October-December, 2009

R E D E F I N I N G A Y U R V E D A I N M I L L E N N I U M L I F E S T Y L E

Ayurveda Advantage AffirmedCharak takes lead in knowledge sharing

Charak is blazing new trails in not only healthcare products and healthcare delivery but also healthcare knowledge

dissemination and sharing with all healthcare consumers. That was amply proven by the thumping success of a seminar held in Navi Mumbai on 9 August 2009 with active participation by doctors and the general public alike.

Marking the inauguration of yet another Charak Clinic in Vashi area, Charak displayed its élan in elegant style with substance to match. Expert after expert made impressive presentations on the multifarious aspects of skin and hair problems and how Ayurveda offers the best and the last hope for the hapless sufferers. Leading the deliberations from the front was Dr Ninad Sathe, physician-in-charge, Charak Vashi Clinic. His coverage of skin problems with particular reference to tough ones like psoriasis was superb, to say the least.

Other experts who added value to the

proceedings were Dr Praful Babel and Dr Rakesh Pande, both actively involved in healthcare delivery in Charak Clinics in Pune and Mumbai. Dr Babel threw light on the nuances of greying and loss of hair in various segments of the population and gave useful tips to the audience on preventive as well as curative aspects of hair care offered by the unique Charak Paddhati of management.

Dr Pande’s pearls of wisdom on the importance of proper lifestyle and mindset in managing skin

and hair conditions were highly appreciated by the gathering. Purity of thoughts and discipline of conduct are integral parts of any Ayurvedic regimen aimed at holistic control of the problem and not merely prescribing medications.

Dr S Srinivasan, who moderated the session, had a word of caution on the negative effects of powerful medicines like corticosteroids that are too tempting to resist in providing quick symptomatic relief even in intractable cases of psoriasis but cause irreparable damage to the hormone systems and biochemical mechanisms of our body.

The hallmark of this session was the lively interest and thought-provoking observations made by the general public in attendance. Tricky questions from the floor were deftly handled by the experts on the dais, all of which was captured admirably by Maharashtra Times, co-sponsor of the event.

It is but natural for parents and doctors to try and bring down the body temperature rapidly with the help of antipyretics whenever they

encounter the emotionality of febrile seizures in children, but to no avail. Instead, what they should be doing is to resort to natural ways of boosting body immunity with the help of Extrammune. “The general assumption has been that fever is the key factor in the initiation of a febrile seizure, and it has, therefore, been supposed that the administration of antipyretic agents during febrile episodes will prevent seizures and their

recurrences by the lowering of the fever,” write Teemu Strengell, MD, from the University of Oulu in Oulu, Finland, and colleagues in the September 2009 issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine (2009;163:799-804). “This has not proved to be the case in clinical trials, however.” At 5 hospitals, each of which was the only pediatric hospital in its region, 231 children who had their first febrile seizure between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2003, were enrolled and observed for 2 years. During follow-up, all febrile episodes were treated first with either rectal diclofenac or placebo, and after 8 hours, treatment was continued with oral ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or placebo. The primary endpoint of the study was recurrence of febrile seizures. Of 851 febrile episodes occurring during follow-up, 89 were associated with a febrile seizure. Of the 231 children enrolled, 54 (23.4%) had recurrent febrile seizures. The treatment groups did not differ significantly in the main measure of effect,

Antipyretics fail in febrile convulsionsExtrammune elevates resistance effectively

contd...page 6

InsideDirector’s C• olumn........................page 2

New Ayurveda hospital • for Delhi Will be along the lines of AIIMS...page 2

Golden Triangle Scheme to strike gold• 38 Ayurvedic formulations under scanner..page 3

Leech therapy complements Takzema in • eczema A case study gleams ray of hope...page 3

Inflammation insulin resistance • Hyponidd tackles them both…page 4

ADHD occurs in adults as well• And Cognium counters it in style...page 5

Obesity ominous for diabetes • Obenyl opposes it head-on...page 6

$34 Billion spent on Alternative Medicine• That’s just in USA alone...page 7

Maharshi Patanjali honored• Postal stamp released...page 7

Operation “Successful Motherhood” by • Charak Three Musketeers in action ensure results...page 8

Ayurveda in pregnancy• Charak highlights hidden benefits ...page 8

2 October-December, 2009

Director’s Column

As the monsoon cloud takes leave of our Mother Land, it may not be out of place to look back at the past few months and

simultaneously look at the months ahead. Any which way you look at them, it is abundantly clear that Ayurvedic products and services are now basking in the glory of limelight with each passing day. Be it the H1N1 flu that ravaged large parts of the land, especially in cities like Pune and Bengaluru, or other seasonal disorders like gastrointestinal or respiratory ailments aggravated by the wet weather, Ayurveda is only proving itself all over again in its time-tested grandeur.

