at the 2023 Dragonfly Live Conference—among other female biohackers—to discuss the latest advancements in women's well-being and the “health revolution” that’s sweeping the mainstream. This conference aims to gather the “who's-who” in the health space to discuss cutting-edge strategies and innovations that optimize well-being—by having women biohackers at the forefront of the conversation, we can expect them to hit the main stage in a broader sense.

Or take the brand new Evie Ring, the first medical-grade health wearable designed for women, created by medical device company Movano Health. The technology ties hormonal information to a woman’s sleep, activity, and heart health data (among other metrics).

For instance, “If we notice a more restless night of sleep in the luteal phase, we'll point it out and also give some strategies for how somebody may attack their day, despite having not gotten as good of a night of sleep,” says Stacy Salvi, vice president of product and strategy at Movano Health. Similarly, “We know that there are cardiovascular implications when your estrogen drops, so they would want to keep a better look on the function of their heart,” she adds. “This would be something that they would be able to do from our app.”

Even the design itself was made with women in mind: The ring features an open band meant to accommodate how women’s fingers change in size throughout the day, so it can stay comfortable.

To avoid needless stress, Evie also limits the amount of goals you can set on the app. “You can only set three at a time, because we do not want to overwhelm [users] with a bunch of different things,” says Salvi. “I mean, I'm an overachiever. I probably would set every single goal and then fail at them.” And heaven knows we don’t need yet another way for busy, overwhelmed women to feel like they’re failing in a society with unsurmountable standards.

Forecasting the future

A woman walks up to the weight rack in 2024. She sees the usual suspects—bros pounding protein shakes and grunting through their bicep curls—but now she also sees a fair amount of women on the scene. They’ve got creatine supplements! Fitness trackers! Kettlebells! (And no, they aren’t pink.)

Granted, we still have a ways to go before women feel totally embraced by the biohacking space (we’d first have to close the centuries-long gender gap in science and medicine), but it’s clear that the arena is becoming way less of a boy’s club. “And the world is ready, my friend,” says Lyon. “The world is absolutely ready for this.”

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Supplement intake is a common biohacking practice, although its effectiveness is often debated and requires further research.

Title:

Content: TV legend Davinia Taylor has revealed how well she is feeling after undertaking a new lifestyle that involves biohacking.

Biohacking occurs when someone changes their nutrition and lifestyle in order to make themselves healthier. Each person who biohacks does so in a different way whether it’s cutting out alcohol, taking supplements, or engaging in anti-ageing procedures.

Davinia – who starred in Hollyoaks – has explained that her biohacking involves cold-water therapy and removing inflammatory foods from her diet.

As a result of her new lifestyle, which also includes the use of saunas and supplements, Davinia has said that she now feels healthier than she ever has before.

Speaking to Hello! Davinia said that she entered a difficult period of poor mental health after the death of her mother when she was 35.

She added: “Boredom drove me to drink and then to eat unhealthily. I don’t want to go into my 50s feeling bored, so I had to find another way to get the dopamine I crave.”

On the techniques she uses for her biohacking, Davinia reveals that one of her routine acts is taking supplements from a company she founded. Known as WillPowders which contain collagen, protein, bone broth, and MCT (a healthy form of saturated fat) they have become an essential part of her routine.

Davinia explained: “If I don’t have my morning keto creamer and collagen, I’m going to end up binging on croissants or brownies. It’s how I’m wired after my 1980s upbringing.”

This isn’t the first time Davinia has spoken about biohacking. Earlier this year she told the Evening Standard that it wasn’t a case of taking big measures to improve one’s health.

She said: “There's so much doom and gloom… There's so much doom and gloom…There are so many little hacks you can do just to make yourself feel mentally better.”

Davinia highlighted the benefits of cold-water therapy, a method she said can be cheap to access: “The water’s freezing in this country two-thirds of the time. And on the few months a year when it’s not, just go to the supermarket, buy some ice bags and empty them into the bath.”

Biohackers use medical screenings like blood tests and genetic analysis to identify health risks and prevent chronic diseases.

Mental health practices like meditation and mindfulness are popular among biohackers, positively impacting well-being and cognitive function.

Extreme biohacking practices can pose significant health risks without proper medical supervision, including malnutrition, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances.

