With an intend to show displeasure over the ban of all ayurvedic products in the European Union through the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD), the International Ayurveda Foundation (IAF) will soon initiate legal proceedings under Article 234 EC in the Courts of the United Kingdom challenging the legality of the THMPD.
The IAF has prepared a 200 pages lengthy report based on three arguments. The first argument will be challenging the legality of how does the directive become a law since it is in contravention with lots of existing laws in EU. The second will be focusing on how EU is violating the European human rights legislation, and the third argument will be focused on how EU is violating the existing protocol of WTO treaty through this directive.
According to Praful Patel, general secretary, IAF they will be fighting either both of the first three suites together or one by one separately. However, he informed that only the Indian government is legally authorised to challenge in the third case since its a WTO matter. As of now the IAF is in talks with the barristers from the EU on these matter so that they can take this issue ahead, whereas, they are subsequently planning to have meeting with its advisors on Ayurveda soon.
Patel informs, “It is necessary to challenge the EU directive because if it remains unchallenged there is a good chance that even other countries like US, Australia, Canada may follow suit and ban the traditional medicines in their respective countries as well. If this happens, it will be a disaster for the five billion worth Indian ayurvedic industry.”
He said that it is a shame that the Indian government did not take any steps in this matter till now and that it does not have the political will to highlight the Indian issue at an international level. IAF has been advocating this issue from last seven years and got a lukewarm response from every sector. However, Patel is hopeful that things will change fast and the industry will rope in their support by providing financial help as well.
He pointed out that there is only one permanent solution to this critical issue and that is to suspend the directive with immediate effect and have a separate directive or law that would recognise the traditional systems of medicines like Ayurveda as a separate entity. “Most importantly, we want the EU to take suggestions from the Indian government, IAF, etc while framing the law. It is important that individual systems should have recognised statutes since over 25 millions of people in Europe use traditional medicines,” added Patel.
Criticising the EU directive he said that the move to ban traditional medicines is an outcome of powerful European herbal lobby and will only lead to illegal use of medicines.
Friday, 13 May 2011
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Stricter norms for colleges of traditional medicine
In order to ensure the quality of education to the students of Indian system of medicines and prevent mushrooming growth of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) and Homoeopathic Colleges, the Centre has issued stricter parameters for granting permission for setting up or upgrading the existing colleges.
From this academic year (2011-02), the Department of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) has increased the requirement of minimum availability of teachers for under graduate colleges of ASU system from 28 to 32 teachers. In addition, there is now a mandatory requirement of one teacher in all the 14 departments of Ayurveda colleges, 8 departments of Unani colleges and 14 departments of Siddha colleges.
The new registration system has been introduced because many colleges were not complying with the guidelines specified for imparting AYUSH education with some of them attempted to indulge in unfair practices to project availability of infrastructure and teachers, Anil Kumar Secretary, department of AYUSH told reporters here on Tuesday.
India has 499 colleges teaching the Indian system of medicine — 311 colleges for Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha and 188 colleges teaching homeopathy — which will have to follow the new registration system from 2011 academic year.
In view of the improvement in the availability of the higher faculties it has now also been decided to insist upon having minimum 10 teachers in the rank of professors of readers for admission capacity up to 50 students in Ayurveda colleges.
“By 2011 end, the Centre would bring out a gazette notification stipulating the levels of hard and soft infrastructure the colleges should have to receive the recognition. Once the new norms are notified, all colleges will have to follow it,’’ he said.
At present, colleges teaching Indian system of medicine and homeopathy require annual approval to admit new students. With the new notification, the government plans to do away with the annual inspection system. The notification would make it mandatory for all colleges to have the stipulated facilities and faculty.
The new norms, Mr. Kumar said, would be applicable for the current academic year though they are most likely to be retained or strengthened in the final notification expected by the end of this year which would be applicable from the next academic year. The hospitals, too, should be a properly functional one and not a proxy set up created solely for the purpose of inspection.
