Ayurvedamagazine

Tag: India

  • India, WHO to bolster cooperation in traditional medicinal care

    India and
    the World Health Organization (WHO) would further strengthen their
    collaboration for global health and well-being, especially in areas like
    traditional medicine and digital health.

    Secretary
    (West) Ministry of External Affairs Sanjay Verma met with WHO Director-General
    Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday in Geneva.

    “Secretary
    (West) @SanjayVerma lFS had a warm, fruitful meeting with DG @WHO @DrTedros.
    They discussed further strengthening India-WHO relations, working together for
    global health and well-being, including in Traditional Medicine & Digital
    Health,” the Permanent Mission of India at UN in Geneva tweeted.

    Mr. Verma
    briefed the WHO Director-General about the significance of Ayurveda and Siddha
    medicines.

    The WHO
    signed a historic agreement with New Delhi on April 19, 2022, to establish the
    Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM), the first of its kind in the
    world, at Jamnagar, Gujarat. The aim of the initiative was to harness the
    potential of traditional medicine from across the world through modern
    science and technology to improve the health of people across the
    countries.

    The parleys
    were a follow-up measure to achieve the goals and speed up the GCTM activity.

    According to
    WHO, the GCTM ‘shall focus on four main strategic areas: evidence and learning;
    data and analytics; sustainability and equity; and innovation and technology to
    optimize the contribution of traditional medicine to global health.

    India has
    committed an estimated USD 250 million to support the GCTM’s establishment,
    infrastructure, and operations.

  • WHO to set up Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India

    Kochi:
    The World Health Organisation (WHO) is establishing a Global Centre for
    Traditional Medicine (GCTM) at Jamnagar in the Indian state of Gujarat.

    GCTM
    will be the first and only global outpost centre for traditional medicine
    across the world and is expected to emerge as an international hub of global
    wellness.

    Prime
    Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the GCTM on April 19 in
    the presence of Mauritius Prime Minister Mr. Praveen Kumar Jugnauth and WHO
    Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

    The
    new centre focuses on four main strategic areas: evidence and learning; data
    and analytics; sustainability and equity; and innovation and technology to
    optimize the contribution of traditional medicine to global health and
    sustainable development.

    Noting
    the rising global demand and investment in the Ayush products, Dr Tedros said, the
    whole world is coming to India and India is going to the whole world.

    He
    emphasized long-term investment in innovation ecosystem in health in general
    and traditional medicines in particular; developing traditional medicines by
    innovators, industry and government in environmentally sustainable and
    equitable manner and protecting the interest of the communities that developed
    these traditions. The latter should also benefit when these medicines are
    brought to the market, including by sharing the fruits of intellectual
    property.

    “For
    many millions of people around the world, traditional medicine is the first
    port of call to treat many diseases,” said Dr Tedros. “Ensuring all people have
    access to safe and effective treatment is an essential part of WHO’s mission,
    and this new center will help to harness the power of science to strengthen the
    evidence base for traditional medicine. I’m grateful to the Government of India
    for its support, and we look forward to making it a success.”

    By
    setting up the global knowledge centre for traditional medicine, supported by
    an investment of USD 250 million from India Government, the WHO aims to harness
    the potential of traditional medicine from across the world through modern
    science and technology to improve the health of people across countries.

    Around
    80% of the world’s population is estimated to use traditional medicine. To
    date, 170 of the 194 WHO Member States have reported the use of traditional
    medicine, and their governments have asked for WHO’s support in creating a body
    of reliable evidence and data on traditional medicine practices and products.

    Traditional
    medicine is also increasingly prominent in the world of modern science. Some
    40% of approved pharmaceutical products in use today derive from natural
    substances, highlighting the vital importance of conserving biodiversity and
    sustainability. For example, the discovery of aspirin drew on traditional
    medicine formulations using the bark of the willow tree. The contraceptive pill
    was developed from the roots of wild yam plants and child cancer treatments
    have been based on the rosy periwinkle. Nobel-prize winning research on
    artemisinin for malaria control started with a review of ancient Chinese
    medicine texts.

    There
    has been a rapid modernization of the ways traditional medicine is being
    studied. Artificial intelligence is now used to map evidence and trends in
    traditional medicine and to screen natural products for pharmacokinetic
    properties. Functional magnetic resonance imaging is used to study brain
    activity and the relaxation response that is part of some traditional medicine
    therapies such as meditation and yoga, which are increasingly drawn on for
    mental health and wellbeing in stressful times.

