Earlier this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) included a chapter on traditional medicine in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD) for the first time – in what many perceived to be a boon to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The ICD is an influential document. In the WHO’s own words, “ICD is increasingly used in […]
traditional medicine
AYUSH hospitals for all: One in every district
Minister of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) Shripad Yasso Naik has announced that AYUSH hospitals will be opened in every district of India, in line with government efforts to expand access to alternative medicine facilities throughout the nation. “We have brought out a scheme wherein AYUSH hospitals be it Ayurveda, Unani […]
Integrated health research gets Rs 200 crore boon
Niti Aayog member Dr Vinod K. Paul has announced a Rs 200 crore boon for integrated health research in India at a recent event in Chandigarh. Speaking at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in the city, Paul said “the government is working on a special research fund and scheme on integrated health research. […]
Cow urine for cancer treatments?
The Union Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) is investigating the medicinal properties of cow urine – including for the treatment of cancer. “Cow urine is used in the preparation of several types of medicines. It is used even for the treatment of incurable disease like cancer,” Minister of State […]
An alternative medicine boost from the Centre
India is taking a big leap to promote alternative medicine and opening 12,500 centres is a significant step in this direction, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said. Promoting alternative medicine practices has been a major tenet of the Central government’s vision for healthcare since the BJP came to power in 2014, with the Union Ministry […]
Calls for AYUSH centres in every state
One of India’s leading alternative medicine practitioners has called for AYUSH centres practising these systems to be established in every Indian state. Dr V. B. Vijaykumar – vice president of the Central Council of Indian Medicine, a body under the Union Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) – issued the […]
Scientists fume over AYUSH Ministry note
The Union AYUSH Ministry has alienated the scientific community following an advisory note effectively banning non-AYUSH researchers from studying the effectiveness of alternative medicine products. The note, dated May 2nd, referred to the systems of alternative and traditional medicine covered under the AYUSH umbrella – ayurvedic, unani, siddha, naturopathy, homoeopathy, and yoga – as an […]
Congress hits out at AYUSH Ministry
A major part of the Government’s healthcare agenda has been the promotion of alternative medicines. To this end, the BJP government established a cabinet ministry in 2014 to promote traditional and alternative medicine systems like ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, unani, siddha, and homoeopathy named the AYUSH ministry). Under the previous Congress government, AYUSH was a small […]
India and Sri Lanka to enhance healthcare relationship
“”Diseases know no boundaries”” India and Sri Lanka will enhance their relationship when it comes to working together on health, India’s top diplomat to the country has said. “Diseases know no boundaries,” Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu asserted in a public statement while inaugurating a three-day Medicare conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He continued, […]
Ayurveda is becoming even bigger business in India
Ayurvedic products are increasing in popularity. A recent report unveiled at the Global Ayurveda Summit in Kochi found that 77 percent of Indian households used them in 2017. This is up from 69 percent of households in 2015. The rise of ayurveda is being fuelled by growing emphasis on the importance of healthy lifestyles, suggested […]