Nobody can deny the fundamental effect Ayurveda exerts on body immunity whenever it is challenged by infective or other insults. As you can see, Mother Nature provides for adequate protection of the newborn through vital immunity-boosting agents that abound in mother’s milk. We would also point out, there is a tremendous degree of resilience afforded by our traditional medical systems, coupled with the mind-body discipline that they inculcate through exercises like Pranayama and meditation.

In this issue, you will see ancient Indian wisdom acknowledged and applauded in the form of a postage stamp on Maharshi Patanjali while at the same time, a brand new hospital gets a brand new blue-print in our capital city much along the lines of the famed AIIMS. Across the seven seas, Ayurvedic and herbal formulations prove their cost-effectiveness, thus paving the way for the enormous amounts spent on Ayurvedic lines of therapy in the glorious West, be it adults or children.

Undoubtedly, this is boom time for Ayurveda. Crores of rupees are getting allocated for the cultivation of Ayurvedic plants across the country; with the result that there will be no shortage of properly identified raw materials for the makers of Ayurvedic products in times to come. In this area, Charak is obviously the leader with its meticulous choice of the best herbs in our formulations, be they Extrammune, Cognium, Obenyl or Hyponidd, all of which are proving themselves afresh in the eyes of the clinician.

These and other info bytes surely make this issue a highly readable one, as has been the tradition in Charak Times. Do kindly give us your valuable feedback – we will cherish it and share it with others. Thank you.

Dr. Ram H. Shroff Director

New Ayurvedahospitalfor Delhi

Will be along the linesof AIIMS

The government will set up an All India Institute of Ayurveda in the capital as a quality research and referral centre

in the traditional Indian system of medicine, according to Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Azad informed the Rajya Sabha that the institute, that will be set up at a cost of Rs. 134 crore will come up in Sarita Vihar in south Delhi and will facilitate quality research on safety and efficiency of Ayurveda products, develop benchmark for Ayurvedic education, develop and document best practices, safety and standard protocols for Ayurveda.

“The proposed institute will be developed as a referral and research hospital and receive patients referred by National Institute of Ayurveda in Jaipur and other Ayurvedic hospitals in the country,” Azad said. The hospital will be to Ayurveda what the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), one of Asia’s premier research and referral hospitals, is in the field of allopathic medicine.

The minister said that the institute will also aim to establish link between Ayurveda and modern sciences and translate traditional standards into modern scientific methods to increase the global appeal of Ayurveda (IANS 10 July 2009).

T A B L E T S / S Y R U PThe for extra immunityPersonal Bodyguard

Co-prescribeIntroducingIntroducing

The for extra immunityPersonal Bodyguard

E-manE-man

A doctor who cannot take a good history and a patient who cannot give one are in danger of giving and receiving bad treatment.

- Anonymous

Drugs are not always necessary. Belief in recovery always is.

- Norman Cousins

3October-December, 2009

As many as 38 ayurvedic formulations have been identified for eight disease conditions and 20 of them have been

provided to CSIR for pre-clinical studies so far under the Golden Triangle Partnership scheme set up for validation of traditional ayurvedic drugs and development of new drugs.

The CSIR has submitted the status report of 10 formulations. They are tagradi kwatha (insomnia), medhya (ADHD), ashwagandha churna (anxiety neurosis), haritkyadi churna (dyslipidemia), GTP-HN-1 (hypertension), brahmi ghrita (ADHD), gokshuradi guggulu (BPH), lakshadi guggulu (osteoporosis), nirgundi tail (joint disorders) and sinhanada guggulu (joint disorders). The pre-clinical studies of all other formulations were under progress in different institutions now, sources in the department of AYUSH said.