  • Saudi Arabia, India sign MoU to promote yoga

    Saudi Arabia on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with India to increase cooperation to promote yoga in Saudi Arabia. The MoU was signed between the Saudi Ministry of Sports’ Leaders Development Institute and the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga affiliated with India’s Ministry of Ayush. The memorandum paves the way for the establishment of formal yoga standards and courses in the Kingdom. The MoU will also facilitate collaboration in research, education and training in the field of yoga. The MoU was signed by Indian Ambassador Dr. Ausaf Sayeed and Abdullah Faisal Hammad, director of Leaders Development Institute of the Saudi Sports Ministry.

    The signing ceremony, held in Riyadh, coincided with International Yoga Day observed on June 21. The day aims to raise awareness about the benefits of practicing yoga. It is a physical, mental and spiritual practice, which originated in India. The first International Day of Yoga was observed on June 21, 2015.

    Courtesy: www.arabnews.com

  • ‘India: a round-the-year adventure travel destination’

    From the eternal snow-clad peaks of the Himalayas to
    meandering rivers and gushing waterfalls, dense forests rich in wildlife,
    beautiful valleys, long coastlines and magical moonscapes, vast deserts of the
    west, to the ancient traditions and festivities, Adventure Tourism has the
    potential to make India a round-the-year destination.

    The Ministry of Tourism’s latest DekhoApnaDesh Webinar series titled “12 Months of Adventure Travel”
    focuses on Adventure Tourism.

    The online event virtually takes one through the immense
    strength, potential and the hidden secrets of India covering Mountains,
    Forests, Rivers, Deserts, Mangroves, Islands, Canals, Wildlife and over 31
    adventure activities that will delight any traveller, especially foreign
    tourists.

    The webinar was presented by Tejbir Singh Anand, Managing
    Director, Holiday Moods Adventures Pvt Ltd. Singh is a veteran in the Indian
    adventure travel industry with over 3 decades of experience.

    “India is one of the very few countries in the world that
    boasts natural and cultural attractions so diverse and complex, which promises
    ample opportunities to explore every kind of landscape imaginable…,” he
    noted.

    The scope of adventure tourism activities for the 12 month is
    given as under:-

    Winter (November-
    February)

    North East – Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh,
    Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura

    Activities – Trekking, Cruising, biking etc.

    Rajasthan – Jaisalmer, Thar Desert, Jodhpur, Pokhran

    Activities- Parasailing, camping, hot air balloon

    Harayana- Dhauj known for Rock climbing Mecca

    J&K – Gulmarg known for skiing

    Ladakh – Ice climbing, Ice hockey, Cycling in Leh and Kargil

    Himachal Pradesh- Manali, Dharamshala, Kullu, Sirmour, Shimla

    Activities- Skiing, cycling, snow treks, paragliding

    Uttarakhand – Lower ranges of Kumaon&Garhwal

    Activities – Rafting, cycling, zipline, Bungy

     

    Spring (March- April)

    Adventure activities are possible in J&K, Ladakh,
    Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim

     Summer (May- June)

     High altitude treks
    are possible in Himachal valleys and Uttarakhand. Multiple adventure activities
    happen in J&K and Ladakh -Nubra and Zanskar.

    Monsoon (July- August)

    Himachal Valleys- Kinnaur, Spiti and Lahaul, Ladakh, J&K
    and number of adventure activities also happens in the Aravallis (Udaipur,
    Ranakpur and Kumbalgarh)

    Autumn (September-
    October)

    A number of adventure activities can be enjoyed in North East

    Summing up the webinar, Rupinder Brar, Additional Director
    General, spoke of India’s tourism potential and the adventure activities
    available for tourists throughout 365 days.

    “Though today we are travelling virtually.. the day is not
    far when we will pack our bags and engage in travelling,” she said.

    DekhoApnaDesh Webinar Series is an effort by the Ministry
    to showcase India’s rich diversity and it is continuously spreading the spirit
    of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat through
    the virtual platform.

  • Yoga going global

    The Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) has
    signed a pact with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) under which
    both institutions will jointly develop academic links for conducting various
    Yoga courses globally.

    Dr I V Basavaraddi, Director, MDNIY, and Dinesh K Patnaik,
    Director General, ICCR, signed the Memorandum of Understanding at a formal
    ceremony held at New Delhi recently.

    “The agreement will facilitate Yoga Education based on Indian
    traditions get an international dimension. The synergies of this partnership
    will help the promotion of Indian classical Yoga in different parts of the
    world. It will promote the spread of authentic Yoga practices through
    certification of Yoga professionals,” said Dr Basavaraddi.