Since all medical colleges in the alternate system too are required to have a functional hospital, the inspection team would have to look at the patient records like pathological and radiological diagnostics, diet and medicine chart to determine if the hospital is really functional or not.
Keywords: AYUSH, alternative medicine, traditional medicine, regulation
From this academic year (2011-02), the Department of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) has increased the requirement of minimum availability of teachers for under graduate colleges of ASU system from 28 to 32 teachers. In addition, there is now a mandatory requirement of one teacher in all the 14 departments of Ayurveda colleges, 8 departments of Unani colleges and 14 departments of Siddha colleges.
The new registration system has been introduced because many colleges were not complying with the guidelines specified for imparting AYUSH education with some of them attempted to indulge in unfair practices to project availability of infrastructure and teachers, Anil Kumar Secretary, department of AYUSH told reporters here on Tuesday.
India has 499 colleges teaching the Indian system of medicine — 311 colleges for Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha and 188 colleges teaching homeopathy — which will have to follow the new registration system from 2011 academic year.
In view of the improvement in the availability of the higher faculties it has now also been decided to insist upon having minimum 10 teachers in the rank of professors of readers for admission capacity up to 50 students in Ayurveda colleges.
“By 2011 end, the Centre would bring out a gazette notification stipulating the levels of hard and soft infrastructure the colleges should have to receive the recognition. Once the new norms are notified, all colleges will have to follow it,’’ he said.
At present, colleges teaching Indian system of medicine and homeopathy require annual approval to admit new students. With the new notification, the government plans to do away with the annual inspection system. The notification would make it mandatory for all colleges to have the stipulated facilities and faculty.
The new norms, Mr. Kumar said, would be applicable for the current academic year though they are most likely to be retained or strengthened in the final notification expected by the end of this year which would be applicable from the next academic year. The hospitals, too, should be a properly functional one and not a proxy set up created solely for the purpose of inspection.
Since all medical colleges in the alternate system too are required to have a functional hospital, the inspection team would have to look at the patient records like pathological and radiological diagnostics, diet and medicine chart to determine if the hospital is really functional or not.
Keywords: AYUSH, alternative medicine, traditional medicine, regulation
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Kerala HC stays govt order allowing traditional healers to practise ayurveda without registration
The operation and implementation of the Kerala government’s order of 21-2-2011 giving exemption to traditional ayurvedic healers of Kerala from acquiring recognized qualification and registration for practicing ayurveda has been stayed by the Kerala High court on April 26.
The court made the judgement on a petition filed by a group of ayurvedic doctors belonging to the Kerala unit of the Ayurvedic Medical Association of India (AMAI). For the AMAI, Advocate P Gopinath Menon appeared in the court.
Besides giving permission to traditional ayurvedic healers, the order of February 21 by the Kerala government had exempted self educated homoeopathic practitioners of Malabar area to practice homoeopathy system without registration and academic qualification.
The high court had earlier stayed the permission given to the fake homoeopaths following a petition submitted by All Kerala Homoeopathic Coordination Council (AKHCC), a movement of qualified homoeopathic practitioners, students, teachers and Medical officers of that system.
The members of AMAI approached the court under Article 226 of the constitution of India requesting to quash the government order issued on February 21 this year. The petition was filed in public interest as well as to protect the professional interests of the Ayurvedic Medical Offices Association.
Office-bearers of AMAI said one of the objectives of the petition was to ensure that quackery bringing disrepute to qualified and authentic medical practitioners be prevented and put an end to ayurvedic system of health care from being misused by quacks in disguise. They said the association has definite knowledge that a large number of bogus practitioners continued to defraud the public by masquerading themselves as Ayurveda doctors and thereby cheating the public.
The order said that the unqualified and self-learnt people hailing from traditional healers’ family of Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod districts and were in the practising field for a continuous period of 20 years prior to 01-01-2011,could continue their practice in the concerned system by virtue of their hereditary.