Golden Triangle Scheme to strike gold

38 Ayurvedic formulations under scanner

Leech therapy complements Takzema in

eczemaA case study gleams

ray of hope

The scheme was set up as an integrated technology mission for scientific validation of traditional medicines for identified disease conditions for which the apex organizations like Department of Ayush, Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha, CSIR and ICMR have joined hands. The objective of the scheme is to bring safe, effective and standard Ayurveda, Siddha, Homoeopathy and Unani products and develop new drugs of national and global importance. The apex bodies also collaborate with other institutions and companies with this purpose.

“The project is going well and more new collaborations are in the offing. The idea is to bridge the gap between modern medicine and traditional medicine so that India can tap the vast potential in the arena. It is the triangle being built between modern science, modern medicine and traditional medicine, giving a golden opportunity to the country,” an official explained.

The CCRAS has also collected the inputs for protocols of different diseases and submitted to the ICMR for further revision. The draft protocols of hypertension, dyslipidemia, HIV/AIDS, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis were thus given to the ICMR (Pharmabiz. September 03, 2009).

A 45 year old female patient visited Charak Clinic, Ghatkopar with dark pigmentation spread out all over lower portion of both the

legs. The lesions were existent for last 18 years. The itching and irritation was unbearable. The patient consulted many skin specialists in the course of time, but in vain. Finally she approached the Charak Clinic with great hope.

The clinical examination of lower limbs of the patient revealed several scratch marks & lacerations with hyperpigmented (twakvaivarnya) dry skin lesions with prominent itching. Itching was worse during nights, causing disturbed sleep. Laboratory investigations & family history were insignificant. The primary diagnosis was ‘Vicharchika’ (eczema), a type of skin disease described under ‘Kshudra-Kushtha’ in Ayurvedic texts. The patient was administered following medicines:

A] Internal medicament - Tab. Takzema, Tab. Arogyavardhini, Tab. Panchatikta ghruta guggulu for 14 days B] Local treatment - Ointment Takzema C] Panchakarma - Blood-letting (Raktamokshana with help of leeches (Jalaukavachaaran)

Prior to blood-letting the patient was investigated for HbsAg & HIV, which were found negative.

Internal oleation was done by oral administration of ‘Panchtikta Ghruta’ for 3 consecutive days, as Purva karma. Then 2 leeches (Jalauka) were applied on the skin (one leech per leg) under aseptic conditions. When Jalaukavachaaran was over, bandaging of the wounds with curcumin powder and cotton gauge was done.

Results: After 7 days from the leech therapy, remarkable improvement was seen. Around 70% patches of Hyperpigmentation disappeared leaving soft and smooth skin with natural colour. Itching reduced drastically. Patient was satisfied as she was able to sort out her problem to the greater extent within almost 14 days. On the 14th day, leeches were applied again & same medicines were continued internally.

®

TABLETS / GRANULES

The case is presented by: Dr. Prajwal Mhaske (MD Ayurved). Consultant at Charak Health Center,

Grant Road-Vashi-Goregaon- Ghatkopar-Dahisar-Pune

Contact no: 022-65236817 ; 64406604

4 October-December, 2009

Inflammation insulin resistanceHyponidd tackles them both

Di a b e t e s is an important

risk factor for c a r d i o v a s c u l a r disease. Known therapies that do reduce cardio-vascular events among diabetic

patients include exercise, weight management, smoking cessation, blood pressure control, and, in appropriate patients, antiplatelet and statin therapy. To date, data on whether cardiovascular disease can be prevented with intensive glucose control in diabetic patients are conflicting. Diabetes is, in part, an inflammatory condition. Proinflammatory mechanisms have been linked to the core metabolic defects of beta-cell insufficiency and insulin resistance. Inflammatory markers such as hsCRP (high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein), IL-6 (Interleukin 6), and sTNFr2 (soluble Tumour Necrosis Factor receptor 2) predict incident type 2 diabetes as well as myocardial infarction and stroke.

In patients with recent-onset type 2 diabetes, treatment with insulin or metformin vs placebo improves glucose control but does not lower levels of inflammatory biomarkers, according to the results of a randomized controlled trial reported in the 16 September 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (2009;302:1186-1194).

Between October 2006 and December 2008, a total of 500 adults with type 2 diabetes (median time from diagnosis, 2.0 years), suboptimal glycemic control, and elevated hsCRP levels were recruited from US office-based practices and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments (active metformin only, active metformin and insulin glargine, placebo metformin only or placebo metformin and insulin glargine). Dose titration was used to target fasting blood glucose levels less than 110 mg/dL. The primary endpoint of the study was change in hsCRP level from baseline to 14 weeks. Other outcome measures were change in IL-6 and sTNFr2 levels.

