Dr. Avnish Jolly,15 June:Anita Das, Secretary , Department of AYUSH, MoHFW, GOI said a growing lack of trust in traditional medicines had led to people turn to allopathy. This was also preventing India from capitalising on the growing global demand for traditional medicine, a market dominated by China. The new programme for enforcement of good manufacturing practices will increase the acceptability of these drugs, being manufactured by over 5,500 manufacturers across the country.
According to the principles of Ayurvedic medicine, heavy metals may be used in a detoxified state in these medicinal products because of their presumed therapeutic properties. However, improper manufacturing processes may result in dangerously high levels of heavy metals in the final product. On May 8, Canada had raised a red flag and reminded people that some Ayurvedic medicines had heavy metals.
The quality, safety and effectiveness of traditional medicine will now be monitored better with the Shriram Institute of Industrial Research giving technical inputs to the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in the Union ministry of health.
Quality issues have long plagued popular traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy. Two years ago, the United States and Canada took Ayurvedic and Unani medicines off stores and banned further import following dangerously high levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic being found in formulations manufactured in India. These heavy metals can accumulate in the body and cause health problems ranging from dizziness and muscle cramps to mental retardation.
It is very true that certain Ayurvedic Medicines contain heavy metals,which can be checked by employing mordern testing methods.It is really very heartening to note that the Shriram Institute Of Industrial Research will monitor the same.Our body ,of course,needs certain metals but in very limited and balanced quatity as good health is not possible without them.Standardisation in Ayurvedic Medicines is very very important and must without which the system cannot progress.
It may be known to one and all that the coming times clearly belongs to Ayurvedic system of medicines as this the only therapy which is not only body friendly but eco-friendly also.The whole world will have to say good bye to chemically proceesed items as they do lot of harm not only to our body but to biodiversity as their process release lots of toxins and leave poisnous effects.By shifting to naturally obtained medicines we will automatically feel the need to plant trees as well as other sherbs which will again automatically add to the increased plantation having lots of other better effect on our envoirnment,which is the need of the hour.