The government had issued the order based on section 38 of the Travancore-Cochin Medical Practitioners Act 1953. The government had also exempted these traditional practitioners from the requirement of recognized qualification and registration.
Members of AMAI said the government order is against the provisions of the central council act. According to the association, the provisions of the TCMP Act has never been extended to the Malabar area of the state of Kerala , which was part of Madras province of the British India, prior to the formation of Kerala in 1956. It was the Madras Medical Registration Act 1914 that regulated the practice of medicine in the Madras province.
The court made the judgement on a petition filed by a group of ayurvedic doctors belonging to the Kerala unit of the Ayurvedic Medical Association of India (AMAI). For the AMAI, Advocate P Gopinath Menon appeared in the court.
Besides giving permission to traditional ayurvedic healers, the order of February 21 by the Kerala government had exempted self educated homoeopathic practitioners of Malabar area to practice homoeopathy system without registration and academic qualification.
The high court had earlier stayed the permission given to the fake homoeopaths following a petition submitted by All Kerala Homoeopathic Coordination Council (AKHCC), a movement of qualified homoeopathic practitioners, students, teachers and Medical officers of that system.
The members of AMAI approached the court under Article 226 of the constitution of India requesting to quash the government order issued on February 21 this year. The petition was filed in public interest as well as to protect the professional interests of the Ayurvedic Medical Offices Association.
Office-bearers of AMAI said one of the objectives of the petition was to ensure that quackery bringing disrepute to qualified and authentic medical practitioners be prevented and put an end to ayurvedic system of health care from being misused by quacks in disguise. They said the association has definite knowledge that a large number of bogus practitioners continued to defraud the public by masquerading themselves as Ayurveda doctors and thereby cheating the public.
The order said that the unqualified and self-learnt people hailing from traditional healers’ family of Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod districts and were in the practising field for a continuous period of 20 years prior to 01-01-2011,could continue their practice in the concerned system by virtue of their hereditary.
The government had issued the order based on section 38 of the Travancore-Cochin Medical Practitioners Act 1953. The government had also exempted these traditional practitioners from the requirement of recognized qualification and registration.
Members of AMAI said the government order is against the provisions of the central council act. According to the association, the provisions of the TCMP Act has never been extended to the Malabar area of the state of Kerala , which was part of Madras province of the British India, prior to the formation of Kerala in 1956. It was the Madras Medical Registration Act 1914 that regulated the practice of medicine in the Madras province.
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Ayurveda in Allopathy - in 20 Hrs ?
Maharashtra to include Ayurveda as part of MBBS syllabus
Our Bureau, Mumbai
Saturday, April 23, 2011, 08:00 Hrs [IST]
The Maharashtra University of Health Science (MUHS) will soon constitute an expert committee to discuss the new syllabus for the MBBS students for the coming academic year as it has been decided to include basic Ayurveda as part of MBBS syllabus in the medical colleges in the state.
A decision to include Ayurveda in MBBS syllabus was taken following recommendations from the Ayush department. There are 34 private and government medical colleges in the state. Their syllabus comes under the purview of the MUHS. According to the Ayush recommendations, every medical college should reserve at least 20 hours to teach ayurvedic science in MBBS classes.
Dr Arun Jamkar, vice chancellor, MUHS said “As per the suggestions made by Dept of Ayush we are meeting up to form a committee to implement these directives and to discuss the new syllabus for the medical students for the coming year.” He further informed that Maharashtra will be the first state for implementing such directives.
Dr Arun Jamkar, vice chancellor, MUHS said “We are meeting soon to form a committee to implement these directives and to discuss the new syllabus for the medical students for the coming year.”
Dr Vijay Magar, associate professor at the RA Podar Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Mumbai said “Ayurveda is an ancient medicine and the students are more interested in learning modern medicine. For this it is a nice move as modern medicine doctors should be familiar with ancient medicine and its treatment methodology. Every person should know about Ayurveda. Instead of devoting so much time for a course, we can have atleast one lecture every week. Like for conducting research in herbal products there are separate institutes.”