Compared with the placebo group, active treatment groups had significantly lower levels of glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). All 4 groups had reduction in hsCRP levels. Reduction in hsCRP levels was not significantly different among those assigned to insulin (−11.8%), no insulin (−17.5%), active metformin (−18.1%) or placebo metformin (−11.2%).

Despite different effects on glucose control in the individual treatment groups, reductions in hsCRP levels were no different than reductions with placebo alone (−19.0%) in the metformin group (−16.1%) and the metformin plus insulin g\roup (−20.1%).

“No consistent association was found between glucose reduction and improvement in inflammatory status ascertained by change in levels of hsCRP, IL-6, or sTNFr2,” the study authors write. “Despite substantially improving glucose control, neither insulin nor metformin reduced inflammatory biomarker levels for the main effects evaluated or in comparisons between the individual treatment groups. An interaction between interventions was observed such that, compared with no pharmacologic intervention, those allocated to insulin alone had a significant attenuation of inflammation reduction, an effect not observed among those allocated to metformin and insulin or to metformin alone.”

Against this backdrop, it should be noted that Hyponidd, a herbomineral c o m b i n a t i o n from Charak, can zero in on to precisely what needs to be done to control the underlying mechanisms of inf lammation cum insulin resistance. Its ingredients have

a definite beneficial effect not only in lowering blood sugar levels but also in lowering lipids. Pterocarpus marsupium is an insulin sensitizer. Insulin sensitizers work by allowing the body to respond more normally to insulin secretion. This prevents the pancreas from producing excess insulin. Emblica officinalis is an antioxidant. Momordica charantia, Melia azadirachta and Gymnema sylvestre are potent anti-diabetic ingredients. The cumulative pharmacological action of Hyponidd is insulin sensitizing, antihyperglycemic, hypolipidemic andantioxidant. Hyponidd minimizes the chances of diabetic complications, if started sufficiently early.

Special attention must be paid to the role of curcumin in Hyponidd. Goel et al from Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, have this to say on this interesting ingredient (Biochemical Pharmacol, 2008, 15:787-809): Although turmeric (Curcuma longa; an Indian spice) has been described in Ayurveda, as a treatment for inflammatory diseases and is referred by different names in different cultures, the active principle called curcumin or diferuloylmethane, a yellow pigment present in turmeric (curry powder) has been shown to exhibit numerous activities.

Extensive research over the last half century has revealed several important functions of curcumin. It binds to a variety of proteins and inhibits the activity of various kinases. By modulating the activation of various transcription factors, curcumin regulates the expression of inflammatory enzymes, cytokines, adhesion molecules, and cell survival proteins. Curcumin also downregulates cyclin D1, cyclin E and MDM2; and upregulates p21, p27, and p53. Various preclinical cell culture and animal studies suggest that curcumin has potential as an antiproliferative, anti-invasive, and antiangiogenic agent; as a mediator of chemoresistance and radioresistance; as a chemopreventive agent; and as a therapeutic agent in wound healing, diabetes, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, and arthritis. Pilot phase I clinical trials have shown curcumin to be safe even when consumed at a daily dose of 12 gm for 3 months. Other clinical trials suggest a potential therapeutic role for curcumin in diseases such as familial adenomatous polyposis, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, hypercholesteremia, atherosclerosis, pancreatitis, psoriasis, chronic anterior uveitis and arthritis. Thus, curcumin, a spice once relegated to the kitchen shelf, has moved into the clinic and may prove to be “Curecumin”.

