Ayurvedic Pharmacopia within a year

Ayurvedic Pharmacopia within a year
RAKSHIT SONAWANE

NASHIK, DEC 21: In an age when Indian herbs are being patented by foreign commercial interests, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel, finally. The standardisation of thousands of years old indigenous herbal formulations is in full swing and the first ever comprehensive "Ayurvedic Pharmacopia" (AP) is to be published within a year.

The Chairperson of the Central Council for Indian Medicine (CCIM) Pandit Shriram Sharma, who was in Nashik to inaugurate the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Ayurvedic Seva Sangh, told The Indian Express that the comprehensive AP would comprise at least three volumes. He said that the first volume concerning single drug formulations was ready and the work on compound drugs formulae was in progress.

He said that the availability of a standardised ayurvedic formulae for the first time in thousands of years, would be a boon for the indigenous system of medicine. Pt Sharma further said that apart from providing a standardised formulations for ayurvedic practitioners, the AP would clear the way for patenting indigenous prescriptions.

As a preventive measure against patenting of Indian herbs by foreigners, the CCIM has requested the Central Government to stake claim for the patents of all medicines prepared out of any herb mentioned in old ayurvedic books, he said.

He hoped that the Indian government, which was keen on promoting ayurveda, would do the needful and help promote the Indian system of medicine worldwide. He said that ayurveda had a tremendous potential as an alternative system of medicine to alloepathy, which had side-effects. He, however, advocated the use of of modern techniques for diagnosis and manufacture of ayurvedic drugs. "We are not prejudiced against any pathy" he said,"but we want people to realise that ayurveda is better than other systems of medicine."

At present, ayurvedic preparations are subjected to the knowledge and methods devised by hundreds of individuals and institutions all over the country. There are no standardised formulae for preparing ayuvedic remedies. The AP would be a milestone in the history of indigenous medicine. The CCIM is also working on some wonder drugs like "Ayush 64", which cures all kinds of malaria. The drug has been patented and mass production is being undertaken by some pharmaceutical companies.

Another drug, "Ayush 52" is being developed for epileptic patients. The CCIM is also conducting trials of contraceptive tablets for women. Known as "Vidang Pipliyog", the tablets would not induce any side-effects.

Besides, the intake period would be short, usually a few weeks, after which the woman would never conceive in her life. The initial trials of the pill have been successful, according to Pt Sharma.

The CCIM has asked the government to distribute the pills from public hospitals and clinics as an effective measure under the countrywide family planning programme.