Ayurveda adds to protection from H1N1 - Cow Colostrum !

PUNE: Calling Gau piyush' or cow colostrum a powerful nutritional immunity solution that could help arrest the spread of the H1N1 flu.

Noted computer scientist Vijay Bhatkar on Wednesday said that the solution should not be considered a cure but a supplement to other medication. Cow colostrum is a thick lemon yellow coloured secretion produced by cows for about 72 hours after the birth of a calf.

Addressing a news conference here along with a few medical practitioners in the city, Bhatkar pointed out that this solution, that has its origins in Ayurveda, was now available in capsule form.

Bhatkar's recently founded Institute of Integrative Healthcare (IIHc) started research on this solution almost three years ago. "But we started focusing on the H1N1 flu only a few months ago. Our focus was on nutritional immunology inspired by Ayurveda rather than vaccine-based immunology.

Different countries have different conditions, so it is vital for each and every country to look for a solution to the illness themselves," said Bhatkar. Stressing the fact that the solution was only meant to be a supplement to the medication for H1N1 and not a replacement, Bhatkar said that it could be taken by both those suffering from H1N1 and those who want to take some kind of preventive measures.

The task force formed by the institute to conduct research on the solution include a mix of medical practitioners and Ayurveda practitioners and G T Phanse, the former deputy director of the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL). "The colostrum contains about 20 specific antibodies and it also has antibacterial properties," said Ramesh Patil, a member of the task force.

The solution has already been tried on 7,000 patients successfully during the course of the research, 20 per cent of them displayed influenza-like symptoms. "We have not been able to obtain the necessary permission to test it on those suffering from the H1N1 flu but we are in talks with various authorities including the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) who have promised to get back to us," said Bhatkar.

On being asked about the effectiveness of the solution, another task force member, Vinod Marathe, said that it starts taking effect within an hour after it is consumed. "It quickly builds up your immunity system and the effect only gets stronger. The antibodies start functioning immediately," he added. He also clarified that the solution was not advisable for those who were lactose intolerant.

Source: The Times of India

AYUSH dept validating ayurvedic drugs developed by private institutions to treat cancer

Wednesday, August 05, 2009 08:00 IST
Joseph Alexander, New Delhi

Many ayurvedic plants including turmeric, semicarpus anacardium, and tinospora cordifolia have shown anti-cancer properties in the recent studies conducted by the government institutions. The government is now in the process of validating some anti-cancer drugs developed by private institutions through clinical trials.

Clinical studies have been done under different projects by the Union Ministry of Health to assess the use of ayurvedic treatment in different types of cancer. A pilot project was sanctioned by the ministry to study the effects of metal based formulations prepared by Vaidya Balendu Prakash of Dehradun in the treatment of acute pro-myllotic leukaemia (APML) in 90 days. As many as 15 patients were enrolled in the study out of which 10 patients had shown a complete remission in peripheral blood smear, sources said.

In another effort to develop ayurvedic drug for cancer, clinical trials of 'Ayush QOL - 2C' developed by Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) for improvement of quality of life of those receiving chemotherapy/radio-therapy, have been initiated at St Johns medical college, Bangalore and at the All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi.

"The government is ready to promote any research initiative taken up by the private doctors or institutions, along with research by government bodies. The goal is to have cheaper and effective drugs to treat cancer. All projects are in progress, but it will take some more years to officially introduce a drug with government approval after all validations," an official of the Ayush department said.

On the request of Nand Lal Tiwari of Jaipur, the CCRAS has undertaken the study of anti-cancerous property of herbal compounds 'Carctol' to ascertain the claim. Similarly, a claim made by Krishn Gopal Ayurved Bhavan, Dharmartha Trust, in Rajasthan on their proprietary drug 'Cancer Gaza Kesari' has been subjected to pre-clinical safety studies by CCRAS, he said.

Source: Pharmabiz