    Meanwhile, a virtual Yoga event was organized on October 18
    on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet at
    Beijing. Officials from India and China as well as diplomats from the various
    SCO countries attended the event.

    The SCO comprises of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, China,
    Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.

    The presentation held at the meeting ‘Yoga@SCO’ projected
    Yoga as a pursuit that goes beyond race, colour, faith, religion, and region. “Yoga
    brings people together around the world,” said Vikram Misri, Ambassador of
    India to the People’s Republic of China.

    The event was yet another indication of Yoga’s global appeal
    and part of India’s contribution to strengthening cultural cooperation among
    SCO countries

  • India Unlock 3.0: Yoga institutes to open from Aug 5

    The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued fresh
    guidelines for opening up of more activities in areas outside Containment Zones,
    including the opening up of Yoga institutes from August 5.

    “Yoga institutes and gymnasiums will be allowed to open from
    August 5, 2020. In this regard, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be
    issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) for ensuring
    social distancing and to contain the spread of COVID-19…The night curfew has
    also been removed,” an order issued by the MHA said.

    This comes even as schools, colleges and coaching institutions
    besides Metro Rail, cinema halls, swimming pools, bars and entertainment parks will
    remain closed till August 31. Also, the full lockdown measures shall continue
    to be implemented strictly in the Containment Zones for another month.

    There is a new wave of interest in Yoga by people of all age
    groups during the pandemic times, given its benefits in improving the immune
    system and the overall health. However, the lockdown measures forced many
    organisations to go online and provide classes on Yogic Asanas (physical exercises),
    pranayam (breathing exercises) and meditation.

    “I began to practice pranayams on a daily basis since
    the lockdown was implemented, as a substitute for morning walks. The benefits
    are there for the taking. We welcome the decision to allow Yoga institutes,” said
    Vinod Kumar S, a Kochi-based journalist.

    According to experts, the Yoga Asanas help in
    improving the blood circulation and Pranayam in purifying blood due to increased
    intake of oxygen, which is very crucial for improving immunity. Meditation also
    helps people stay positive and ward off loneliness and depression during the
    pandemic threat.

  • Covid-19: India, US to initiate clinical trials of Ayurvedic formulations

    Acclaimed Ayurveda practitioners and academicians in India
    and the US are set to undertake joint clinical trials of Ayurvedic formulations
    against the deadly Covid-19.

    Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu said Ayurveda
    experts from the two countries have started exchanging knowledge and research
    resources.

    “Our Institutions have been collaborating to promote Ayurveda
    through joint research, teaching and training programs. Ayurveda practitioners
    and researchers in both the countries are planning to initiate joint clinical
    trials of Ayurvedic formulations against Covid-19,” he said during a virtual
    discussion on ‘Deepening the knowledge partnership between India and the US’
    the other day.

    The Indo-US Science Technology Forum (IUSSTF), which played a
    key role in strengthening the science and innovation ecosystem, has extended
    support for the joint research works.

    Meanwhile, Sandhu said the scope of collaboration in the
    fight against the viral infection also extends to areas like vaccine development
    among others.

    “Indian pharmaceutical companies are global leaders in
    producing affordable low-cost medicines and vaccines and will play an important
    role in the fight against the pandemic. There are at least three tie-ups between
    Indian vaccine companies and US research organisations,” he said.

    Besides, there are over 200
    on-going NIH funded projects in India involving 20 institutions from the NIH
    network. The collaboration under the Vaccine Action Program (VAP) resulted in
    development of ROTAVAC vaccine
    against rota virus which causes severe diarrhoea in children.

    The vaccine was developed
    by Indian company Bharat Biotech at an affordable cost. Development of many
    other vaccines such as TB, Influenza, Chikungunya are also in progress under
    the VAP, he said.

  • Bangla cops turn to Yoga amid Coronavirus pandemic

    After being confined to a core group of celebrities and ‘New
    Agers’ for years altogether, Yoga, the ancient practice from India, is now being
    practiced by millions of people across the globe. The latest to join the bandwagon
    is the Bangladesh Police.

    The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has started Yoga practice
    among its 1200 personnel in a phased manned to make them physically and
    mentally fit during the times of Coronavirus pandemic.

    “We were instructed to do what could be done to morally boost
    the force amid the crisis. This Yoga is a part of that mission,” Rajon Kumar
    Saha, Spokesperson, told AFP.

    Over 6000 cops in the country were diagnosed with the
    Covid-19 with the virus infection claiming lives of 19 of them. Bangladesh too
    bore the brunt of the virus infection as a total of 68, 504 people were
    affected and 930 died as on Monday last.