Dr Jamkar informed that as most of the universities across the world has been teaching the ancient medicine of their respective cultures. For instance, modern medicine doctors in China get lessons in Chinese medicine. “Finally we too are introducing the study of our ancient medicine. We are proud that ours will be the first state in the country to implement the Ayush directives”, he added.
MUHS ensures in proper and systematic instruction, teaching, training and research in modern medicine and Indian systems of medicine in the state of Maharashtra, and to have balanced growth in the medical sciences. They are taking initiative to implement this decision to attract more MBBS students to take up Ayurveda as the major subject to practice and to research on the same.
Our Bureau, Mumbai
Saturday, April 23, 2011, 08:00 Hrs [IST]
The Maharashtra University of Health Science (MUHS) will soon constitute an expert committee to discuss the new syllabus for the MBBS students for the coming academic year as it has been decided to include basic Ayurveda as part of MBBS syllabus in the medical colleges in the state.
A decision to include Ayurveda in MBBS syllabus was taken following recommendations from the Ayush department. There are 34 private and government medical colleges in the state. Their syllabus comes under the purview of the MUHS. According to the Ayush recommendations, every medical college should reserve at least 20 hours to teach ayurvedic science in MBBS classes.
Dr Arun Jamkar, vice chancellor, MUHS said “As per the suggestions made by Dept of Ayush we are meeting up to form a committee to implement these directives and to discuss the new syllabus for the medical students for the coming year.” He further informed that Maharashtra will be the first state for implementing such directives.
Dr Arun Jamkar, vice chancellor, MUHS said “We are meeting soon to form a committee to implement these directives and to discuss the new syllabus for the medical students for the coming year.”
Dr Vijay Magar, associate professor at the RA Podar Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Mumbai said “Ayurveda is an ancient medicine and the students are more interested in learning modern medicine. For this it is a nice move as modern medicine doctors should be familiar with ancient medicine and its treatment methodology. Every person should know about Ayurveda. Instead of devoting so much time for a course, we can have atleast one lecture every week. Like for conducting research in herbal products there are separate institutes.”
Dr Jamkar informed that as most of the universities across the world has been teaching the ancient medicine of their respective cultures. For instance, modern medicine doctors in China get lessons in Chinese medicine. “Finally we too are introducing the study of our ancient medicine. We are proud that ours will be the first state in the country to implement the Ayush directives”, he added.
MUHS ensures in proper and systematic instruction, teaching, training and research in modern medicine and Indian systems of medicine in the state of Maharashtra, and to have balanced growth in the medical sciences. They are taking initiative to implement this decision to attract more MBBS students to take up Ayurveda as the major subject to practice and to research on the same.
Monday, 11 April 2011
Friday, 8 April 2011
Scientific Study of Anti cancer drugs used by Vaidya by CCRAS and other Institutes of repute treating cancer
CCRAS approves 2 cancer drugs for trials, open to examine more drug claims
Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) has in principle approved a couple of Ayurvedic drugs used by some prominent practitioners to successfully treat the cancer patients and is planning to launch the multi-centric clinical trials. The Council also disclosed that it was open to examine other such claims with regard to ongoing successful treatment of critical diseases by Ayurvedic practitioners.
On the recommendation of the Scientific Advisory Committee (Ayurveda), the CCRAS has initiated the study of ‘CARCTOL’ a proprietary medicine of Vaid Nand Lal Tiwari of Jaipur supposed to have anti-cancer properties. For verifying the therapeutic claim, standardization work has been completed by the Council. Safety and toxicity studies have also been completed, sources said.
“CARCTOL has also been subjected to in-vitro study at Advanced Cancer Research Centre of TATA, Mumbai against 14 types of human cancer cells out of which it was found effective against pancreatic and lung cancer. It was placed on record that CARCTOL is being used for treatment of cancer patients both in the country and abroad. After preparation of dossiers, multi-centric clinical trials will be conducted,” sources in the Council said.
