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Ayurveda

India’s traditional medicine knowledge is on reverse pharmacology mode: Dr DBA Narayana

India’s extensive traditional knowledge has taken a paradigm shift towards ‘reverse pharmacology’ with botanicals being used extensively for innovative, efficacious and safe product development, said Dr DB Anantha Narayana, chief scientific officer, Ayurvidye Trust, and Chairman, Scientific Panel, nutraceuticals, FSSAI. Since these leads have documented long history of safe and effective usage, developing opportunities to use them, standardize, make dosage decisions, formulation development and a confirmatory efficacy studies can be expected give several new products, he added. Botanicals and their concentrates offer leads to provide health benefits with Nutraceuticals. India has demonstrated number of such botanical based safe and effective products. This has led to bring out a product in a span of 4-5 years including human interventional clinical trials through confirmatory studies of phase III with far lower expenses than a new drug development. Many national laboratories in India are taking this approach and a number of health supplement products are under different stages of development. Such supplements or nutraceuticals are regulated by the Foods Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and do not go through drug approval process. In order to deal with the future challenges in healthcare, we see the need to look at supplements, nutraceuticals and food route as an area of future approach and development, said Dr Narayana at the Global Disease Challenges of Traditional Medicine in the 21st Century-The Best Opportunities for Taiwan and India where Prof. Jue-Liang Hsu Ph.D/Vice Dean, College of Agriculture, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology moderated the event. Innovations in product offerings which can be stand-alone products replacing current drugs, or add-ons to the current medications are two big baskets. The segment of pain and pain management, together with treatment for bones, joints, muscles, headache, migraine offer a big area. More than 25% of arthritic patients and cardiac patients cannot consume current anti-inflammatory NSAIDS drugs. It is here Boswellia serrata, Hirabool, Ginger, Guggul, offer safe and effective actives. A number of externally applied products that offer immediate relief can make combos to oral products. The basket of actives is too large to list here, he said. Disturbed lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits have affected liver health and as many as 50 different botanicals and nutraceuticals can be found for innovation. Forced stay indoors, lower consumption of fluids have impacted kidney health and increased incidence of urinary stone and infection. Punarnava, Gokhru, Varuna, Palash are few herbs, and D-Mannose are sure shot actives to develop for this area. Guduchi, Ashwagandha, Amla, Tulsi, Kalmegh amongst more than 20 herbs, and Zinc, Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D are some of the top immunomodulatory herbs to look at. Ashwagandha, Kalonji, Bhringaraj, Valerian, Jatamansi, Sarpagandha, passion flowers and Ginseng. Niche products can be developed for women’s health, autoimmune disorders like thyroid and gastro intestinal disorders have more than 25 leads with published data The list can be expanded with expert advice. With enhanced interest on botanicals global regulation also recognise history of usage. Unlike two decades ago, pharmacopeia standards for quality are available in IP, USP, BP, Japanese Pharmacopoeia, European Pharmacopoeia, WHO monographs on botanicals and botanical extracts. Researchers from academia, pharmacy, pharmacology institutions have undertaken in-vivo as well as human studies that undertake the safety and efficacy of these botanicals.

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Ayurvedic Relief from Anxiety, Stress & Sleep Disorder

To build a natural defence against stress disorders, anxiety and insomnia, a blend of 8 herbs that have proven benefits of stress reduction, including adaptogenic herbs like brahmi and ashwagandha, is what you need. By lowering stress levels and promoting deep relaxation, such a formulationrelieves common mental health problems and improves sleep quality which is linked to elevated stress levels. Stress is an inescapable reality of modern life, giving rise to various stress disorders and anxiety disorders, including insomnia. Due to the chronic nature of these problems, patients require sustained treatment. This Ayurvedic formulation will help you to get an effective solution as they are completely natural and free of any synthetic ingredients, making them safe for regular consumption. The relaxant and sedative actions are induced by natural ingredients, which have mild effect and must therefore be used consistently to be effective. Some of the most prominent herbs used in such a formulation are as follows: Malkangani: This herb is known as Medhya (Brain Tonic or Nootropic) in Ayurveda. It has hot potency, pacifiers Vata, acts as a nervine stimulant and has anti-stress and calming effects. It is used in Ayurveda for improving concentration, alertness, and other cognitive functions. Krushna Kamal: Also known as Passion flower, it is used traditionally as a calming herb for anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances. The plant promotes relaxation and helps with agitation, anxiety, nervousness and stress. Pimplimool: The root of long pepper is used in Ayurveda to induce sleep. It improves digestion, relieves bloating, abdominal colic and thus, helps in sleep problems or discomfort caused by disturbed digestion. Sarpagandha: Also called Indian snakeroot, this medicinal plant is famous for its benefits in the mental disorders. It calms the central nervous system and reduces anxiety, irritability, and aggression. Nagarmotha: Commonly known as Nut grass, it helps in managing stress and anxiety. It is known to give a calming and balancing effect on the body. Kapurkachli:This Ayurvedic herb is known to treat digestive disorders, cardiac, debility, blood disorders, respiratory afflictions, and skin diseases. Shankhavali: Also called Shankapushpi, this herb popularly known as the “Brain Tonic”. It helps to improve memory, treats epilepsy, controls vomiting and helps to cure a headache. It also stimulates the treatment of diabetes. Ashwagandha:Also called Indian Ginseng, Ashwagandha is essentially an element or Rasayana that increases longevity and vitality. It is prescribed for arresting aging process, revitalizing the body in debilitated conditions, boosting immunity as well as treating musculoskeletal conditions. Shatavari: Derived from the Asparagus plant, this Ayurvedic herb increases the brain power and helps relieve mental stress. Jatamansighan: Also known as Spikenard, Jatamansi is a natural brain nervine tonic, a memory enhancer, and a daytime tranquiliser which has a calming effect. It is widely used to treat neuropsychiatric diseases as it helps maintain hormonal balance in the nervous system, thereby preventing seizures in epileptic patients. Brahmi ghan: Also known as Bacopa, Bramhi helps relieve stress and is therefore used as a treatment for various ailments such as migraines, Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss, anxiety, ADHD, and epilepsy, amongst others. It also acts as a daytime tranquilizer and brain cell toner. Valo:This prominent Ayurvedic herb is known for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects. It offers relief from inflammations in the circulatory system and nervous system. Vekhand: Also known as Sweet Flag or Sweet Root, Vekhand treats different clinical conditions such as digestive system problems, gas, bloating, bronchitis, fever, asthma, cough, rheumatism, etc. Its rhizome oil acts as a nerve stimulant, sedative as well as an analgesic. Khurasni: Also known as Henbane or Jupiter’s Bean, this prominent herb proves to be quite effective for headaches, rheumatism, toothaches, kidney stones and liver pain. It has calming effects and provides relief from insomnia also. Note: We recommend a consultation with an Ayurvedic physician before consumption of these products as each body & individual is unique.

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