Ayurveda to see scientific validation process

The Department of Ayush has so far identified 19 Ayurvedic formulations, which can be used for curing 10 diseases, to carry out scientific validation under the comprehensive 'Golden Triangle' project of the government.

The generic protocols have been prepared and Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has identified labs for pharmacological studies to start the preclinical development which would be the second lap of this project.

The name of the Department of Indian Systems of Medicines and Homeopathy, which comes under the ministry of Health will be changed to the Department of Ayush.

'Ayush' is an abbreviation, wherein 'A' stands for Ayurveda, 'Y' stands for Yoga and Naturopathy, 'U' stands for Unani, 'S' stands for Siddha and 'H' stands for homeopathic systems of medicine.

The project is intended to bring in scientific scrutiny of traditional medicine in a way recognised by the modern medicine. The mainstreaming of Ayurveda and bringing transparency to it, attains importance in the context of recent controversies that have shrouded it, said a sector analyst.

"The programme initially is focussing only on simpler polyherbal formulations containing 5-6 plants. Ayush has identified 19 such formulations including the 'bhasmas' from classical texts. While CSIR had identified labs for clinical chemistry, for hospitals we would be the ones doing so, where tests on humans can be carried out", said a senior official in Indian Council of Medical Research.

ICMR intends setting up ten task forces too, one for each disease category and is awaiting the release of a grant, added the official.

The formulations, on an average, would take 18 months to reach ICMR after going through their current scientific investigations in Ayush and CSIR.

"We'll use these 18 months to locate centres of modern medicine as well as Ayurveda for clinical trials. We might be able to submit the drug dossiers to the Drug Controller General of India in five years or so", explained the official.

The 'Golden Triangle' project entails detailed documentation of formulations by Ayush, followed by 'preclinical studies' under the aegis of CSIR in the second stage. In the third and final lap, the formulation goes to ICMR, which shall conduct the Phase-I, II and III clinical trials.

The first round of discussion between the nodal agencies has yielded preliminary protocols specifying the objective of the trials, as well as the number of patients and the inclusion and exclusion criteria; it will also include the safety and efficiency parameters as well.