Kerala plans to standardise ayurvedic medicines

Ayurvedic medicine has the potential to be an alternative to allopathic treatment, according to an Indian scientist who is on a visit to Oman.

"Ayurvedic medicine has cure for diseases without side effects," claimed Dr N. Gopalkrishna in an interview with the Gulf News yesterday.

However, the Indian scientist, who works with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in the Indian state of Kerala, firmly believes that the Ayurvedic medicines need to be standardised.

Gopalkrishna is currently working on standardising the Ayurvedic medicines at the CSIR in Thiruvananthapuram. He reckons one of the reasons that ayurvedic medicines have not been accepted worldwide, is lack of standardisation of ayurvedic drugs.

Interestingly, Oman is the only GCC state to allow practice of ayurvedic medicine. That will change things, assures Gopalkrishna. But, "only after the drug is standardised.

"We also need to give a crystal clear picture (of the ayurvedic medicine)," he firmly said, adding that once the minuses and pluses of the drugs are explained, people will not hesitate to use these drugs.

He agreed that quacks are also practicing ayurvedic medicine. "Anything improperly handled can give a bad name," said Gopalkrishna.

Kerala has become a popular destination for people seeking ayurvedic treatment, especially the oil massage.

Gopalkrishna pointed out that the state government has recently made it compulsory for all ayurvedic parlours to register with the government. And, "they are regularly checked to ensure proper usage of medicine."

He also revealed that the ayurvedic medicines manufacturers should obtain the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certificate and in turn the government of India should recommend such manufacturers abroad.

"That will help find good market outside of India," he believes.

The scientist stressed that ayurvedic drugs have permanent cure without any side effects. "The duration of treatment can be very long," he confessed.

Gopalkrishna pointed out that fearing side effects of allopathy drugs, people are turning to alternate medicines. "We should offer the improved version of ayurvedic drugs instead of the traditional ones to create a market abroad."

The visiting scientist said when people world over are looking for alternative medicine, ayurveda can provide the best option with its sustainable effects.

"We also need to look at both the qualitative and quantitative production (of ayurvedic drugs) to meet the rising demand for alternate medicine in the world.

"Ayurvedic medicines can also act as a supplementary to other drugs," he pointed out.