High-dose supplement intake can cause adverse interactions, worsen health conditions, and lead to toxicity, requiring medical supervision.

Medical supervision is crucial in mitigating the risks of extreme biohacking, as it allows for monitoring and personalized guidance to minimize harm.

The scientific community has raised concerns about the biohacking industry's lack of standardization and regulation, emphasizing the need for evidence-based approaches and medical oversight.

Biohacking can improve health and well-being when combined with traditional medicine and a healthy lifestyle, but it's essential to approach with caution and evaluate scientific evidence.


The Centre is working on documenting medicinal herbs and healers of the tribal communities across the country, with a pilot project already completed in Uttarakhand.

The pilot project in Uttarakhand resulted in a five-volume book series of over 1,400 medicinal plants, which were documented along with their Sanskrit names.

The documentation of medicinal herbs and healers is being carried out by various institutions, including the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in Kerala, All India Institute of Medical Studies Jodhpur in Rajasthan, and Patanjali in Uttarakhand.

Researchers are particularly interested in learning everything they can about the efficacy of herbs in treating various diseases, and several books have been reviewed as part of this investigation into the best herbal formulas in use around the world.

Indian herbal medicines are being extensively researched for their efficacy in treating a wide range of chronic diseases, with several studies investigating their potential in managing illnesses such as diabetes, arthritis, and cancer.

The use of herbal formulas, such as Ayurvedic and Unani medicine, is becoming increasingly popular in India, with many hospitals and research centers exploring their therapeutic applications.

The Indian government is supporting a WHO centre with US $250 million to explore traditional medicine and its benefits.

The centre, based in India, aims to be an engine of innovation, moving towards an agenda of evidence, data and sustainability in traditional medicine.

The World Health Organization is interested in alternative medicine and has opened a centre in Jamnagar, India, to study traditional medicine.

The integration of traditional Indian medicine with modern Western medicine is an area of ongoing research, with 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) supporting studies in this field.

Turmeric, a commonly used Indian herbal medicine, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, making it effective in treating conditions such as arthritis and digestive disorders.

Ginger, another widely used Indian herbal medicine, has been found to have anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective in treating conditions such as motion sickness and menstrual cramps.

Ashwagandha, an Indian herbal medicine, has been found to have adaptogenic properties, making it effective in reducing stress and anxiety, and improving sleep quality.

Several clinical trials have been conducted to investigate the efficacy of Indian herbal medicines in treating various diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and neurological disorders.

A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that an Indian herbal medicine called Gymnema sylvestre was effective in reducing blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) conducted a clinical trial on the use of Ayurvedic medicine in treating rheumatoid arthritis, which showed significant improvement in symptoms and quality of life.

The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) has established several research centers and institutions to promote research and development in the field of traditional Indian medicine.

The National Ayurveda Research Institute (NARI) is another institution that conducts research on traditional Indian medicine and has published several studies on the use of Indian herbal medicine in treating various diseases.

The Indian government has been working towards scientifically integrating traditional forms of medicine with modern medicine under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Ministry of Ayush is operationalizing 12,500 Ayush health and wellness centres through the support of state and Union territory governments under the National Ayush Mission (NAM) by 2023-24.

The government has implemented various programmes, such as Ayurvidya for promotion of healthy lifestyle through Ayush for school children, Supraja for maternal and neonatal intervention, and Vayomitra for geriatric issues.

The 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) includes a traditional medicine module, which provides a list of diagnostic categories to collect and report on traditional medicine conditions in a standardized and internationally comparable manner.

The Ministry of Ayush is hopeful that the addition of Module-2 for Ayurveda to the ICD-11 will happen by next January, which will aid in regulation and research of traditional medicine.

The Centre is working on documenting medicinal herbs and healers of the tribal communities across the country, with a pilot project already completed in Uttarakhand.

Title:

Content: Govt to document medicinal herbs of tribal communities

Centre to document medicinal herbs of tribal communities across country

The union ministry of tribal affairs carried out the initiative in Kerala, Rajasthan, Maharashtra as well as in Uttarakhand

The Centre is working on documenting medicinal herbs and healers of the tribal communities across the country. A pilot from Uttarakhand has been completed, resulting in a five-volume book series of over 1,400 medicinal plants. The exercise, officials said, will be carried out in more states.