C-reactive protein

5October-December, 2009

Ilakkizhi is a sudation therapy using herbal leaves in the ancient medicinal system in Kerala. Ilakkizhi or Patrasweda belongs to the Purvakarma performed prior to the Panchakarma therapy in Ayurveda. Literally, Patra means leaf and

Kizhi is linen bundle. In rheumatic pains and associated swellings, Ilakkizhi brings relief.The procedure involves fomentation of the affected region using a fist sized bundle of linen filled with finely chopped herbal leaves warmed in medicated oil. The poultice also contains sliced lime, cumin seeds and scraped coconut in addition to herbs. The whole body is fomented in the usual seven standard positions (Courtesy: website of Kerala Ayurveda Treatments)

Ilakkizhi (Patra Swedan) Pride of Kerala

Info-nugget

ADHD occurs in adults as wellAnd Cognium counters it in style

The phrase “attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),” typically conjures up the image of a hyperactive, underweight

boy. Rarely is the first thought of an obese adult; such an image seems counterintuitive, even among physicians. Yet recent studies have demonstrated that some adults with ADHD are obese, and often their treatment for ADHD eases both their ADHD symptoms and their weight problems. Adults with ADHD also often suffer from other medical comorbidities, such as hypertension and fibromyalgia, and many are addicted to tobacco. In addition, sleep disorders frequently occur among adults with ADHD, according to Medscape, the highly renowned authority in all matters medical and even beyond (Medscape CME, September 2009).

The patient with both ADHD and obesity is in a particularly difficult situation. Nearly one third of subjects (32.2%) who were referred to an obesity specialist were subsequently diagnosed

with ADHD. Treatment of their ADHD resulted in a weight loss of 15.05 kg; nontreatment of ADHD in the control group resulted in a weight gain of 3.26 kg.

Weight control may be especially difficult in adults with undiagnosed ADHD, who may pay little attention to meal planning and consequently overeat when hungry, impulsively reaching for the nearest microwavable food at home or available at the nearest drive-through facility. In addition, when an adult with undiagnosed ADHD is chided for failing to perform tasks at work or at home, he or she may be prone to seek “comfort food,” and lots of it. Obese adults with ADHD may also have difficulty stopping eating when they are full.

Fibromyalgia, a rheumatologic discorder with generalized and rather vague pain affecting fibrous and muscular tissues all over the body, is another condition some physicians seem to approach with contempt. For example, experts performed semistructured interviews with 26 physicians in different specialties who had treated patients with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. They found that these patients were often perceived as troublesome, demanding, and “medicalizing” (somaticizing). Moreover, many physician interviewees reported they did not want to include many patients with these disorders in their practices because they were psychologically demanding. The authors also stated that some physicians reportedly avoided such patients because they do not appear to be ill.

Some physicians think of fibromyalgia as an excuse for malingering. However, research has shown that patients with fibromyalgia have a lowered pain threshold and an increased sensitivity to pain, as well as high levels of substance P in the cerebrospinal fluid. Basically, these patients feel pain earlier, more intensely, and for longer periods than patients without fibromyalgia.

Other conditions associated with adult ADHD are nicotine dependence, hypertension, sleep disorders of diverse types, and so on. All in all, ADHD in adults is a complex disorder that increases in complexity with the presence of several comorbid medical disorders. The potential for some of these comorbidities, such as sleep disorders, smoking, and hypertension is well recognized among psychiatrists and primary care providers alike. Other comorbidities such as fibromyalgia and obesity are less well known and present unique challenges, particularly when it comes to recognition of ADHD in these populations.

Given such a diverse array of systemic and behavioral causes that lead to ADHD in adults, the most obvious and most natural way of dealing with it should be, not through pharmacological agents that disturb neuro-endocrine and metabolic milieu of the patient, but through retuning the neuronal circuitry with the help of natural products that do it ever so effectively and safely. That is where Charak’s Cognium enters the scene in style and delivers its advantages to the patient in the most reliable and most harmonious manner possible.

6 October-December, 2009

Obesity ominous for diabetesObenyl opposes it head-on

Obesity alone may be the best predictor of undiagnosed diabetes, according to the results of the Diabscreen Study reported

in the September/October 2009 issue of the Annals of Family Medicine (2009;7:422–430). “In screening for type 2 diabetes, guidelines recommend targeting high-risk individuals,” write Erwin P. Klein Woolthuis, MD, from Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in The Netherlands, and colleagues. “Our objectives were to assess the yield of opportunistic targeted screening for type 2 diabetes in primary care and to assess the diagnostic value of various risk factors.”

This study was conducted in the Netherlands at 11 family practices with a total practice population of 49,229 patients. Among patients aged 45 to 75 years, the investigators conducted stepwise opportunistic screening as follows: (1) using the electronic medical record, high-risk individuals with 1 or more risk factors for diabetes and low-risk individuals were identified; (2) a capillary fasting plasma glucose measurement was obtained and repeated on a different day if the value exceeded 110 mg/dL; and (3) a venous sample was obtained

if both capillary fasting plasma glucose values exceeded 110 mg/dL and at least 1 sample was 126 mg/dL or higher.

