Global Ayurveda News & Events: January-April 2010

UK Association withdraws from International Ayurveda Body

London, February 26, 2010 (APA) At its last meeting on 26 February 2010, the APA (Association of Ayurvedic Practitioners) executive decided to withdraw the APA from the International Alliance of Ayurvedic Professional Associations (IAAPA). This decision follows the stepping down of the APA representative for the IAAPA in January due to growing differences among alliance members over the vision and structure for the IAAPA.

Initially, all members had agreed to create the IAAPA as a global and non-hierarchical forum for dialogue, support and co-ordinated action among Ayurvedic professional associations. In September 2009, all members founded the IAAPA by committing to the principles of unity and consensus. In the following months, however, member views began to diverge and proposals for democratic structures (majority voting), hierarchy (presidency) and a more political role of the IAAPA were made.

The APA recognises the need for concerted action of Ayurvedic professionals on national and regional levels via democratic structures and continues to engage in political work with other associations and institutions in the UK and abroad. However, the APA executives are of the opinion that on a global level structures and methods need to be implemented that reflect a core teaching of Ayurveda: we are all ONE. Democratic structures that allow a majority to overrule and disregard the needs of a minority cannot be appropriate for the global Ayurvedic community. True unity can be established when everyone’s needs are fully respected, and the only way to ensure this is by consensus. The APA has been guided by the principles of unity and loving respect from the very beginning and also expressed them in the APA vision: To facilitate the health, happiness and well-being of all, we manifest the truth of Ayurveda through unity and love.

Although the APA is no longer involved in the IAAPA project, the APA executives are still in touch with their IAAPA friends and will continue to actively communicate with them. Working together on an international level is essential for all Ayurvedic professionals, and the APA has decided to engage in international communication again via the already existing cooperation agreements with various associations. At the same time, efforts will be made to link with like-minded colleagues who share APA core values, so that in future a global forum can be created that respects the diverse needs of each country.

Ayurvedic Herbal Medicines Endngered by EU Legislation

Budapest, March 22, 2010 (EuAA) An EU regulation on traditional herbal medicines is due to come fully into force in April 2011 and may then lead to a loss of the accustomed natural therapy of many patients. The Ayurvedic healing system, a treatment method exclusively based on natural ingredients, is especially endangered.

Last Saturday, a two-day meeting of European and Indian Ayurvedic experts took place in Budapest (March 19-20, 2010). This international workshop was organized by the Indian Embassy in association with the European Ayurveda Association (EUAA) with the support of the Indian Department AYUSH (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India).

"We are finally seeing a broad cross-section of interests coming to together to help protect one of the world’s most long-lived and well established approaches to healthcare", said MD Dr Harsha Gramminger, president of the EUAA and long-time practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine. Modern healthcare systems are afflicted by the burden of chronic diseases and the multi-faceted and holistic nature of Ayurveda holds so many answers. Unfortunately the EU directive has not been developed to suit traditional medicine cultures like Ayurveda. With this regulation the EU has considerably raised the standards for product registration of herbal preparations, with the effect that the registrations becomes economically unaffordable for many small enterprises in the EU market. Says Dr Gramminger: "A modification of the regulation is required to prevent discriminatory effects."

Ms S. Jalaja, the Secretary of AYUSH set the scene by explaining the difficulties that were being encountered by manufacturers of Ayurvedic products in meeting the highly onerous pharmaceutical standards set by the European Directive. Although the EU directive was passed in 2004, and despite its 7 year transition phase, not a single traditional herbal Ayurvedic medicine has been registered under the so-called simplified licensing regime provided by the EU directive 2004/26.

Speakers at the meeting included Edit Herczog and Erika Mann (Members of the European Parliament), Dr Werner Knoess (responsible for registrations of herbal medicines in the German regulatory agency BfArM, Federal Institute for Drugs & Medical Devices). Brussels-based lawyer Paolo Vergano discussed the potential of bringing resolution to the problems caused by the EU directive via the World Trade Organization, while Dr Robert Verkerk, executive director of Alliance for Natural Health International, spoke about the potential for an EU legal challenge to the directive. Dr. Mathias Schmidt (Regulatory Affairs Director EUAA) explained the pre-conditions for product registration and pointed to the gaps in the present regulation.

Problems and potential solutions were discussed by the experts in specific working groups with emphasis on scientific, legal and political challenges. A close cooperation between European and Indian governmental and non-governmental bodies was achieved. A core group under the leadership of Erika Mann is working on solutions to

reach conditions for the registration of traditional herbal medicinal products which should allow preserving the patient’s choice of Ayurvedic medicinal treatments. This core group has already started its coordination of activities on the level of the EU, the national regulatory authorities and the Indian government.

Government of India to Mainstream Indian Systems of Medicine

New Delhi, April 9, 2010 (IANS) The Indian federal government is making all efforts to mainstream Indian systems of medicine - Ayush (ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy) - through quality control and holistic medical education, Federal Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr. S. Gandhiselvan said on Friday.

“The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) is the main vehicle to achieve the goal. The NRHM seeks to open up local health tradition and mainstream Ayush including the manpower and drugs and to strengthen the public health system,” Gandhiselvan said at a conference here.