The union ministry of tribal affairs carried out the initiative in Kerala, Rajasthan, Maharashtra as well as in Uttarakhand. Apart from documenting the plant and healers, they also documented the Sanskrit names of these plants.

In Kerala, the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham was given the responsibility, All India Institute of Medical Studies Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences Ahmedabad for Maharashtra, and Patanjali carried it out in Uttarakhand.

While the others are carrying it out, Patanjali’s series of seven tomes are ready. In the hill state three districts were chosen, which included Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar, all phytodiversity was documented by a team of over 50-50 people over a period of two years.

When asked about the Sanskrit nomenclature, the official said that it was a way of directing attention to the functionality of the plant.

“The National Medicinal Plant Board says there are over 1,500 plants in Uttarakhand, many of which are not even documented. But in three districts alone, we found 900 plants,” a senior official of the ministry said. “Tribal medicine holds considerable interest among researchers.”

Chemical analysis of all these plants was carried out, to find the active ingredient in the plant, with the help of an HPLC machine, officials said. Apart from that, samples of these were preserved, along with data on their therapeutic use. The official said that permissions from the biodiversity board were also taken.

In addition to that, the Hyderabad-based National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) carried out a similar exercise in their areas where they found three medicinal plants, which when combined can be a cure for malaria. A similar exercise was carried out by the same team in the Rashtrapati Bhawan as well.

Healers in tribal communities in the areas that use these plants were also documented, along with data of their areas of expertise. In all, 750 healers were documented.

Officials said that after the successful pilot, the ministry has sent it to the AYUSH ministry, urging them to take it further across the country using SC/ST components from their funds. Officials also said that details of these plants will be put up online.

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The pilot project in Uttarakhand resulted in a five-volume book series of over 1,400 medicinal plants, which were documented along with their Sanskrit names.

The documentation of medicinal herbs and healers is being carried out by various institutions, including the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in Kerala, All India Institute of Medical Studies Jodhpur in Rajasthan, and Patanjali in Uttarakhand.

Researchers are particularly interested in learning everything they can about the efficacy of herbs in treating various diseases, and several books have been reviewed as part of this investigation into the best herbal formulas in use around the world.

Title:

Content: HealthRoots launches two flagship herbal products made from rare herbs sourced internationally

New Delhi India, November 1 HealthRoots, a leader in bringing rare international herbs in the Indian market, has launched its two flagship herbal products to prevent headaches, increase endurance, and reduce tiredness and stress.

PTI | New Delhi | Updated: 01-11-2022 16:34 IST | Created: 01-11-2022 16:34 IST
  • Country:
  • India

New Delhi (India), November 1: HealthRoots, a leader in bringing rare international herbs in the Indian market, has launched its two flagship herbal products to prevent headaches, increase endurance, and reduce tiredness and stress. The company stated that Migoherb, a highly purified version of the herb Butterburr, has been launched to prevent headaches, and the Siberian Plant Rhodiola herb 'Redrive Am' has been launched to prevent headaches, increase endurance, and reduce tiredness and stress. When environmental pollution is at its peak and medical science is rapidly growing, innovation and care are hand-in-hand. Necessities give rise to inventions, and crises give rise to opportunities, as happened with the Doctor who founded HealthRoots. ''I am a doctor by profession and also a patient of frequent severe migraine headaches,'' Healthroots' founder Dr.Singla explained. ''Extreme migraines were frustrating since there seemed to be no way to stop them. One day, though, an American physician suggested trying herbal medicine in an effort to put an end to these migraines. I took the prescribed medications with some trepidation, but they actually helped me get control of the migraine. Talking about it with my other close friends and family reinforced my interest in the natural realm. Consequently, a group of field experts conceptualised and brought the brand to life.'' Team Healthroots' incredible successes have been made possible by their persistent efforts and resolve to deliver the greatest outcomes while preserving environmental harmony. They thoroughly inspect each and every ingredient to ensure that a user receives everything required to solve their issue at prices that are competitive with those of competing drugs. They hope to treat many additional illnesses using Ayurvedic remedies eventually. Healthroots now offers a drug called Redrive Am, which is derived from the Rhodiola plant, at a time when stress is a major contributing reason to a variety of health problems. Their primary focus is on the treatment of conditions like migraine headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and irritable bowel syndrome. Over the course of many years, the medical professionals at Healthroots have dedicated countless hours to learning everything they can about the efficacy of herbs in treating a wide range of chronic diseases. Several books were reviewed as part of their investigation into the best herbal formulas in use around the world and how to bring them to India.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Indian herbal medicines are being extensively researched for their efficacy in treating a wide range of chronic diseases, with several studies investigating their potential in managing illnesses such as diabetes, arthritis, and cancer.