There were 3724 high-risk patients seen during usual care who were invited for a first capillary measurement (response rate, 90%), as well as a random sample of 465 low-risk patients contacted by mail (response rate, 86%). Previously undiagnosed diabetes was ultimately detected in 101 high-risk patients and 2 low-risk patients. Screening resulted in the prevalence of diabetes among patients 45 to 75 years old increasing from 6.1% to 6.8%. Among diagnostic models using a variety of risk factors, the best predictor of undiagnosed diabetes was a model containing obesity alone.

“The yield of opportunistic targeted screening was fair; obesity alone was the best predictor of undiagnosed diabetes,” the study authors write. “Opportunistic screening for type 2 diabetes in primary care could target middle-aged and older adults with obesity.”

Once obesity is recognized in your patient, it shouldn’t take long to resort to Obenyl, which is the most rational and most natural formulation to lower lipids and reduce body weight. Garcinia indica, its main ingredient, acts through hydroxycitric acid to suppress fatty acid synthesis, lipogenesis, food intake and induce weight loss exactly the way Nature intended it to. Obenyl has more aces up its sleeves. Plantago ovata prevents endothelial dysfunction, hypertension, obesity development, and ameliorates dyslipidemia. Balsamodendron mukul is an effective antihypertensive and hypolipidemic agent. Picrorrhiza kurroa reduces lipid peroxidation, which is a root cause of atherosclerosis, one of the known complications of obesity. Thus it acts as a hypolipidemic as

well as cardioprotective. Other ingredients like, Linum usitatissimum also have hypolipidemic action. Thus, Obenyl helps is reducing weight by reducing lipids and normalizing metabolism as well as prevents the complications on account of disturbed metabolism of lipids.

and the effect estimates were similar. The rate of febrile seizure recurrence was 23.4% (46/197) in those receiving antipyretic agents and 23.5% (8/34) in those receiving placebo.

“A virus infection is the most common cause of fever. Febrile seizures occur in 3% to 5% of children aged 6 months to 6 years, and the recurrence rate is 20% to 30%. It has been proposed that antipyretics will help bringing down the body temperature and would prevent febrile seizures. But we found that the antipyretic agents are ineffective for the prevention of recurrences of febrile seizures and for the lowering of body temperature in patients with a febrile episode that leads to a recurrent febrile seizure,” the study authors write. “Parents should be informed about the inefficacy of antipyretic agents during a febrile episode that leads to a febrile seizure and about the benign nature of febrile seizures themselves.”

These words of wisdom strongly endorse our stand that the best way to fight fever caused by viral agents is to boost natural immunity of the body with the help of Extrammune than to resort to superficial approaches like trying to bring down body temperature with antipyretics which don’t get to the core issue anyway.

Antipyretics fail in febrile convulsions

...contd from page 1

7October-December, 2009

Maharshi Patanjali honoredPostal stamp released

Union Minister of state for Information Technology and Communication Gurudas Kamath released a postal stamp

on Maharshi Patanjali in Haridwar. Releasing the stamp at a function organised on the occasion of birthday of Acharya Balkrishan, an associate of Yoga Guru Ramdev at Patanjali Yogpeeth here, Kamath lauded the contribution of Ramdev in the field of Ayurveda and Yoga and said he is an asset for the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank announced that every year August 4 would be celebrated as “Jari-Buti day” (herbal medicine day)in the state, as a great personality like Acharya Balkrishan was born on this day.

farmers take interest in growing herbs, the Patanjali Yogapeeth is ready to take the responsibility to procure their all produce of minimum support price, to be declared by the state government. Ramdev also claimed that farmers can become prosperous by growing herbs in their fields.

Baba Ramdev honoured the people involved in the researchof medicinal herbs with “Ayurveda Gaurav” and farmers growing herbs with “Krishak Gaurav”. On this occasion, an MoU was also signed between the Uttarakhand government and Patnajali Yogpeeth for procurement of herbs from farmers of the state (samaylive.com, 4 August 2009)

Nishank said Uttarakhand is the only state in the country where rare herbs are found Even the Vaidyas of the country believe the Sanjivani Booti is found in U t t a r a k h a n d , he added. The CM also asked

the farmers to grow herbs.

