The China model of adding Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM)

Amid the corona virus scare in the whole world, people are looking up to Alternative and traditional medicines for some information. Managing infectious disease is a huge challenge in any medical science. So, what was China’s secret in managing COVID 19 or so-called Wuhan Pneumonia? In late January this year, the Chinese leader made his first public call for the “combination of Chinese and Western medicine” in the diagnosis and treatment of Covid-19. Few days back, I read a news on CNN news making headlines as ‘Beijing is promoting traditional medicine as a ‘Chinese solution’ to corona virus. Not everyone is on board’. It explained that people with corona virus were given some 20 herbs blended soup and some other herbs daily.

More than 85% of all corona virus patients in China,about 60,000 people had received herbal remedies alongside mainstream antiviral drugs. In a study of more serious cases, patients receiving combined treatments also left hospital sooner than the control group and had greater levels of oxygen in their blood and a higher lymphocyte count — an important indicator of the health of recovering patients, according to Yu. From the 16th of February onward, almost 87% of all treatments nationwide in China included TCM as part of the treatment protocols.

But there are lot of questions regarding the quality of trials, ‘it could be a placebo’ – one of the persons in the study claimed and did not like the taste of the herbal soup. Moreover, we know as expected, herbal remedies/traditional medicines always face even more skepticism from conventional medical experts, who have many questions/doubts about their effectiveness and safety. Fare enough. However, unless we allow do some research in traditional medicines and be open to it, people will keep raising doubts. We need an integrative approach to many such diseases.

Why not Ayurvedic medicines with conventional medicines in India?

So, looking at China model, why not we in India can think of at a combined approach of Ayurveda with conventional medicines? Well, this is a very big ask. We know Ayurveda is fighting it tough at many corners of health care sector. The misconception about Ayurvedic medicines and poor/not enough research leave Ayurvedic doctors isolated. Especially, when many people are skeptical about Ayurvedic medicines, their efficacy and safety in many cases. However, there are few proven remedies which can be endorsed. This needs a lot of discussion and planning. But I hope AYUSH ministry is onboard on this. I believe Ayurvedic medicines has much more to offer to present generation and it’s status is improving since a while now. Well, that a whole another topic of discussion.

When Indians have Ayurveda. But are utilizing it properly? What we need is to recognize, test the formulas and get evidence altogether to claim anything. Unless one test them, denying Ayurvedic efficacy is not fare. I agree that there are no trials that can claim that Ayurvedic medicines can help with such pandemic related symptoms. Also, that there are no clinical trials which can prove that Ayurvedic medicines are ineffective in such cases.

As private Ayurvedic doctors, we get many people who come to us asking for ‘anything for corona’? Are there any medicines which can boost the immunity? And then whole Ayurveda fraternity came into action searching for what can be offer. Few days back AYUSH ministry withdraws its suggestions of what possibly could prevent corona. We need to be very careful and responsible in claiming anything in such sensitive atmosphere. However, any medical fraternity has a right to put forward what their science says about such outbreaks. All possibility needs to be explored in such a difficult situation where we don’t have treatment plans.  So, what we need is to be on same page as multi-disciplinary team and fight with this unknown evil. Well, I leave this to AYUSH ministry and other government officials and institutions.

I am both an Ayurvedic doctor and holds a master degree in public health. My responsibility as a public health graduate takes over my Ayurveda clinical practice in this case.I am here to put forward my views of what Ayurvedic doctors could do in helping the government and people is to encourage follow given guidelines of what needs to be done to manage a pandemic and moreover not to panic. Additionally, personally I believe that there is no harm in working on your diet (eating healthy) and taking some herbs (suggested by a qualified Ayurvedic doctor only) along with strictly following the public health precautions and measures such as staying at home and washing hands at regular intervals to avoid community transmission of corona virus. So, while rest of the world is busy in finding its vaccine, we Ayurvedic doctors are workingat their level on all possibilities from Ayurvedic perspectives. Be aware that there is no Ayurvedic medicine yet explored which can prevent or treat corona virus.

Anti-Viral herbs (What is proved to be effective)

So, what an Ayurvedic doctor would suggest to manage any viral infection for an instance? There are lot of potential herbs which has been researched for their efficacy and called as antiviral herbs. But I am mentioning about only one- Yastimadhu.

Yastimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra-Licorice root):

This my all-time favorite medicines for many diseases including common cold and cough. It has been extensively used for ages in Ayurvedic medicines along with ancient Egyptian medicine and traditional Chinese medicines. In 2002, SARS Corona virus outbreak led to the research From China, Hong Kong, Europe and the USA in to licorice. And it had breakthrough results. But then we had another virus outbreak in 2012 and focus shifted from SARS.  And it was all about developing a vaccine and not treatment. Almost more than 83 research papers were published supporting the efficacy of licorice against SARS virus. There were more than 83 published researched papers showing the effectiveness.

Self-care at home

Social isolation- as people are now staying at home, they may have time to look after themselves. You might not get this time of self-care so often. So please, focus on healthy habits and avoid anything which can cause your interaction with the virus.

• Follow personal hygienic methods.
• Have healthy diet- eat fresh foods.
• Be physically active.
• Spend time in managing things which you always wanted to do. For example, clean your home.
• Spend time in cooking your own meals and Avoid eating outside.
• Make some ginger kashaya or ginger lemon or honey teaor Tulasi tea and drink or just drink boiled and cooled water.
• Meditate and relax well.
• Do Yoga at home.
• Do not panic.
• Save all the important numbers in your mobile and also write them down in your diary.
• Be prepared and informed.

