The proposal to permit Ayurvedic practitioners to perform surgery continues to garner controversy. The Resident Doctors’ Association at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has spoken out against the move and called for it to be scrapped. The proposal to allow Ayurvedic practitioners runs the risk of “[encouraging] quackery” and “[poses a] hazardous […]
Ayurveda
AYUSH controversy continues amidst pandemic
The Ayurveda, homoeopathy, naturopathy, siddha, unani, and yoga (AYUSH) controversy linked to COVID-19 continues, with accusations that the Ministry of AYUSH is promulgating alternative medicine therapies with no basis in scientific facts. The AYUSH controversy has been a fixture in some respects during this pandemic. As early as January, commentators ridiculed the AYUSH Ministry for […]
AIIA endorses Ayurveda for COVID
The All India Institute for Ayurveda (AIIA) has endorsed the use of alternative medicine treatments for mild cases of COVID-19. The Delhi-based Institute claimed that Ayurvedic medicaments are useful if administered to individuals who present with moderate symptoms of the disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or, simply, coronavirus. Claims are […]
Ayurvedic institutes in Gujarat given Parliament nod as institutions of national importance
In a first, a proposed Ayurvedic institute in Gujarat is to be afforded the distinction of being considered an Institution of National Importance, following a vote by lawmakers in the Rajya Sabha. Lawmakers in the chamber passed by voice vote the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill, 2020, conferring upon a number of […]
Patanjali Ayurved claims to find the cure for COVID – but lands in hot water
Patanjali Ayurved, a firm based in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, has claimed success with an Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of COVID-19 – but its claims have landed it in hot water with the Union Government. The company launched ‘Coronil and Swasari’ yesterday, purporting the treatment to have a 100 percent success rate in curing COVID-19 (the […]
Ayurveda in Kerala’s fight against COVID
The Kerala state government is reportedly to use Ayurveda in the fight against COVID-19. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seemed to confirm as much earlier this week, stating “we have decided to use Ayurveda in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. People would be classified into seven categories based on the possible spread of the virus, and […]
AYUSH practitioners: Modi reaches out
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached out to Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) practitioners to participate in efforts to tackle the disease – while also cautioning against promoting unproven cures. Modi interacted with AYUSH practitioners via videoconferencing over the weekend and suggested that they could benefit the […]
Ayurvedic biology course at JNU
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) will offer a course in Ayurvedic biology, supported by the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH). The course will span five years, integrating Ayurvedic principles of traditional medicine with allopathic medical science. In the words of the Union Ministry of Science and Technology’s Engineering Research Board, […]
First AYUSH hospital to open its doors in Punjab
Punjab will become home to its first AYUSH hospital, which will open its doors in the state’s Mohali district. AYUSH refers an umbrella of alternative and traditional systems of medicine including Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, unani, siddha, and homoeopathy. The inauguration of the AYUSH hospital took place in Zirakpur on November 14th, the foundational stone being […]
AYUSH services for every home
The Centre has been keen to emphasise alternative and traditional systems of medicine. Minister of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) Shripad Yasso Naik has repeatedly expressed enthusiasm for this push, advocating for AYUSH services for every home in India. “I can say today that people are getting more and more interested […]