Text Size:A- A+
The Coronil controversylast month highlighted the problems with regulating Ayurveda in India. Patanjali claimed to have developed an Ayurvedic medicine that would protect people from Covid-19 and also cure the disease. Later revelations raised doubts about these claims and the process of testing these medicines.
The episode highlighted how modern thinking is creeping into alternative medicine. This is good, and India stands to gain enormously as a producer and exporter of traditional herbal medicines.
The worlds growing fascination with natural remedies, traditional and alternative medicines and herbs augurs well for India. These can provide a substantial source of income for farmers and companies across the country.
Traditional medicines have been used in India, even though there is little quality control or trials. A very small quantity of herbal medicines produced in India is exported, as they do not meet the regulatory standards required by importing countries. While they can be a great source of income and exports for India, we will need a modern regulatory system to succeed.
Even at its current levels, with little exports, estimates are that Ayurveda is a Rs 30,000 crore industry in India.
Also read: Ayurveda, FMCG, Covid, controversy Baba Ramdev and the Patanjali school of marketing
We are deeply grateful to our readers & viewers for their time, trust and subscriptions.
Quality journalism is expensive and needs readers to pay for it. Your support will define our work and ThePrints future.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Successive governments have taken steps to promote alternative medicines. In 2003, the government published the first official list of Ayurvedic medicines, called a pharmacopoeia. The publication of a pharmacopoeia is the first step towards formalising any medical system.
In 2014, the Narendra Modi government merged the regulation of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (collectively called AYUSH) into a separate eponymousministry.
Recently, the government decided to sell Ayurvedic medicines inJan Aushadhi stores.
In 2017, the All India Ayurveda Institute was set up in Delhi, on the lines of the famous All India Institute of Medical Sciences. The government isencouragingfarmers to grow Ayurvedic plants in various states to diversify agriculture and boost farm income.The budgetary allocation for alternative medicines has doubled since the present government has come to power.
The Coronil controversy emphasises the role the government has to play beyond encouraging the use of Ayurveda. At the core of promoting alternative medicines are two government regulatory functions: One, ensuring safety, and two, checking the truth of claims about efficacy. In addition to all the other schemes, the government has to emphasise on these two functions.
Contrary to popular belief, Ayurvedic medicines can be dangerous to health. The dangers arise primarily for three reasons: (i) All plants are not safe for consumption,(ii) Use of ashes and non-plant materials, (iii) Illegal addition of allopathic medicines.
Ayurveda uses many plants which aretoxicto humans, like datura andnux vomica, in large doses. It is essential that their dosage is limited or the plants are treated before they are included in the medicine.
Similarly, ashes may concentrate dangerous metals in the formulation. As recently as 2017, the Food and Drug Administration of the USwarnedagainst the use of certain Ayurvedic medicines. The FDA found the medication to contain dangerous levels of lead. This isnot the first timethis has happened.
Some unscrupulous medicine manufacturers go a step further. They mix allopathic medicines in Ayurvedic drugs, usually steroids. Some steroids (mostly corticosteroids) give a false sense of well-being by improving circulation and alertness. For the wrong ailments, like infections, they may accelerate the underlying disease, but since the patient gets a steroid high,he or she feels better and ascribes it to the medicine. Astudyby the King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai found around 40% of Ayurvedic drugs tested contained steroids.
Uncontrolled use of poisonous plants, presence of heavy metals, and outright fraud (adding steroids) damages the reputation of Indian medicine. The unscrupulous and negligent manufacturers make profits by cheating, but harm the status of the entire industry.
The problem is worse in international markets. While we in India may be able to distinguish between established brands and suspicious ones, this is difficult sitting in the US. A patient with a negative experience will probably avoid all Ayurvedic medicines.
Also read: Unethical, unreasonable to ignore Ayurveda for Covid treatment & prevention, say researchers
The first step of regulation of medicines is to ensure safety. Irrespective of whether they have any therapeutic effect, an AYUSH medicine should not harm patients. While the government published guidelines for the development and manufacture of Ayurvedic drugs, the enforcement of these provisions is inadequate. Lax enforcement of detailed regulations undermines the efforts made to develop the rules in the first place and encourage a culture of ignoring the law. Even companies which start by complying with the legislation may slowly slip up if they observe systemic non-compliance.
The second step after enforcing safety provisions is checking therapeutic claims. Therapeutic claims are very difficult to establish in allopathic medicines. In alternate medicine, this may be even tougher. Unlike allopathic medicine, the active ingredient is usually not extracted in Ayurveda. This makes Ayurvedic medicines less potent and may take longer timelines to show effectiveness. However, Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers mustnt make claims about curing conditions or diseases which are demonstrably false. Such false claims have a similar effect to dangerous medicines. Perceptions will develop that false claims dominate the whole field. Even where Ayurvedic medicines have positive outcomes, customers will be sceptical.
