Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has attracted criticism following controversial claims concerning the ongoing pandemic of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. Ramdev, who uses the honorific title “Swami Ramdev” in addition to “Baba”, has reportedly angered public health professionals following his suggestion that Ashwagandha, an Ayurvedic remedy and common component of traditional medicine in India, could […]
traditional medicine
Homoeopathy bill: Amendments approved by Cabinet
The Union Cabinet has approved amendments to a homoeopathy bill, which itself will amend a decades-old piece of legislation creating a homoeopathic council analogous to the Medical Council of India to regulate the practice in India. Systems of alternative and traditional medicine, such as homoeopathy, have been gaining popularity in India in recent years and […]
Siddha medicine to cure coronavirus?
As Chinese authorities outline treatment regimens to treat the novel coronavirus and the global push for a cure is underway, a Tamil Nadu-based practitioner of alternative medicine claims to have found a cure in the form of siddha medicine. “We have formulated medicine from an extract of herbs,” claims Thanikasalam Veni. “It is very effective […]
Traditional Chinese medicine: Regulation a must
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 […]
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
![Crowds practise yoga in Nainital, Uttarkhand on International Yoga Day, 2017. Image credit: By Jbharti749 [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons](https://i0.wp.com/www.healthissuesindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Yoga_at_Nainital.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 "Yoga isn’t timeless: It’s changing to meet contemporary needs")
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 […]