Healing with nature

Ayurvedic practitioner gets UAE medical licence

For centuries, Ayurveda has been practiced to obtain relief from acute as well as chronic diseases.

This form of alternative medicine arrests the further development of disease right at its root, treating and removing the cause of the ailment, instead of satisfying the patient with symptomatic relief.

Recently, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS) approved the practice of Ayurveda in the UAE.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) examinations are now being conducted for non-UAE practitioners in their related fields. Of the many candidates who appeared for the last CAM examination held in April, Dr Abdul Gafoor was the only candidate to qualify for independent practice of Ayurveda.

"Ayurveda offers excellent parasurgical therapies, which serve the dual purpose of eradicating the chronic disease as well as avoiding the complex surgical procedures. The lack of side-effects renders it suitable for even geriatric patients.

"The Ministry's approval for Ayurvedic practice has come as a relief to the many individuals who had been otherwise going abroad for treatment," says Dr Gafoor.

Dr Gafoor has been working with the Italian Herbal Center, in Ajman, as a specialised physician for herbal medicine and physiotherapy for the past five years now.

"A written CAM examination for Ayurvedic practices was conducted for the first time. Candidates who passed were also evaluated orally and practically. Based on their performance, they were categorised for either clinical or independent practice," he explained.

"Procedures are under way and soon I shall start my own clinic."

The Dubai Indian Islamic Centre honoured him for his outstanding performance in the CAM examinations.

"For his acheivement, we gave him a medallion as a token of our support and encouragement," said P.T. Abdur Rahman Mohammed, president of Dubai Indian Islamic Centre.

"He had actively participated in the last medical camp that we had organised. He will also be one of the guest speakers at the Independence Day celebrations being held at the Centre's premises this week.

He will address the gathering in Malayalam and speak about the common stress-related ailments that people in the Gulf suffer from and how Ayurvedic treatments can be employed to combat the demands of a strenuous lifestyle.