Supporting Nishank, Ramdev said if the

Americans spend almost a third as much money out-of pocket on herbal supplements and other alternative

medicines as they do on prescription drugs, a new government report shows. Out-of-pocket spending on herbal supplements, chiropractic visits, meditation, and other forms of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) was estimated at $34 billion in a single year. The estimate was based on responses to a national health survey conducted in 2007 by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

“The bottom line is that Americans spend a lot of money on CAM products, classes, materials and practitioner visits,” National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) Director Josephine P. Briggs, MD, said in a media briefing today. “We estimate that this (represents) approximately 11% of the total out-of-pocket spending on health care.”

1.5% of Total Medical Costs Involve CAM

Overall out-of-pocket expenditures for complementary and alternative medicines accounted for 1.5% of the $2.2 trillion spent on health care during the year prior to the survey. Other highlights from the report, released today by NCHS and NCAAM, include:

• In 2007, 38 million adults made an estimated 354 million visits to CAM practitioners, at an estimated cost of almost $12 billion dollars.

• Two-thirds of the out-of-pocket spending was for treatments that did not involve a practitioner, such as over-the-counter herbal therapies and other therapies, classes and materials. About $12 billion was spent on visits to practitioners such as chiropractors, acupuncturists, and homeopathic specialists.

• The biggest single expenditure was for non- vitamin, non-mineral herbal supplements and other products (almost $15 billion) followed by practitioner visits ($12 billion), stretching and meditation-related classes such as yoga, tai chi, and qigong ($4 billion), homeopathic medicines ($2.9 billion) and relaxation techniques ($0.2 billion).

• Previously reported figures based on the same national survey showed that 38% of adults and 12% of children under the age of 18 used some type of alternative medicine in 2007.

Acupuncture In, Energy Healing Out

It has been a decade since a nationally representative survey examining expenditures for CAM treatments has been done, but the newly published survey was so different from the old one that researchers were hesitant to compare them.

With that caveat in mind, the data suggest that adults in the U.S. made half as many visits to CAM practitioners in 2007 as they did in 1997, a decline from roughly three visits for every 1,000 adults to 1.5 visits.Energy-healing therapists and therapists teaching relaxation techniques saw the

largest reduction in patient visits. “Together, the drop in visits to these two groups of practitioners accounted for about half of the total decrease in 2007 from 10 years earlier,” the report noted.

A big exception to the decline was acupuncture. Visits to acupuncturists increased from 27 visits per 1,000 adults in 1997 to 79 visits per 1,000 adults in 2007. “The increase for acupuncture may be in part due to the greater number of states that license this practice and a corresponding increase in the number of licensed practitioners in 2007, compared with 1997, as well as increased insurance coverage for these therapies,” the report noted. It is not clear if visits to chiropractors have increased or decreased over the past decade, the NCCAM’s Richard L. Nahin, PhD, told reporters.

Back Pain Big Reason for CAM Use

Chronic pain, especially back pain, is by far the biggest reason that people turn to alternative treatments, Briggs said. She cited previously released data from the 2007 survey showing that of the top 20 conditions for which CAM treatments are used, nine involve chronic pain.

“Americans turn to treatments like acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage therapy to deal with these painful conditions,” she said, adding that groups like the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society are on record as endorsing these therapies as useful options for the treatment of chronic back pain.

Briggs said assessing the safety and effectiveness of these and other alternative therapies used to treat chronic pain is a major focus of NCCAM’s research efforts. “I think everyone would agree that we don’t know as much as we should, and need to know more, about how to manage back pain,” she said (WebMD Health News, July 30, 2009)

$34 Billion spent on Alternative MedicineThat’s just in USA alone

8 October-December, 2009

Ayurveda in pregnancyCharak highlights hidden benefits

In a recent interview with Express Pharma, the relevance and importance of Ayurvedic medicines in pregnancy was brought out

elegantly by Charak, which we are happy to share with you.

Charak specializes in Ayurvedic formulations that are herbal and/or herbo-mineral, prepared strictly according to the procedures laid down by our forefathers through the ages. Since these are already time-tested in terms of safe and effective use in hundreds of thousands of patients, many of whom would have obviously been pregnant, there is no need to reinvent the wheel by subjecting Ayurvedic preparations to the kind of tests that are mandatory for new chemical entities, discovered and developed along modern chemical / immunological routes.