Regulation of any medical system has concentrated on safety and efficacy to protect patients. However, another role that governance plays is in developing trust in the system. When confidence in a system erodes, the effectiveness of subsidies, promotional campaigns and other schemes will be limited. Along with the promotion of AYUSH and farming of herbs, if we set up proper regulation of Ayurvedic medicines, we will not merely protect patients, but also promote Ayurveda as a safe and effective system of medicine, a system in which India can be a world leader.
Also read: Modi govts love for Ayurveda may be undermining ancient medicinal system
Subscribe to our channels on YouTube & Telegram
News media is in a crisis & only you can fix it
You are reading this because you value good, intelligent and objective journalism. We thank you for your time and your trust.
You also know that the news media is facing an unprecedented crisis. It is likely that you are also hearing of the brutal layoffs and pay-cuts hitting the industry. There are many reasons why the medias economics is broken. But a big one is that good people are not yet paying enough for good journalism.
We have a newsroom filled with talented young reporters. We also have the countrys most robust editing and fact-checking team, finest news photographers and video professionals. We are building Indias most ambitious and energetic news platform. And we arent even three yet.
At ThePrint, we invest in quality journalists. We pay them fairly and on time even in this difficult period. As you may have noticed, we do not flinch from spending whatever it takes to make sure our reporters reach where the story is. Our stellar coronavirus coverage is a good example. You can check some of it here.
This comes with a sizable cost. For us to continue bringing quality journalism, we need readers like you to pay for it. Because the advertising market is broken too.
If you think we deserve your support, do join us in this endeavour to strengthen fair, free, courageous, and questioning journalism, please click on the link below. Your support will define our journalism, and ThePrints future. It will take just a few seconds of your time.
Support Our Journalism
Read this article:
Why India needs to regulate Ayurveda to win the world market for natural remedies - ThePrint
- Ed's Guide to Alternative Therapies - pathguy.com - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine Guide | University ... - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Overview - December 26th, 2016 [December 26th, 2016]
- Alternative Medicine, Holistic Doctors,Naturopathic ... - January 5th, 2017 [January 5th, 2017]
- Alternative Medicine Degrees - Excite Education - January 13th, 2017 [January 13th, 2017]
- Alternative Medicine | Category | Fox News - January 13th, 2017 [January 13th, 2017]
- Alternative Medicine - Disabled World - January 13th, 2017 [January 13th, 2017]
- Alternative Medicine Degree, BS - Everglades University - January 23rd, 2017 [January 23rd, 2017]
- Alternative Medicine | Duke University Press - January 23rd, 2017 [January 23rd, 2017]
- Bill to rein in alternative medicine practitioners - Bangalore Mirror - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Peroxide ingestion, promoted by alternative medicine, can be deadly - Science Daily - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Can Peroxide Kill You? Yes, Say Doctors About This Alternative Medicine Favorite - Medical Daily - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Marijuana tension between clinical, alternative medicine ... - Washington Times - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Cannabis providers feel tension between clinical and alternative medicine - The Cannabist - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Happy Healthy YOU - Tillsonburg News - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Health dept cracks down on alternative meds containing sildenafil citrate - NYOOOZ - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Alternative Medicine Conferences | Traditional Medicine ... - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- American Institute of Alternative Medicine - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Alternative medicine to treat pain and other ailments on the rise locally - Rockford Register Star - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- Alternative Medicine Career Information and Education ... - February 27th, 2017 [February 27th, 2017]
- Why is alternative medicine so popular? - Alternative ... - February 27th, 2017 [February 27th, 2017]
- Potential dangers and dubious history of alternative medicine are often unknown to its consumers - MinnPost - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- New form of alternative medicine comes to OU - Oaklandpostonline - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- OPENING THE PLAYBOOK ON ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE - Dope Magazine - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Ask a Doctor: Is there an alternative medicine treatment for constant pain? - Chattanooga Times Free Press - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- Alternative medicine grows in Sugar Land, Missouri City - Community Impact Newspaper - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- Medicine with a side of mysticism: Top hospitals promote unproven therapies - STAT - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- Abstracts: Obamacare Replacement, Alternative Medicine, and More - Undark Magazine - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- For Prairie Village practitioner, personal experience led to interest in alternative medicine techniques - Shawnee Mission Post - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Financial Planning + Alternative Medicine - March 8, 2017 ... - KHTS Radio - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- Premier U.S. Hospitals Are Selling Unproven Alternative Therapies ... - KQED - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Speakers lay stress on use of alternative medicine - The Nation - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Top U.S. hospitals promote unproven medicine with a side of ... - PBS - PBS NewsHour - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Medical cannabis expert discusses treatment options - Herald-Whig - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- 5 ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES EVERY MAN SHOULD BE AWARE OF - TORO Magazine - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- CID unearths fake 'council of alternative medicines' in Behala - Millennium Post - June 11th, 2017 [June 11th, 2017]