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

Treatment on arthritis
Treatment on diabetes

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

The use of herbal formulas, such as Ayurvedic and Unani medicine, is becoming increasingly popular in India, with many hospitals and research centers exploring their therapeutic applications.

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Content: you are here: HomeNewsIndia

Govt working towards scientifically integrating traditional and modern medicine: Sonowal

The ministry is working on operationalisation of 12,500 Ayush health and wellness centres through the support of state and Union territory governments under the National Ayush Mission (NAM) by 2023-24, Sonowal said.

September 07, 2023 / 12:48 AM IST

Ayurveda representational image

India's rich heritage of traditional form of medicine has withstood the test of time and the government has been working towards scientifically integrating it with modern medicine, Union Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Wednesday.

The Regional Review meeting of National Ayush Mission was ceremonially inaugurated by him along with his deputy Munjpara Mahendrabhai.

During the meeting, representatives of all participating states and Union territories presented detailed presentations on the state of Ayush and progress of leading Ayush programmes under implementation.

Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said, "Our rich heritage and potential of traditional form of medicine has withstood the test of time in generations of humanity to live a better, healthier and happier life. We must take full advantage of this generous forms of medicine - be it Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga, Naturopathy, Sowa Rigpa, or Homoeopathy."

He also said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has been working towards scientifically integrating traditional forms of medicine with the modern medicine.

Highlighting the utility of Ayush system of medicine, he further said that it has some robust programmes like Ayurvidya for promotion of healthy lifestyle through Ayush for school children, Supraja for maternal and neonatal intervention, Vayomitra for geriatric issues; prevention and management of Osteoarthritis and other musculo-skeletal disorders, and Ayush mobile medical units.

The ministry is working on operationalisation of 12,500 Ayush health and wellness centres through the support of state and Union territory governments under the National Ayush Mission (NAM) by 2023-24, Sonowal said.

The ministry of Ayush has so far released Rs 719.70 crore to southern states and Union territories - Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Telangana - under NAM since 2014-15, he said, adding it has also supported 17 Integrated Ayush hospitals in the southern states and out of that six are operational as reported by them.

Mahendrabhai stressed on the need to emphasise on outcomes as a more meaningful measure of programme value than output.

"We may have to realign our strategies and techniques to plan, execute and report our performance that facilitates measure of outcomes," the minister of state for Ayush said.

NAM is being implemented with the vision and objectives to provide Ayush health care services throughout the country by strengthening and improving facilities, to provide informed choice to the needy public.