Pre-clinical study of ‘Cancer Gaza Kesari’ a proprietary drug of Vaid Krishan Gopal of Ajmer has also been conducted by the Council in collaboration with Veterinary College, Chennai. The study revealed that the drug significantly reduced the mammary tumour incidence, latency, frequency, rate of growth and malignancy. It was also subjected to in-vitro study against 14 types of human cancer cell line, out of which it has shown to be of effective against pancreatic and lung cancer, Council official said.
A pilot project was sanctioned by the Ministry in 1996 to study the effects of metal based formulations prepared by Vaid Balendu Prakash of Dehradun in the treatment of Acute pro-myllolic Leukaemia. The drug was patented jointly by the Council with Germany. Vaid Balendu Prakash has been treating cancer patients with the drug and the patent was in fact for the process. “So far only a pilot study of 21 patients has been conducted by the Council. Multi- cultural clinical trials of the drug were to be undertaken which would take four years,” sources said.
In another effort to develop ayurvedic drug for cancer, clinical trials of 'AYUSH QOL – 2C' developed by Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) for improvement of quality of life of those receiving chemotherapy/radio-therapy, have been initiated at St. Johns medical college, Bangalore and at the All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi. The ethical approval and release of funds for trials at AIIMS have been completed and the registration of patients will begin shortly. Simultaneously, 10 patients have been enrolled for study at St. Johns Medical College.
“Whenever any claim is submitted to Council, the same is examined and put before Scientific Advisory Committee to carry out scientific validation. In this context, two claims on cancer have been subjected to pre-clinical studies based on which clinical trial will be carried out as per lead. If any drug is finally marketed, the benefit will be shared by Council and the claimant,” sources said about possibility of examining claims by practitioners.
Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) has in principle approved a couple of Ayurvedic drugs used by some prominent practitioners to successfully treat the cancer patients and is planning to launch the multi-centric clinical trials. The Council also disclosed that it was open to examine other such claims with regard to ongoing successful treatment of critical diseases by Ayurvedic practitioners.
On the recommendation of the Scientific Advisory Committee (Ayurveda), the CCRAS has initiated the study of ‘CARCTOL’ a proprietary medicine of Vaid Nand Lal Tiwari of Jaipur supposed to have anti-cancer properties. For verifying the therapeutic claim, standardization work has been completed by the Council. Safety and toxicity studies have also been completed, sources said.
“CARCTOL has also been subjected to in-vitro study at Advanced Cancer Research Centre of TATA, Mumbai against 14 types of human cancer cells out of which it was found effective against pancreatic and lung cancer. It was placed on record that CARCTOL is being used for treatment of cancer patients both in the country and abroad. After preparation of dossiers, multi-centric clinical trials will be conducted,” sources in the Council said.
Pre-clinical study of ‘Cancer Gaza Kesari’ a proprietary drug of Vaid Krishan Gopal of Ajmer has also been conducted by the Council in collaboration with Veterinary College, Chennai. The study revealed that the drug significantly reduced the mammary tumour incidence, latency, frequency, rate of growth and malignancy. It was also subjected to in-vitro study against 14 types of human cancer cell line, out of which it has shown to be of effective against pancreatic and lung cancer, Council official said.
A pilot project was sanctioned by the Ministry in 1996 to study the effects of metal based formulations prepared by Vaid Balendu Prakash of Dehradun in the treatment of Acute pro-myllolic Leukaemia. The drug was patented jointly by the Council with Germany. Vaid Balendu Prakash has been treating cancer patients with the drug and the patent was in fact for the process. “So far only a pilot study of 21 patients has been conducted by the Council. Multi- cultural clinical trials of the drug were to be undertaken which would take four years,” sources said.
