Ancient Healing meets Modern Science : Controversy and Opportunity

Traditional Indian systems of Medicine (TISM) including Ayurveda and Siddha have a rich tradition lasting thousands of years. Ayurveda and Siddha are whole systems of treatment that address biological, mental and spiritual dimensions. TISM is widely practiced in India and in abroad. Although widely considered safe, recent reports of toxic metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic in Ayurveda and Siddha medicines have raised safety concerns. Over 80 case reports of lead poisoning associated with TISM medicines have been published. Nevertheless, the source, form and effect of the metals have been a subject of much recent debate and controversy among key stakeholders including the international Ayurveda and Siddha community, herbal industry, public health professionals, allopathic physicians and government. Raw herbal ingredients may be contaminated with metals due to environmental factors. Incidental contamination during the manufacturing process is also possible. Lastly, ancient and modern TISM texts describe a process of intentionally adding carefully prepared “detoxified” metals for different formulas and further process them to prepare bhasmas. These bhasmas are purported to contribute to the therapeutic benefit of the remedy. My presentation will review past and on going clinical, animal and basic science studies that tries to shed light on this controversial subject. I am highlighting the importance of creating a mutually respectful dialogue and collaboration between allopathic medicine and ancient healing traditions in order to gain a greater understanding of these ancient therapies. Current trends warrant the use of evidence-based medicine approaches to the evaluation of Ayurveda and Siddha so that safe effective methods can be identified and promoted. Conversely Ayurveda and Siddha practices found to be unsafe or ineffective can be discouraged. Ultimately, an objective and dispassionate evaluation based upon science, is critical for the preservation and promotion of Ayurveda and Siddha globally.

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ksn_raviteja's picture

Good Presentation...

You said about the advantages, metals and avoiding side effects...but no single case study(clinical, animal and basic science study) that is mentioned in the abstract???

Is there is any chance of curing Cancer by Ayurveda better than normal medicines????

Thank you,
SN RaviTeja K.

Srujana's picture

Yes, definitely Cancer can be cured by Ayurveda than Allopathy. It is more advatageous and more safer path to overcome the side effects of allopathy. Here iam giving you some details of ayurvedic drugs used in various cancers.

(a) Brain Cancer - Ayurvedic Herbs
–Mandukaparni (Bacopa monerea)
-Kastoori Bhairav Rasa with combination of divya herbs.

(b) Oropharyngeal Cancers - Ayurveda Herbs
– Kasamarda (cassia oxidentalis)
-Mahalaxmi vilas Rasa

(c) Lung Cancers - Ayurveda Herbs
- Pippali (Piper longum)
-Hirak Rasayan

(d) Stomach Cancers - Ayurveda Herbs
– Shatavari (Asparagus resimosus)
-Amlaki (Philanthus amblica)
-Banga Bhasma
-Aloe-Vera
-Amaltas (Casia fistula)
-Bhoy-Amli (Philanthus nurare)
-Sarphunkha (Tephrosia purpura)

(e) Intestinal Cancers - Ayurveda Herbs
-Shigru (Moringa olifera)
-Panchamrut purpti

(f) Female Genital Cancers - Ayurvedic Herbs
-Ashoka (Seraka Ashoka)
-Vaikranta Bhasma

(g) Mail Genital Cancers - Ayurveda herbs
-Triphala (Three myrobelans)
-Makardhvaja

(h) Liver Cancers - Ayurveda Herbs
-Bhumvamalaki
-Arogyavardhini

(i) Blood Cancer - Ayurveda Herbs
-Anantmula (Hermidesmus indicus)
-Suvarna Vasant Malti Rasa

(j) Bone Cancers - Ayurveda Herbs
-Aabha Gugglu
-Madhu Malini Vasant Rasa

(k) Breast Cancers - Ayurvedic Herbs
-Gojivha
-Chinchabhallataka

(l) Skin Cancers - Ayurveda Herbs
-Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia)
-Samira Panaga Rasa
-Kaishore Gugglu
-Gandhak Rasayan

ksn_raviteja's picture

That's good........

But, is there any clinical evidence for any type cancer treatment. Since most cancers you said are life threatening.

Thank you,
SN Raviteja K.

Dear Srujana,
nice presentation,
can you tell me the reason why we should not take ayurvedic medicines when we are taking the allopathic medicines?
and as you have mentioned that plant materials having higher metal content shows the adverse effects, then should we go for the toxicity testing of palnt materials?and if yes then what should be the procedure for that?
Thank you

satyaproject09's picture

1) Can u provide any Indian patents in ayurveda ?/
2) What the limits for usage of gold and sliver in preparations ?
3) Ur references in ur ppt are not upto the mark .. try to improve ...
4) Therapeutic result in ayurvedic formulations needed much time ? reason for that time taking process ??
5) Any procedure for speedy therapeutic effect? if so how it shortens the time ?

sanykale123's picture

Make a comment/s on Traditional Indian systems of Medicine (TISM) including Ayurveda and Siddha for control and cure infectious diseases?