As for making sure that the drug does not reach the foetus, such a concept is irrelevant in Ayurveda since we are not dealing with a single chemical entity but a synergistic combination of herbal principles that are modified by the body systems as soon as they enter the bio-sphere. In fact, it is quite likely that the foetus stands to gain by these principles as pregnant mothers have been taking Ayurvedic preparations for centuries with good effect.

In fact, long before the concept of vitamin and iron supplementation in pregnancy came about, Ayurvedic preparations were being regularly used by pregnant women with a view to ensuring normal pregnancy and full term normal delivery, a fact that stands testimony to their therapeutic efficacy as well as clinical safety.

Extending this point, antenatal care is elaborated in Ayurveda with great precision and care, under the term Masanumasiki chikitsa. The word masanumasiki means month-to-month treatment. According to Ayurveda, there is different medicinal treatment for each month of pregnancy. Thus there are different groups of medicines i.e. herbs for each month of pregnancy. After conception, oral medication is started according to the month of pregnancy.

Since Ayurveda adheres strictly to natural therapy, Charak feels that it is impractical to weigh the Ayurvedic preparations in the same balance that is designed for the new chemical entities.

This is an information-sharing service to the healthcare profession of our ancient land with a modern profile. Edited by Dr. Milind Patil, MD, Published by Charak Pharma Pvt Ltd

501/A, Poonam Chambers, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai - 400018. Tel 022-3003 6636, Email: drpatil@charak.com, Website: www.charak.com

Dr. Patil’s ColumnDr. Milind Patil, Medical Advisor of Charak, is not only a highly knowledgeable master of the subject, but a forward looking healthcare professional who blends the best of both worlds-ayurveda and modern medicine.

Operation “Successful

Motherhood” by Charak

Three Musketeers in action ensure results

Charak is committed to spread the good word on successful Motherhood. It deploys the proverbial “Three Musketeers”

towards that end. They are M2 - Tone, Hyponidd and Addyzoa

Musketeer 3: Addyzoa

If you thought that only the number and motility of sperm as reported in a routine semen examination are enough to judge how fertile a man is, think again. Semen analysis remains the cornerstone of the laboratory evaluation of the infertile man. Despite this, it is important to realize that measurement of conventional semen parameters does not necessarily constitute a measure of fertility. Except in cases of azoospermia, the semen analysis does not clearly distinguish the patients between sterile and fertile groups. As semen parameters decrease in quality, the statistical chances of conception decrease but do not reach to zero. Modern research on the functional competence of sperm is uncovering newer and newer facets of this complex phenomenon and unless these are studied and interpreted along modern lines, our investigation of the fertility status of a couple will remain inadequate. Researchers continue to seek physiological indicators of the functional competence of sperm as this may allow a more rational treatment in sperm dysfunction. New measuring instruments like ‘Computer Assisted Semen Analysis’ (CASA) have opened new areas for investigation of sperm competence.

Recent research has evolved following three markers for assessing the fertile capabilities of sperm:

• Hyperactivation is well-defined threshold of the sperm motility. This ensures that the sperm will reach to the ovum

• Acrosome reaction is the fusion of the cell membranes of the sperm and the ovum. Unless this reaction occurs, the sperm will not get entry inside the ovum

• DNA integrity: Completion of the fertilization process and subsequent embryo development depend mostly on the inherent integrity of the sperm DNA

The underlying most common cause of the defects in these biological markers is the increased oxidative stress. Overproduction of free radicals inducing the oxidative stress directly damages the sperm, resulting in deformities, reduced motility, disturbed energy supply and interference with

the process of uniting with the ovum. The defects in sperm can be prevented by reducing the level of free radicals in the semen. Since antioxidants remove free radicals from the body, they are very useful in treating male infertility.

Addyzoa is a herbomineral spermatogenic antioxidant. Addyzoa has multifaceted free radical scavenging action and therefore, it minimizes effectively the damage to the sperm cells caused by the free radicals. Besides, Addyzoa is a proven potent spermatogenic. The combination of potent herbs like Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Vidarikanda (Ipomoea digitata), Kavach beej shuddha (Mucuna pruriens) and Shilajit shuddha improve sperm count, motility and morphology of the sperm and also increase semen density.