In another effort to develop ayurvedic drug for cancer, clinical trials of 'AYUSH QOL – 2C' developed by Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) for improvement of quality of life of those receiving chemotherapy/radio-therapy, have been initiated at St. Johns medical college, Bangalore and at the All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi. The ethical approval and release of funds for trials at AIIMS have been completed and the registration of patients will begin shortly. Simultaneously, 10 patients have been enrolled for study at St. Johns Medical College.
“Whenever any claim is submitted to Council, the same is examined and put before Scientific Advisory Committee to carry out scientific validation. In this context, two claims on cancer have been subjected to pre-clinical studies based on which clinical trial will be carried out as per lead. If any drug is finally marketed, the benefit will be shared by Council and the claimant,” sources said about possibility of examining claims by practitioners.
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Marma at College of Ayurveda in USA ? What about Indian Colleges of Ayurveda in mass ?
An Ancient Art that Balances Body and Mind: Marma Point Training Offered this Summer by the California College of Ayurveda
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
________________________________________
Los Angeles, CA (Vocus/PRWEB) April 05, 2011
Marma points are 107 energetic body points that allow access to the body, mind and consciousness. Marmas are commonly used in Indian martial arts and are used in Ayurvedic Medicine to bring about healing. The California College of Ayurveda announces its Marma Therapy course this summer as part of the pancha karma training intensives.
Marma therapy can be used as part of a panchakarma program. Pancha Karma (Panchakarma) is the Ayurvedic art of detoxification, purification, and rejuvenation, and is a powerful way to address the root cause of disease and has been used for thousands of years as a method for staying healthy, young, and vital.
Marmas are related to our mind and our emotions. In the words of Dr. David Frawley, "marmas can held emotions such as fear (vata), anger (pitta) or attachment (kapha), as well as the gunas or primary qualities of sattva (calm), rajas (aggression) and tamas (inertia)."
The California College of Ayurveda offers complete training in Ayurvedic marma therapy as part of its panchakarma and Ayurvedic training intensives. During the program, students will learn the history, classifications, theory and locations, and the effect of each point on the doshas and organs of the body.
Students will learn how to interact with each marma point using massage, essential oil application and pranic healing (Ayurvedic energy work) to restore balance to the body and mind. Specific protocols will be taught for bringing healing to different organ systems.
Established in 1995, the California College of Ayurveda is the longest running, State-approved college offering professional training program for the study of Ayurvedic Medicine in the West. For more information, please visit Ayurvedacollege.com or call (530) 478 9100
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
________________________________________
Los Angeles, CA (Vocus/PRWEB) April 05, 2011
Marma points are 107 energetic body points that allow access to the body, mind and consciousness. Marmas are commonly used in Indian martial arts and are used in Ayurvedic Medicine to bring about healing. The California College of Ayurveda announces its Marma Therapy course this summer as part of the pancha karma training intensives.
Marma therapy can be used as part of a panchakarma program. Pancha Karma (Panchakarma) is the Ayurvedic art of detoxification, purification, and rejuvenation, and is a powerful way to address the root cause of disease and has been used for thousands of years as a method for staying healthy, young, and vital.
Marmas are related to our mind and our emotions. In the words of Dr. David Frawley, "marmas can held emotions such as fear (vata), anger (pitta) or attachment (kapha), as well as the gunas or primary qualities of sattva (calm), rajas (aggression) and tamas (inertia)."
The California College of Ayurveda offers complete training in Ayurvedic marma therapy as part of its panchakarma and Ayurvedic training intensives. During the program, students will learn the history, classifications, theory and locations, and the effect of each point on the doshas and organs of the body.
Students will learn how to interact with each marma point using massage, essential oil application and pranic healing (Ayurvedic energy work) to restore balance to the body and mind. Specific protocols will be taught for bringing healing to different organ systems.
Established in 1995, the California College of Ayurveda is the longest running, State-approved college offering professional training program for the study of Ayurvedic Medicine in the West. For more information, please visit Ayurvedacollege.com or call (530) 478 9100
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