Author: Sanchita Sharma
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: February 15, 2001
INDIA House in London is seething
over what is seen as a big snub to Indian medicine by Britain. The House
of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, in its sixth report,
recently dismissed ayurveda as "unscientific". It placed it in a group
of alternative therapies "for which scientific evidence is almost completely
lacking". Even. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's transcendental meditation, hypnotherapy
and flower therapy were placed above it.
High Commissioner Nareshwar Dayal
has written to Lord Walton, head of the committee, asking him to consider
"modifying conclusions" in the face of scientific evidence. His letter
stressed ayurveda's "scientific demonstrated effect above the placebo effect".
Forty two exhaustive scientific papers on ayurvedic medicines and therapies
were enclosed.
An indignant Department of Indian
Systems of Medicine in the Union Ministry of Health has also protested
to Lord Walton, saying that ayurveda is "supported and recognised by the
Government of India" and is backed by 30 years of "literary research, clinical
research and drug research". It adds that the Government regulates the
"quality of ayurveda drugs, which are manufactured commercially and has
developed formularies and pharmacopoeias".
Ayurvedic companies in Britain are
mincing no words in condemning the "extremely serious level of misunderstanding
and factual inaccuracy about ayurveda" in the report. Says David McAlpine,
Director of the Ayurvedic Company of Great Britain Lad, in his letter to
Lord Walton: "We do not know who carried out the study but we suspect their
brief did not include a trawl through the very large number of scientific
papers published in India and China as well as in the West on these profound,
powerful and ancient systems. In fact, the Medicines Control Agency (UK)
has been very supportive of ayurveda and probably knows more about the
subject than your advisor."
The report divides complementary
and alternative medicine into three groups based on existing scientific
research backing the therapies. It puts ayurveda at the bottom of the ladder
- in Group Three -which includes "techniques that offer diagnosis as well
as treatment but for which scientific evidence is almost completely lacking".
It says this "group of techniques cannot be supported".
The report describes ayurveda as
"mind-body-spirit interaction, originating in India and employing herbs
to stimulate and aid relaxation."
Says an official of the Department
of Indian Systems of Medicine: "The report completely ignores the therapeutic
effects that have made ayurvedic medicine a Rs 4,000-crore market in India."
Exports of ayurvedic preparations crossed Rs 450 crore in 2000.