- Parents who believe in 'alternative nutrition' convicted after baby dies of malnutrition - Telegraph.co.uk - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Times of Malta Alternative medicine - Times of Malta - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Suffering from severe pain? Experts say THIS form of alternative medicine will work just as well as drugs! - Zee News - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- IBAM Indian Board of Alternative Medicine - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Alternative medicine practitioner charged with sexual assault in Burlington - Hamilton Spectator - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Mind, body, spirit: Nurse opens holistic health store to promote overall wellness - Muscatine Journal - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Four of the Most Misused Terms in Alternative Medicine - ATTN: - June 24th, 2017 [June 24th, 2017]
- How cupping therapy helps athletes like Michael Phelps as an alternative medicine - Sport360 - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Calimesa Alternative Medicine - Weedmaps - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Homeopathic Health Center | Columbus, OH - (614) 890-2589 - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Alternative Medicine | What Is Alternative Medicine? - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Quotes About Alternative Medicine (30 quotes) - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Alternative Medicine That Doctors Recommend | Reader's Digest - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Alternative Medicine Schools - Excite Education - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Medical journal takes aim at natural remedies - CBC.ca - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Healing through alternative medicine: Winona locals choose acupuncture as a cure - Winona Daily News - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Patrick Noel, DC: Restoring the body's innate ability to heal through chiropractic care - Colorado Springs Gazette - June 27th, 2017 [June 27th, 2017]
- Back Pain? Try Yoga - New York Times - June 29th, 2017 [June 29th, 2017]
- Jerusalem: Alternative healer indicted on rape charges - The Jerusalem Post - June 29th, 2017 [June 29th, 2017]
- Does Pink Himalayan Salt Have Any Health Benefits? - TIME - June 29th, 2017 [June 29th, 2017]
- Not all wellness is bullshit - Quartz - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- What's happening in your body during acupuncture? - The Verge - July 1st, 2017 [July 1st, 2017]
- Natural and Alternative Medicine against Asthma - Radio Cadena Agramonte - July 3rd, 2017 [July 3rd, 2017]
- Alternative Medicine in Halacha: a Review - Yeshiva World News - July 3rd, 2017 [July 3rd, 2017]
- West Bengal's top doctors turn out fakes, arrests blow lid off thriving scam - Hindustan Times - July 5th, 2017 [July 5th, 2017]
- Sudbury woman chooses alternative treatments for stage 4 cancer - CBC.ca - July 6th, 2017 [July 6th, 2017]
- Unbiased reporting can help call time on pseudoscience - EuroScientist - July 6th, 2017 [July 6th, 2017]
- Holistic therapy for pets? Traditional vet care being blended with reiki, acupuncture - Georgia Voice - July 7th, 2017 [July 7th, 2017]
- A Memoir of Chronic Fatigue Illustrates the Failures of Medical Research - The New Yorker - July 10th, 2017 [July 10th, 2017]
- Valtrex after expiration - Alternative medicine for herpes simplex 2 - Van Wert independent - July 11th, 2017 [July 11th, 2017]
- Sacred Space, University of Miami partner to educate community on wellness - Miami Herald - July 11th, 2017 [July 11th, 2017]
- One FDA About-Face Doesn't Mean an Orphan-Drug Bonanza - Bloomberg - July 12th, 2017 [July 12th, 2017]
- 'Bridging medicine with nature' - The Torrington Telegram - July 12th, 2017 [July 12th, 2017]
- Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop posted a defense of its jade eggs for vaginas. It's a mess. - Vox - July 14th, 2017 [July 14th, 2017]
- Acupuncture for pets? Yes, it's a thing - MyDaytonDailyNews - July 15th, 2017 [July 15th, 2017]
- Create Ministry for traditional, alternative medicine - Association - Graphic Online - July 17th, 2017 [July 17th, 2017]
- Native American healing class sparks unique health textbook - ABC News - July 18th, 2017 [July 18th, 2017]
- Rav Elyashiv ZTL On Alternative Medicine By R. Yair Hoffman - Yeshiva World News - July 18th, 2017 [July 18th, 2017]
- Expedite action on the passage of the alternative medicine bill ... - GhanaWeb - July 18th, 2017 [July 18th, 2017]
- Is Gwyneth Paltrow's pseudoscience winning? - Vox - July 20th, 2017 [July 20th, 2017]
- Salt Therapy Gaining Popularity in Alternative Medicine Circles - Newsmax - July 22nd, 2017 [July 22nd, 2017]
- Vargas: Weeding out herbal remedies for our pets - News Chief - July 24th, 2017 [July 24th, 2017]
- Patients recognise over-worked GPs as majority agree to see alternative medical professionals - Herald Series - July 25th, 2017 [July 25th, 2017]
- Cancer controversies and traditional medicines - Regina Leader-Post - July 26th, 2017 [July 26th, 2017]