Ayurvedic self-care Print E-mail
Written by Dr Milind Jani, Pavilion Healthcare International Ltd and Dr Asmita Jani, Asmita Ayurvedic Clinic   
Ayurveda is now recognised as a complete herbal medicine system in its own right by the Department of Health, under the category of a traditional herbal medicine with evidence base and its own self-regulatory body (British Ayurvedic Medicine Council, Herbal Medicine Regulatory Working Group)[1]. We would like to share with you our 20 years’ experience in the practice of Ayurvedic medicine, herbal supplements and therapies with their holistic health philosophy.

We are training pharmacists to provide safe and effective advice on Ayurvedic herbal supplements for the self-care of common ailments and chronic disease management. Many pharmacists are stocking Ayurvedic herbs alongside well-established complementary medicines such as homoeopathic remedies, herbal medicines and supplements, and some have complementary practitioners working from consulting rooms attached to their pharmacy.

We have been using Ayurvedic medicine – traditional Indian herbal supplements – in primary care and at our integrated medicine centre for over 18 years, together with Ayurvedic massage and detox therapies such as Panchakarma.

Quality control


There is a key issue about the quality of Ayurvedic products manufactured and imported from India. It is imperative that UK companies supplying Ayurvedic herbs in the UK and Europe have close contacts with and knowledge of suppliers and manufacturers in India, and have proper qualified professionals sourcing and monitoring the quality and formulations. They should also be familiar with the Ayurvedic industry and institutions in India.

Poor sourcing of raw herbs, contamination, heavy metal content and quality control can be a major problem with many manufacturing units in India[2].

What is ayurveda?


Ayurveda is a traditional Indian medicine system offering a holistic approach to healthy living, and prevention and treatment of disease. Evolving over 5,000 years, Ayurveda is established in India as a well-regulated mainstream medicine offered in parallel with conventional medicine on the Indian NHS. Its scope is twofold – the layman’s Ayurveda for self-care home remedies and the professional Ayurvedic practitioner for more serious ailments.

The degree of BSAM (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery), obtained after a six-year training, is the only legally accredited qualification for practising Ayurvedic medicine. An MD in Ayurveda is available after a further two years’ research at a postgraduate university. Over the years a number of Ayurvedic colleges have sprung up outside India, particularly in the US, and two universities in the UK offer a four-year diploma course: Manipal Ayurveda University of Europe (MAYUR) and Westminster University.

The infrastructure of Ayurvedic medicine in India includes 194 accredited Ayurvedic university colleges under the aegis of 50 Ayurvedic universities, 1,000 Ayurvedic hospitals, 368,000 registered Ayurvedic practitioners controlled by the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and 8,604 Ayurvedic pharmaceutical manufacturing units (for more information visit the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Government of India website – www.indianmedicine.nic.in) .

Over 8,000 herbal formulations have been listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India to treat all common ailments and chronic disease management (without side-effects if chosen from reliable sources with good professional advice). The Government of India has published three volumes of the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia detailing the official specifications of single herbs and compound medicine formulations.

An innovative enterprise?


Ayurvedic herbs are rapidly gaining popularity among yoga practitioners, nutritionists and other complementary practitioners and among the public generally. Ayurveda is regularly featured in popular health magazines and at natural health shows like the Yoga Show, Natural Products Show and CAM Expo. As the number of trained Ayurvedic doctors grows in the UK and Europe, the demand for prescribed reliable Ayurvedic formulations is bound to increase.

Ayurvedic herbal medicine offers well-established, clinically proven, time-tested, safe and effective herbal remedies for the treatment of acute minor illness as well as for the treatment and prevention of more serious long-term illness. Ayurvedic pharmacy has flourished in India for over 100 years, both for the domestic market and worldwide exports. It is set to become a multi-million pound business in Europe and the UK over the next five years.

Conditions helped


Ayurvedic treatment can help people to lose weight, prevent heart attacks and manage many common problems. The following are some of the safe and popular herbs you could start with in your pharmacy.

Stress-related disorders
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Brahmi (Centella asiatica), valerian and nardostachys jatamansi are well-researched herbs for stress-related conditions and insomnia. Ashwagandha contains the alkaloid withanaloid and Brahmi contains a glucoside, which are said to help neurotransmitter concentrations in the brain and may help people to come off antidepressants and sleeping tablets. We have not seen any adverse interaction while weaning patients off modern antidepressants and tranquillisers such as fluoxetine, citalopram and benzodiazepines, except that valerian may enhance the hypnotic effect of benzodiazepines and zopiclone.
Some researchers suggest that Brahmi may be helpful in senile dementia[3].

