Scientific validation of ayurvedic medicines begins in Kerala

CARe Keralam, which recently scientifically validated the anti-diabetes ayurvedic formulation Nishaakathakaadhi Kashayam (NKK) thus facilitating its sale abroad, is going ahead with the same process for other products too, an official said Sunday.

The scientific validation of the diabetes formulation was a first-of-its-kind attempt in the history of ayurveda. Such validation is necessary for the marketing and sale of ayurvedic products in foreign markets.

CARe Keralam, a common facility set up as a joint venture between ayurveda units and the Kerala government, will identify 20 popular formulations for scientific validation with a view to ensuring wider acceptability for ayurvedic medicines.

Many ayurvedic formulations are marketed mostly as food supplements.

CARe Keralam (the Confederation of Ayurvedic Renaissance Keralam Ltd) will be supported by the National Innovation Council and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in this attempt to bring international recognition to ayurvedic medicines.

"We have been entrusted this pioneering scientific study by the National Innovation Council. We are ready to take up more such studies to promote the standardisation of ayurveda products, to bring them on par with modern medicines," CARe Keralam managing director Karimpuzha Raman said.

CARe Keralam, along with CSIR and other national agencies, is also planning a grand ayurveda summit to place this age-old Indian system of medicine in the limelight and identify key products for scientific validation, with the support of the industry.

Spurred by the huge response to its dossier on NKK, the group is also planning to hold a clinical trial of the formulation with a minimum of 500 subjects, to establish the efficacy and safety of the product and officially declare it safe, and in accordance with global standards.

CARe Keralam was established in Koratty in Thrissur district of Kerala with the support of the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Sidda and Homeopathy (Ayush) of the government of India. It has conducted a comprehensive multidisciplinary study on NKK's eight raw materials, and the ayurvedic product formulated from them, demonstrating its efficacy on rats.