05 March 2011
Pune, India
Many ayurvedic drugs have been found far superior to their allopathic counterparts. Modern medicine many times overlook the fact that when two patients with similar ailment are given same medicines, it need not have the same effect on both of them.
Because, each disease is a psychosomatic malady which needs individualistic treatment, said Ravi Bapat, former head of surgical gastroenterology at KEM Hospital, Mumbai, and vice–chancellor of Navi Mumbaibased Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Health Sciences. Bapat was speaking at the VIIIth annual Research Society Conference at the Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College here on Friday.
Elaborating on the well–documented evidences of ayurvedic drugs in treating various diseases, Bapat said, "There has been convincing experimental evidence that Tinispora Cordifolia (Gulvel) increases immunity in cancer and tuberculosis patients. A study carried out by us has found that ayurvedic drugs are much superior to other immunostimulants available in the market.
Besides, our research, long ago, had conclusively proved that Gulvel did not just treat the symptoms of jaundice but also cured it as much as it helped the patient develop immures against it. Plus, it did not have any toxic effect." Bapat and his team had also made a systematic study of the effects of many other ayurvedic drugs and proved them superior to their allopathic counterparts.
"We have found that the long–term outcome of Ksharasootra (K–Sutra) was far better in the treatment of Fistula and Piles than surgery, which allopathy recommends. For treating haemorrhoids, ayurvedic medicine Matra Basti is curative in nature, compared to surgery suggested in allopathy, which has high recurrence rate," he said.
Speaking about his study conducted in the use of leeches in the treatment of varicose veins, the abnormally swollen and tortuous veins, Bapat said, "By conducting experimentally verifiable and documented studies, we have showed that leeches mainly suckles the venous blood (the impure blood that flows towards the lungs) and not the arterial blood (the pure blood, which is pumped by the heart to various organs), of the patient."
"Use of leeches was not only safer but faster and less painful. It decreased oedema (swelling) faster, and the healing was much better. Since then leech therapy has got a big boost," said Bapat, who continues to follow his seminal work in ayurvedic research.
More ayurveda research centres
The vice–chancellor of Nashik–based Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Arun Jamkar, said centres dedicated to boost research in ayurveda would be set up in Nashik and Nagpur. "A provision of Rs 2 crore has been made to carry out seminal research work in ayurveda. The emphasis will be on evidence–based approach." Besides, enhancing communication skills of doctors to improve the doctor–patient relationship is equally important. Therefore, the study of communication skills will be made part of the syllabus from June. A provision of Rs 1 crore has been made towards this end, Jamkar said after inaugurating the conference at Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College.
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