Women’s ailments
Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus root) is rich in phyto-oestrogens and iso-flavones and is considered to be a Rasayan or restorative tonic for women. Shatavari root extract is considered to be a cooling herb, helpful in urinary infections and excess stomach acidity. Shatavari should not be taken by pregnant women as it can cause miscarriage, but is excellent for breast feeding as it helps lactation. Combining Shatavari with red clover and ashwagadha offers a gentle rebalancing for women’s hormonal symptoms.

Arishthas are herbal medicated wines. Ashokaaristha is made from the bark of saraca indica and other herbs and has been found helpful in dysfunctional uterine bleeding, menopausal fatigue and anaemia.

Cholesterol and diabetes
Guggul (Commiphora mukul gum) has been extensively researched for its cholesterol lowering and anti-inflammatory actions. Trifala guggul may be combined with the extracts of three myrobalan fruits for their anti-oxidant content. Gynmena silvestre, fenugreek, charantia, pterocarpus marsupium and curcumin have shown hypoglycaemic effects on their own or as combined formulations. Trifala guggul is given with this combination to control diabetes, but care is required in patients taking insulin or oral antidiabetic medication.

Flu, colds and coughs
Alma or Indian gooseberry combined with other herbs is recommended for flu, cough, sore throat, chest infection, recurrent infections and general debility, particularly for the elderly and those recovering from illness or surgery.

Asthma and COPD
Alma or Indian gooseberry and Chyavan prash made from Indian gooseberry pulp helps to heal the lungs and is traditionally taken for bronchitis and asthma, reducing wheezing and improving peak flow. Curcumin (turmeric root extract) helps to prevent allergic triggers of asthma as well as reduce frequency of secondary infections.

Sitopaladi is a household Ayurvedic remedy in India for common sore throats and breathing problems. It contains long pepper, cardamom and cinnamon in sugar and is taken mixed with honey.

Liver detox and immunity
Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) and Alma have been shown in clinical research to boost immunity, and protect the liver and blood cells in chemotherapy, hepatitis and alcohol liver damage[4].

Curcumin is an important herb in Ayurveda, used in many formulations for a variety of health benefits: as a powerful anti-inflammatory in arthritis, liver problems, viral hepatitis, skin conditions and allergies, and as a powerful bioflavonoid that scavenges free radicals and enhances liver detoxification of many harmful chemicals and metabolites.

Arthritis
Boswellia serrata has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect in rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis, similar to diclofenac without adverse effects on the stomach. It can be taken on a long-term basis and is recommended in conjunction with Trifala guggul and curcumin.
 
Head lice, eczema and psoriasis
Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a well-established treatment for skin conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis and as an adjunct to diabetes treatment. Topical neem oil is used for head lice and fungal infections of skin and is safe for children. Guduchi and curcumin given with neem extract show good results in chronic eczema and psoriasis.

Eu legislation


Most herbal and Ayurvedic supplements sold in the UK are classed as food supplements and no treatment claims can be made. This may change as companies register their herbal products or get marketing authorisation for ingredients that fall within the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s herbal medicines category (www.mhra.gov.uk ).

The pharmaceutical industry in India is monitored by the Central Government Council of Ayurvedic Medicine and the Pharmacopoeia Committee. Pharmacies in the UK and Europe planning to sell Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies will need to verify that the supplier companies have genuine Good Manufacturing Practice certificates, ISO certification, accredited quality control procedures, herbal medicine Product Analysis Data Sheets with botanical identification of herb, specifications, standardisations, microbial studies, and tests for heavy metals, pesticides and chemical fertilisers even in products claimed to be organic or wild crafted.

Genuine Ayurvedic herbs and herbal formulations from reliable suppliers are safe and effective for common ailments. To treat serious medical conditions, there is no substitute for a proper consultation with a qualified Ayurvedic doctor and the prescription of specific compound formulations.

References


1. www.dh.gov.uk/CAM
2. www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/
3. Professor Emeritus KN Udupa et al. Role of Ayurvedic drug Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri) in the management of senile dementia. Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University.
4. Dahanuka, Thatte, Wagner et al. Immunostimulants from Ayurvedic Medicine. Switzerland, 1999.
 
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