He also stated that the ministry is considering creating a medical facility combining western medicine and Indian system of medicine to provide holistic medical treatment.

Emphasising the need for quality control, Gandhiselvan said that Quality Council of India, an autonomous body set up by the ministry to promote quality, has been deputed to develop voluntary certification systems covering AYUSH products and medicinal plants.

Ayurveda: Hope for Blocked Hearts

Varanasi, April 29, 2010 (Hindustan Times) A green ray of hope for patients of renal failure and coronary heart blocks! Ayurveda coupled with healthy and controlled diet has helped postpone dialysis and renal transplants in acute cases of renal failure at the PD Patel Ayurvedic Hospital in Nadiad (Gujarat).

As per Professor SN Gupta, the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, in as many as 2000 cases of renal failure, spanning from early stage to cases where kidney function is below ten per cent, the bouquet of Ayurvedic medicines, medicated enemas and a restricted diet coupled with a healthy lifestyle has postponed dialysis and renal transplant from four years to life-long postponement.

Also the senior professor of Kaya Chikitsa at JS Ayurvedic College, Nadiad (which operates the Patel Hospital), Gupta said a consortium of Ayurvedic medicines, spanning from Punarnava, Shilajeet and Koksavadi Guggul have been used to success for treating patients of renal failure at the hospital.

The Ayurvedic medicines have been coupled with Basti Karma (medicated Enema) and diet and lifestyle changes as per instructions given in Ayurvedic texts. "The troika of medicines, enema and diet-lifestyle changes have helped us postpone dialysis and kidney transplant from four years to life long postponement, depending on degree of renal failure," Gupta maintained.

Already the data of the successful postponement of dialysis and renal transplant has been published in local medical journals and is up for publication in Ayu, a quarterly peer review journal of research published by the Gujarat Ayurved University.

Gupta further said that at the hospital, Ayurveda is being used to manage chronic heart and liver problems, particularly Liver Cirrhosis and Coronary Arterial Blockages."For managing chronic arterial blockages we use the time tested Panchkarma Therapy to purify the body and resultantly clear blockages and improve blood circulation followed by use of Ayurvedic herbs like Triphala and Arjun to maintain optimal functioning of blood circulation in body which was achieved via Panchkarma Therapy," Gupta said.

"We've ten year follow-up of 150-plus cases where the arterial blockages have been cleared up to 75 pc, which is being published shortly in Ayurveda journals," he added.

UK Government Proposes Regulatory Structure for Ayurvedic Profession

London, April 8, 2010 (APA) In response to the latest Department of Health (DH) consultation on the regulation of the ayurvediic profession, the Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham, has now proposed a regulatory framework for our profession. In a letter from 8 April 2010 the DH wrote:

“As you may know, on 1 April Andy Burnham announced proposals for improving the safeguards for herbal medicines, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture. This follows the joint public consultation on behalf of all four UK countries that ended last year. Early findings are that the consultation responses were overwhelmingly in favour of regulation, but favoured an approach that will not be unduly burdensome and will not imply equivalence of efficacy compared with Health Professions Council (HPC) regulated professions. The Department is currently considering legislation to ensure that all practitioners supplying unlicensed herbal medicine to members of the public in England are registered with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). The introduction of such a register would increase public protection but without the full trappings of professional recognition which are applied to practitioners of orthodox healthcare. Officials will work closely with the CNHC, members of the professions and associated stakeholders to work out the details.

Consideration will also be given to similar measures affording an appropriate level of protection for people using acupuncture treatments. The Department is aware of the requirement for the UK to comply with European Directive 2004/24 including the end of the transitional period at 30 April 2011. This was addressed in the recent consultation and this was taken into account when reaching the decision. In England, practitioners registered with the CNHC will be able to continue to supply herbal medicines to the public once European Directive 2004/24 comes into force. This decision takes account of the public desire for choice and access alongside patient safety. In addition, the public will still be able to access 'over the counter' herbal medicines and licensed herbal medicines prepared by a herbal practitioner.

Before any decision is taken, representatives of all four devolved administrations will discuss the proposals before publishing a joint response in due course.”

The proposal to regulate herbal and traditional medicine practitioners through the CNHC has come as a surprise, as the CNHC is a voluntary regulator. Although it has government backing, it is not a statutory council like the HPC. From a CNHC press release of 1 April 2010:

CNHC is the only UK regulatory body for complementary healthcare endorsed and supported by the Department of Health. It was established as a company limited by guarantee in July 2008 and opened its register to various complementary healthcare disciplines during 2009 with the purpose of protecting the public by means of a voluntary register for complementary and natural healthcare practitioners. CNHC currently registers practitioners who meet its standards in aromatherapy, Alexander technique, Bowen, massage, nutritional therapy, reflexology, shiatsu, sports and remedial and yoga therapy. The register is due to open later this year to cranial sacral therapy, naturopathy and reiki.

International Meeting in Delhi

London, May 1, 2010 (APA) A second Interactive Meeting for Ayurvedic professionals and experts from around the world has been organised by the the Government of India's Department of AYUSH on 3 & 4 May 2010 in New Delhi. The APA has been invited to this follow-up from last year’s meeting and the APA executives have given their approval to send a delegate to represent the UK Ayurvedic community.