Friday, August 31, 2007

Massage parlours- threat to Ayurveda
Times of India - India
"Even though this shows the growing popularity of Ayurveda, the attempt to dilute the system for purely commercial interests will do great harm to this ...

Unlike other streams of treatment like Allopathy and Homeopathy, Ayurveda has treatments that help rejuvenation and wellness. This trait makes it vulnerable to be excessively commercialised.

"To do an oil massage as per the Ayurvedic texts, we need seven therapists and a systematic method has to be adopted as per the advice of the doctor. The choice of oil, massage, preparations etc are prescribed after evaluating the condition of the patient."

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Turmeric moves from the kitchen shelf to the clinic
The researchers state that although turmeric (Curcuma longa; an Indian spice) has been described in Ayurveda, as a treatment for inflammatory diseases and is referred by different names in different cultures, the active principle called curcumin or diferuloylmethane, a yellow pigment present in turmeric (an ingredient in curry powder) has been shown to exhibit numerous activities.

The researchers claim that various preclinical cell-culture and animal studies suggest that curcumin has potential as an antiproliferative, anti-invasive, and antiangiogenic agent; as a mediator of chemoresistance and radioresistance; as a chemopreventive agent; and as a therapeutic agent in wound healing, diabetes, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, and arthritis.

Pilot phase I clinical trials have shown curcumin to be safe even when consumed at a daily dose of 12 g for 3 months. Other clinical trials suggest a potential therapeutic role for curcumin in diseases such as familial adenomatous polyposis, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, hypercholesteremia, atherosclerosis, pancreatitis, psoriasis, chronic anterior uveitis and arthritis.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON KSHARASUTRA

Given the safety, cost-effectiveness and the success rate of Ksharasutra in the treatment of anal fistula, the Department of AYUSH, in collaboration with the ICMR and the CCRAS, is organizing a National Campaign to promote the use of Ksharasutra in ano-rectal diseases. A National Workshop is being organized on 24-25 August 2007 in the auditorium of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Eminent experts in Ksharasutra will be participating in the Workshop. In keeping with the increased interest in Ksharasutra in foreign countries, a renowned Japanese expert Dr. Kenji Tazawa will also be participating in the National Workshop

Friday, August 17, 2007

Ayurvedic Medicine can offer weight loss Tips Tailored to your Body type.

What’s your dosha?

According to Ayurveda each person has a unique mix of three mind/body principles that create specific mental and physical characteristics. The three principles are called “dosha.”

Two people struggling with their weight could have two totally different recommendations based on ayurveda.According to a person’s body type (dosha), that determines what type of exercise they should do and what time of day they should exercise.

People with Kapha body type, which is most prone to being overweight, may need to exercise more than once a day at specific times and for longer periods. Additionally, because that body type often has a hard time absorbing liquids, they need to be careful not to consume to much water with their meals.

Kepha patients need to include a large amount of ginger in their diets to improve their digestive fire. However, patients who do not have a Kapha body type would suffer from heartburn is they consumed too much ginger, making it important to have a correct dosha identified.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Magic shrub Guggul


12 Aug 2007:It's a wonder shrub that is giving India's Rs 5,000 crore-worth ayurveda industry sleepless nights. Guggul, a four-metre shrub, known for its powers of reducing high cholesterol levels besides bringing relief to patients suffering from rheumatic arthritis and thyroid, has started to disappear from India.
National Research Centre for Medical and Aromatic Plants (Gandhinagar), Central Arid Zone Research Institute (Jodhpur), Agricultural Research Institute (Gujarat) and Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (Lucknow), have been asked to start research on this plant. Scientists will look at how to make this plant grow across India (at present it only grows in arid zones), how to make it produce the resin at regular intervals (at present, it exudes gum every 10-12 years), how to extend its lifespan (it dies after the gum is extracted) and how to improve its germination.