Sunday, January 28, 2007

Turmeric wards off Alzheimer's, cancer
As people live longer than ever before, age-related diseases like Alzheimer's are also on the rise.

With no known cure, Alzheimer's is a massive burden.

A study conducted in the University of California shows that one of the reasons why the rate of Alzheimer's in India is four times lower than in the USA is because turmeric is used in Indian cooking.

Turmeric contains a powerful substance called curcumin, which shields the brain from the damage that leads to Alzheimer's.

In 1989, Bharat Aggarwal, a leading researchers on turmeric, threw some turmeric onto cancer cells. The results were unbelievable. He found that turmeric cut down inflammation, preventing the replication of cancer cells.

It was this anti-inflammatory character of turmeric that led researchers to experiment with brain cells in rats, proving curcumin effective in Alzheimer's disease.

Healing properties

The research fits in with Ayurvedic knowledge, which uses turmeric to treat cancer and memory related disorders because of its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities.

The difference is Ayurveda uses turmeric in combination with other herbs or with milk while modern research aims at isolating curcumin and using it as a drug.

Aggarwal prescribes a daily dose of 8 gms of turmeric, about 40 times the amount of turmeric used in Indian cooking.

Experts in India say such a dose could be less safe than Ayurvedic prescriptions.

"It can react in cases of gastric ulcers. We also advise people to take it with milk. So it's absorbed by the fat in the milk, not otherwise," said Dr Joshi, Ayurvedic expert, BHU.

"Ayurveda says use the herb in its full form. It balances the side effects," added Ajay Sharma, President, Baidyanath.

Trials underway

Clinical trials on humans are on in the US to test curcumin's safety and efficacy in treating pancreatic cancer and preventing lung and colon cancer.

If successful, the future could see curcumin being developed into a drug much less toxic than existing anti-cancer drugs.

In India too, scientists are combining turmeric in anti-cancer drugs to reduce both dosage and toxic side effects.

Trials combining turmeric with malaria drug chloroquin to fight chloroquin resistance are also on. If this works, it can prevent many malaria deaths in India.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Yoga a panacea for AIDS, cancer: Ramdev : HindustanTimes.com
BRUSHING ASIDE all the charges in his piquant style, Yoga guru Baba Ramdev once again claimed that Pranayam could cure cancer and raise CD4 cell count in AIDS patients. "But the irony is that instead of giving me funds for further research on cancer and other genetic diseases, the Health Ministry has slapped a notice on me," he said.

Talking to media persons at Mahamandaleshwar Swami Hansdas camp in Ardh Kumbh Mela area on Wednesday, Baba Ramdev said Pranayam was not a medicine. It regulates body metabolism and reduces stress hormones. "The government spends over Rs 250 crore on the research of single salt of an allopathy medicine. But we don't get a single rupee help for reviving the ancient science of Yoga and Ayurveda," he said.

"But we are quite excited over the results we got on patients suffering from blood cancer, prostate cancer, brain tumour, high BP and heart diseases. All the clinical evidences are available with us. We have now planned to invest Rs 250 for research on genetic diseases at Patanjali Peeth Hardwar," he added.

Baba Ramdev said as many as 1.15 crore people had benefited from Pranayam.

It reduces cholesterol within nine days and balances different chemicals in the body. "Still, I don't want people to trust me blindly. Neither I want them to disbelieve my claims. I only want people to experience the benefits of Pranayam and Yoga. The Pranayam also leads to spiritual awakening. The seven Paranayams taught in the Yoga camps were discovered by our seers thousands of years ago. I did some research on Pranayams and found that it has magical effect on the body," he said. Replying to the allegations that he charged excess money for Yoga camps and Ayurveda treatment, Ramdev said, "This is not true.

We are running four centres in Hardwar, Patna, Ranchi and Bhubaneswar, where Ayurveda medicines are distributed free to poor patients. We are also planning to open these centres in other states."

Baba Ramdev said he charged fees for Yoga camps to fund research activity.

"We need funds to develop Yoga and Ayurveda as holistic science. I also want to put an end to all controversy on Pranayam and Yoga," he said. With a touch of humour, Ramdev said he would take a dip in the holy Ganga but only in the company of media persons.

Monday, January 08, 2007

Now Vedic mantras to cure diseases
Now look forward to new age healing through mantras! Sanskrit scholars of Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Rajasthan Sanskrit University have initiated a research project, said to be the first of its kind, to treat various diseases through Vedic chants.

A state-of-the-art astrological lab costing Rs.8 million ($1.5 million) will be set up in the university premises. The city-based National Ayurveda Institute is also participating in the research.

The lab would involve modern scientific gadgets and instruments like high-capacity binoculars, telescope, cameras etc to enable scholars to observe the planetary and other solar activities.

Different teams would be constituted on the basis of the ancient Indian science of Ayurveda, the Vedas and astrology to diagnose about 100 general and incurable diseases and their treatment.

In a two-year period, the scholars would analyse and study the impact of rays of various planets and other celestial bodies through various perspectives, bringing into practice traditional Indian treatment and therapies mentioned in Vedic literature.

Experts claim that solar therapy, radiotherapy and several other present-day treatments are actually based on Ayurveda. They also said that if the research proves to be successful, the treatment would be cheaper.

"If the project is successful then people would certainly get a better and cheaper treatment facility without any side-effects", said Ramdev Sharma, an Ayurvedic doctor.

"The project is in a preliminary stage and will only take off in the next couple of months. We expect good results", Vinod Shastri of the University of Rajasthan, told IANS.

"Each letter of Vedic mantra has immense power. After knowing the symptoms, diseases can be treated effectively through a combination herbs and mantras," said Shastri, who is also an eminent astrologer.
Read about Music Therapy and Ayurveda

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Use coriander juice to improve weak eyesight
According to the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, if a small quantity of Dhanyaka leaf (or, coriander) juice is taken with honey it can have positive effect on eyesight.

Two to three teaspoons (7-14 milliliter ml.) coriander juice with 5-10 gram honey can help in improving eyesight