    Meanwhile, this year’s
    International Yoga Day, falling on June 21, is
    set to go digital in countries like India in the light of the prevailing health
    emergency.

    “In view of the highly infectious nature of the
    virus causing Covid-19, there shall be no mass gatherings. Hence, this year the
    Ministry is encouraging people to practice Yoga at their homes with
    participation from the entire family,”     Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, President, Indian Council for Cultural Relation, said.

    This year, the event will highlight the utility
    of Yoga for individuals, to develop immunity to
    combat the global pandemic and
    strengthen the community in managing some of the significant aspects of this
    crisis,     he
    added    .

  • Indian Ayurvedic beauty brands go global

    For centuries, indigenous beauty
    secrets had remained confined to a limited number of people before their
    benefits slowly started getting wider acceptance transcending borders and
    cultures. The last two decades have witnessed the luxury Ayurveda beauty segment
    evolving robustly and slowly spreading its wings all across the globe.

    The ongoing health crisis has
    accelerated this process with thousands buttressing their faith in the ancient
    healing system due to its proven immunity boosting quality and looking towards
    the ancient science for tips on enhancing beauty. As a result, the Indian
    Ayurvedic beauty sector has begun to be wooed by global brands like never
    before, with at least a couple of international beauty conglomerates investing
    in them.

    The markets are no more confined to
    any specific region and acceptance of Ayurveda has truly turned global. The
    future is all about global stops for the products that are free from side
    effect and have added health benefits with e-Commerce set to become a major
    marketing source.

    The journey of Indian Ayurvedic
    beauty brands is already a reality. First it was Estee Lauder, the US cosmetic
    giant; recently Puig, a Spanish fragrance maker known for brands such as Prada
    and Paco Rabanne, too has invested in home-grown luxury Ayurveda beauty
    businesses in India.

    While Estee Lauder picked up a
    minority stake in Forest Essentials in 2009, upping it in 2014, Puig recently
    invest Rs. 100 crore in Kama Ayurveda. While the investment allowed the
    multinationals a foothold in Indian market, it also aided the local brands
    foray into global markets by leveraging on the resources of the former in
    brand-building, technology and the like.

    The demand for organic herbs and
    natural ingredients-based skin and hair care products is only set to surge.
    Experts foresee a rise in global liking for the products, especially offering
    business scope for small players from India.

  • Four major clinical studies underway to assess AYUSH interventions for Covid-19

    The Ministry of AYUSH has initiated at least four
    major clinical and population-based studies to assess effectiveness of AYUSH interventions
    in prevention of Covid-19 and also as an add-on to standard care during treatment
    of the deadly disease.

    “The ministry has taken initiatives to address the Covid-19 pandemic
    problem in the country through clinical studies (prophylactic and add-on
    interventions) of AYUSH systems and also studying the impact of AYUSH-based
    prophylactic interventions in high risk population. The ministry is also
    studying the impact of AYUSH advocacies and AYUSH measures for prevention of Covid-19
    among the population,” Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for AYUSH, said.

    Naik, along with Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, launched the clinical
    research studies on Ayurveda interventions at a function in New Delhi on
    Thursday.

    The studies include: –

    1)     
    Clinical
    research studies on Ayurveda interventions as prophylaxis and as an add-on to
    standard care to Covid-19. The collaborative clinical studies are a joint initiative
    of the AYUSH Ministry,  Health and Family
    Welfare (MoHFW) Ministry and the Science & Technology Ministry carried out through
    the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) with the technical
    support of ICMR.

    2)     
    An
    Interdisciplinary Ayush R&D Task Force has formulated and designed clinical
    research protocols for prophylactic studies and add-on interventions in Covid-19
    positive cases through thorough review and consultative process of experts of
    high repute from different organisations for studying four different
    interventions — Ashwagandha, Yashtimadhu, Guduchi-Pippali combination
    and a poly herbal formulation (AYUSH-64).

    3)     
    Effectiveness
    of Ayurveda formulation as an adjunct to ‘Standard of Care’ for treatment of mild
    to moderate Covid-19: a randomized, open label, parallel efficacy, active control,
    multi-centre exploratory drug trial.

    Besides, the Ministry has initiated a
    population-based interventional study on the impact of AYUSH based prophylactic
    interventions in prevention of Covid-19 infection in high risk population. The
    core objectives include assessment of the preventive potential of AYUSH
    interventions for Covid-19 and the improvement in ‘Quality of Life’ in high
    risk population. The study will be carried out through four research councils
    under the Ministry and the national institutes in 25 states and several state governments
    covering nearly five lakh people.