PTI
first published: Sep 7, 2023 12:47 am

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Content: Archive / Lifestyle
The World Health Organization is interested in alternative medicine.
Mohamed Ismail - Cairo - DPA -
Many people use traditional medicine – but what do these methods really do?
A new WHO centre intends to explore this.
The center is based in India, a country where alternative medicine is so important that it even has its own ministry – which specializes in Ayurveda, Yoga, Physiotherapy, Greek Medicine, Master and Homeopathy.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the opening of the centre in Jamnagar in mid-April, saying: “India ’ s traditional medicine system is not just a cure.
It ’ s a comprehensive science of life. ”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Indian government is supporting the centre with US $250 million (230 million euros).
WHO President Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “The center aims to be an engine of innovation, moving towards an agenda of evidence, data and sustainability in traditional medicine, ” adding that the center would connect traditional medicine practitioners around the world and help set standards for research.
Traditional medicine is a broad field.
According to the World Health Organization ’ s statement for the center, 80% of the world ’ s population uses traditional medicine, which includes among other things acupuncture, Ayurvedic medicine and herbal blends.
Traditional medicine is also represented in modern science.
According to the World Health Organization, about 40% of all drugs approved today are derived from natural substances.
The discovery of aspirin, for example, is based on ancient recipes made from the bark of the willow tree.
The research for artemisinin for use in the fight against malaria, for which the Nobel Prize was awarded in 2015, began with the study of ancient texts of Chinese medicine.
George Rochmeyer of Cochrane, an international network that provides the scientific basis for decisions in the health field, said it makes sense at least to take a closer look at treatment methods that have been developed over centuries, to verify the reasonableness of these methods, and to conduct clinical studies on them in case of doubt.
Cochrane reviews are systematic reviews that collect all scientific evidence on a specific issue from medicine or other health sciences.
However, Rochmeyer also stressed that besides the examples of traditional methods cited by the WHO, which form the basis of currently developed treatments, there are likely many other examples where traditional methods of careful review have proven ineffective or even dangerous, such as phlebotomy, noting that spending too much money on studies to review a therapeutic practice is always a matter of discretion.
Rochmeyer stated that there are many Cochrane reviews about the use of traditional methods such as acupuncture in certain cases, but: “From my personal experience at Cochrane, I would say that I have not come across many reviews that have shown really compelling evidence for traditional therapeutic practice. ”
This is often due to the fact that when searching for these treatments we find only a few often-poorly conducted studies that cannot prove or disprove any benefit from them – which brings us back to the question of whether the already limited research funds should be invested in a scientifically unreasonable procedure – for example, homeopathy.
Professor Emeritus Edzard Ernst, a longtime professor of alternative medicine at the University of Exeter, noted that while it was necessary to wait and see who would lead the center and what it would do, the WHO press release was full of exaggerations.
The World Health Organization says it also wants to use new technologies at the new center for the study of traditional medicine — via artificial intelligence and big data, for example.
The center is expected to focus on providing a reliable evidence base for policy and standards of traditional medicine practices and products.
In addition, the center is supposed to help countries integrate these practices into their health systems.
You may also read.

The Indian government is supporting a WHO centre with US $250 million to explore traditional medicine and its benefits.

The centre, based in India, aims to be an engine of innovation, moving towards an agenda of evidence, data and sustainability in traditional medicine.

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

Gathering evidence and data to guide policies

The World Health Organization is interested in alternative medicine and has opened a centre in Jamnagar, India, to study traditional medicine.

The integration of traditional Indian medicine with modern Western medicine is an area of ongoing research, with 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) supporting studies in this field.

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

Gathering evidence and data to guide policies

Turmeric, a commonly used Indian herbal medicine, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, making it effective in treating conditions such as arthritis and digestive disorders.

Ginger, another widely used Indian herbal medicine, has been found to have anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective in treating conditions such as motion sickness and menstrual cramps.

Ashwagandha, an Indian herbal medicine, has been found to have adaptogenic properties, making it effective in reducing stress and anxiety, and improving sleep quality.

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

Treatment on neurological conditions
Treatment on mental health disorders

What does traditional Indian medicine generally treat?

It addresses the psychological aspects of health conditions.

What mental health problems does traditional Indian medicine treat?

Support the management of symptoms related to mental health.

Several clinical trials have been conducted to investigate the efficacy of Indian herbal medicines in treating various diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and neurological disorders.

A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that an Indian herbal medicine called Gymnema sylvestre was effective in reducing blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) conducted a clinical trial on the use of Ayurvedic medicine in treating rheumatoid arthritis, which showed significant improvement in symptoms and quality of life.

The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) has established several research centers and institutions to promote research and development in the field of traditional Indian medicine.

The National Ayurveda Research Institute (NARI) is another institution that conducts research on traditional Indian medicine and has published several studies on the use of Indian herbal medicine in treating various diseases.

The Indian government has been working towards scientifically integrating traditional forms of medicine with modern medicine under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Ministry of Ayush is operationalizing 12,500 Ayush health and wellness centres through the support of state and Union territory governments under the National Ayush Mission (NAM) by 2023-24.

The government has implemented various programmes, such as Ayurvidya for promotion of healthy lifestyle through Ayush for school children, Supraja for maternal and neonatal intervention, and Vayomitra for geriatric issues.

The 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) includes a traditional medicine module, which provides a list of diagnostic categories to collect and report on traditional medicine conditions in a standardized and internationally comparable manner.

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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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The Ministry of Ayush is hopeful that the addition of Module-2 for Ayurveda to the ICD-11 will happen by next January, which will aid in regulation and research of traditional medicine.

What is the traditional Indian medical system called?