Dr.Sandeep Bhaskar Kale
http://www.pharmainfo.net/sanykale123

sanykale123's picture

Is it possible to combine OMICS (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, pharmacogenomics etc.) platform with Traditional Indian systems of Medicine (TISM) to improve TISM and benefits.
What sort of strategies should be used?

Dr.Sandeep Bhaskar Kale
http://www.pharmainfo.net/sanykale123

amolsmalpani's picture

Dear srujana,
Under the heading of "how to avoid side effect?", you mentioned one reason manufacturing defect. Please comment on this point.
Regards,
Amol

Amol S Malpani

Second prize Winners of Skills Test 2010

how to curb the presence of impurities in ayurvedic preparations?

pharmacistdixon's picture

Dear Srujna
Modern medicine became modern after meeting traditional medicines. Now after seeing the goodness of it the traditional medicine also broadening its perspective and meeting modern sceince. it's good but I feel the problemis that as it is old it becomes little overconfident and less changing does it concern?

Mr. Dixon Thomas, M. Pharm, M. S., RPh Assoc. Prof., RIPER
R.S.Prakasham's picture

Interesting! In absence of scientific basis, as educated person how do you support ayurveda medicine.

sirisha's picture

dear srujana..
This is a good presentation. Your matter on Silver is good and havent listened before..
WE the pharmacists should follow GMP or GLP for making an elegant, safe product. Its not the case in Ayurveda but it has more beneficial use. So what will you prefer? an Ayurvedic medicine or Allopathic medicine??

pharmacistdixon's picture

Dear Srujana
Again I want to ask another question about you mentioned that ayurvedic medicines have very rare side effects. I want to state some points
Modern medicine treat more patients so proportionally see more side effects.
Many medicines in ayurveda are less potent so less side effects and less therapeutic effects.
As you mentioned Manufacturing, using & composition all contribute to ADRS as in modern medicine.
Screening procedures are less in traditional medicine so side effects are less interpreted as it is.
As there are hundreds of chemicals in one medicine, tough to say which one cause effect & side effect.
Please comment on it?

Mr. Dixon Thomas, M. Pharm, M. S., RPh Assoc. Prof., RIPER
sakshi agrawal's picture

hello Srujana,

you have chosen an interesting topic...

please elaborate, what environmental factors are responsible for contaminating raw herbal ingredients.Also what activities may result in incidental contamination during manufacturing, & how to avoid them...
And why can't ayurvedic & allopathic medicines taken at the same time...

Regards, Sakshi..

tegkmurthy's picture

1.How to standardize herbal formulations? 2.is there any drug interactions reported with co administration of allopathic&herbal formulations? 3.what are the stability issues of herbal formulations?

Dr.T.E.G.K.Murthy
http://www.pharmainfo.net/tegkmurthy/biography
Principal
Bapatla College of Pharmacy, Bapatla

vishal.bairwa's picture

Well as per your discussions controversies are there but comparative to allopathy drugs what is the opportunity of ayurveda in future ?
As you said when changes occurs in the environmental aspects , pollution and pesticides over usages will raises chances of heavy metal contamination in the Ayurvedic drugs ,which will leads to the toxicity. but can be overcome by detoxification. But it may be possible that the same factors may change the therapeutic active ingredients and by that the therapeutics efficacy of the drug.
So please comment on that.

Thank you....

can u relate the allopathy and AYUSH syatem by any means, explain with eaxamples

pavan kumar alapati's picture

Hi ,can we use ayurvedhic medicines in parallel with allopathy medicines for treatment of disease's?
Is that advisable?

Srujana's picture

No ayurvedic medicines cannot be used in parallel with allopathy it is not advisable. As we all are familiar about Drug-Drug interactions. Allopathy medicines prevents the absorption of these ayurvedic drugs not only poor absorption there are many possibilites of other side effects.

Payal Dande's picture

hii can you please tell regarding formulation factors and adverse effects as ayurvedic medicines are known to contain more than one medicines?

pharmacistdixon's picture

Dear Srujana,
Could you please make a correlation of quality of life in patient with modern medicine and traditional medicine. Which system give better quality of life by giving faster relief, less lifestyle or dietary restrictions?

Mr. Dixon Thomas, M. Pharm, M. S., RPh Assoc. Prof., RIPER

How homeopathic siddha unani systems differed in treatments from ayurveda

Averineni Ravi Kumar