Welcome to our comprehensive guide on Ayurvedic Medicines. This blog post explores the quality, shelf life, safety, and efficacy of Ayurvedic remedies. Below is an index to help you navigate this informative content:
- Quality Control of Ayurvedic Medicines
- Stability Profile of Ayurvedic Medicines
- Safety Profile of Ayurvedic Medicines
- Efficacy Essential of Ayurvedic Medicines
- Author
Quality Control of Ayurvedic Medicines
Myth: "There is no methodology to check the quality and standards of Ayurvedic Medicines, so the market is full of adulterated, spurious, and misbranded Ayurvedic formulations."
Truth: Over the last 15 years, 10 volumes of Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India Part I (standards for single drugs) and Part II (standards for compound formulations) have been published after rigorous screening by the Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia Committee (APC). APC comprises top experts in pharmacology, pharmacognosy, geology, chemistry, and Ayurveda. Pharmacopial Laboratory of Indian Medicine (PLIM) and the Central Council of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) have published the "Protocol for Testing of ASU Medicines," establishing guidelines for quality control and standards of Ayurvedic Medicines. Rule 160 was instituted in the Drugs and Cosmetics Rule 1945 for quality control and standards of Ayurvedic Medicines in 2008, which mandates the establishment of Drug Testing Laboratories (DTL) throughout the country. It is mandatory for each Ayurvedic medicine manufacturer to obtain a certificate from these laboratories verifying the quality and stability of their products. AYUSH Standard and Premium brands of Ayurvedic Medicines with the authentication seal of the Department of AYUSH, Government of India, ensure the quality of Ayurvedic Medicines. The government is actively addressing unethical practices in the Ayurvedic medicine industry.
Stability Profile of Ayurvedic Medicines
Myth: "Ayurvedic Medicines don't have a concept of shelf life. These are forever good."
Truth: The Sharangdhar Samita, highly regarded in the Ayurvedic community, mentions the concept of shelf life of Ayurvedic Medicines in its "Saveerayata Avadhi" (shelf life) section in the 13th century AD. Different periods are specified for different dosage forms, e.g., two months for Churna, one year for Avaleha, and an infinite period for Asav-Arishta. With the global demand for Ayurvedic medicines and their export, the government of India introduced shelf life regulations for Ayurvedic medicines in 2005. Although initially opposed by academia and industry, these regulations were re-notified in 2009 with substantial research from institutions like NIPER, NBRI, and CIMAP. Since April 1, 2010, it has been mandatory to print the shelf life period on Ayurvedic formulations, following government norms that include required criteria. The government continues to modify norms and concepts related to the shelf life of Ayurvedic medicines based on scientific inputs.
Safety Profile of Ayurvedic Medicines
Myth: "Ayurvedic medicines are not safe as they contain heavy metals."
Truth: Many Ayurvedic medicaments are prepared using minerals/metals in combination with herbs in a natural manufacturing process known as Rasa Shastra. Rasa Shastra, which began in the 5th century AD, flourished fully in the 11th century AD as an independent therapeutic branch of Ayurveda. It offers quicker action, longer shelf life, good palatability, and a wide therapeutic range. Ancient texts of Rasa Shastra have detailed toxic effects of improperly prepared medicines containing metals, as well as their instant and effective therapeutic qualities when properly prepared as BHASMA (nanoparticles). Safety concerns about metallic preparations of Ayurveda have grown in the last two decades, but contemporary treatises of Rasa Shastra validate their safety and efficacy on scientific parameters. Ayurvedic practitioners have long been aware of the side effects of herbo-metallic medicines and the importance of proper administration under the guidance of trained Ayurvedic practitioners.
Efficacy Essential of Ayurvedic Medicines
Myth: "Ayurvedic Medicines are placebos and not as effective as conventional medicines."
Truth: Ayurvedic medicines have been serving the Greater Asia subcontinent for centuries, predating the birth of other systems of medicine. European Union Directives permit traditional medicines in the EU if they have been practiced for at least 30 years without reported adverse effects in those countries and have a long history of safe use in their parent countries. The World Health Organization recognized Ayurveda as a system of medicine after rigorous evaluation, supporting its global acceptance. In summary, Ayurvedic medicines possess paramount properties and are gaining recognition for their quality, safety, and efficacy.
Author
Dr. Nirav Joshi, Ayurvedacharya