Boosting Immunity

We always recommend to take Rasayanas. Various such formulas have been told by Ayurvedic experts and clinically we give them to so many patients for a very long time. Remember, Immunity cannot boost in one or two days. So, if you are thinking that any Ayurvedic formula will help you in one day please rethink. And I believe that Corona virus pandemic has much more to do with than immunity alone.

Anyways, plants  rich in flavonoids, vitamin C, or the carotenoids so can enhance immune function. There are many herbs and formulas in Ayurveda which are believed to boost immunity of a person such as Ginger, Garlic, Trikatu, Triphala etc. The most famous and commonly used formula is Chyawanaprasha. This is believed to be the best formula for boosting respiratory immunity and to avoid seasonal diseases. It is also effective in treating cough and cancer (radioprotective). Another one is Amrutha or called as Guduchi is an Immunomodulator. It was clinically effective in treating Chikungunya too.

There are many other herbs which works on Pranavaha channels (Respiratory system) such as – Pipplaai, Kantakari, Pushkaramoola, Agastya Rasayana, Vasa, Tulasi, etc.  I don’t want to mention many other formulas as I don’t want to claim anything here. Do not believe wats app message or any other message on social media about the Ayurvedic cure for COVID 19. Do not pick up immunity boosting medicines randomly from Ayurvedic shops without consulting Ayurvedic doctors. Better to contact your Ayurvedic doctor and ask your questions and be assured.

Final Words:

There are many other questions which arise as the world encounter such pandemics- Is it all over? We may have another virus outbreak in future and will we in this situation again? So what can done to prevent those? What causes such outbreaks? Why so many deaths? Why no solution? Why our body is so weak/susceptible for such infections. What about social determinants of health of people? We know that our environment has met serious disaster. Is it the environmental crisis? Or is this just made by us? There are many things we need to re-think as human beings and to see what kind of world we are into making. COVID 19 is serious, and we all are doing it tough but we should not panic. We need to better prepared for the worst.

Dr. Vibhuti Rao, Ayurvedic Doctor, Master in Public Health (Australia)

Amruth Ayurvedic Centre

References:

Coronavirus in China: Beijing wants to promote traditional medicine but not everyone is on board – CNN

Antiviral Activity of Glycyrrhizic Acid Derivatives against SARS−Coronavirus,

Article in Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 48(4):1256-9 · March 2005,

(PDF) Antiviral Activity of Glycyrrhizic Acid Derivatives against SARS−Coronavirus (researchgate.net)

Glycyrrhizin, an active component of liquorice roots, and replication of SARS-associated coronavirus, Article in

The Lancet 361(9374):2045-6 · July 2003, DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13615-X ·

Pilcher, H. Liquorice may tackle SARS. Nature (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/news030609-16

The post Can adding Ayurveda help fight corona virus- COVID 19? appeared first on Health Vision.

“Is the donor egg only way forward for us to have a baby? Doctors have scared hell out of us that we, my wife cannot have her own baby and we need to seek donor egg. They have promised to get us a young, fair and our caste female’s eggs. However, before we decide on that I wanted to look around and do whatever else can help us to conceive our own child. We are against donor egg, it is hard to accept that at the age of 28 with normal periods and no other health issue, my IVF failed two times. And now because of low AMH of 0.7ng/ml, doctors are suggesting donor egg. We are confused and exhausted. We do not know what else would help us. We discussed this with one of our close friends who is a fertility expert too to try Ayurvedic medicines. And here we are Infront of you- confused, scared, hopeless and exhausted. Please tell us if there is any hope in Ayurveda for us. We would like to try”. This is what Ramya (patient’s name is changed to protect the identity) told me when she saw me for the first time.

I totally agree to chose donor egg when it is needed, however, it seems to be pushing now a days. “If you do not start the process next month, you will never be able to conceive, time is running out”, Ramya was told by her fertility doctor to go for IVF. And Ramya decided to chose IVF. Almost 8-10 eggs were retrieved. However, some eggs could not fertilize and many did not mature. Finally, in the second cycle of stimulation, there were 1 grade A and 1 grade B embryos, which were transferred. Sadly, the IVF failed.

When I saw their reports, I saw morphological issues in her husband’s report. Her husband never stated that he has issues. He was advised that nothing is wrong with him and was given some multi-vitamin tablets. I asked him to  check with our doctor who sees such cases. He was reluctant. He believed that everything is fine with him. The problem is infertility is believed to be a female issue and not male issue. This stigma has to be broken. Both men and women should be examined as per Ayurveda and given treatment for infertility. You can not ignore the 50% of the disease- the male factor.

The egg donation market

Egg donation is increasing rapidly among Indian women. Not only to cater local Indians needs but also worldwide. India is one the favourite spot for donor egg for NRI/s and foreigners too, because it is affordable for them. A couple (men and women) use another female’s eggs, forms an embryo using the men/s sperms and transferred to his wife’s womb. Such child is thus genetically related to the father but not to the mother who raises the child. This procedure is on boom. There are females who are poor, need money so selling their eggs. And then there are middle men who connect them to the big hospitals to sell their eggs. And finally, there are coupes who are looking for donor eggs.

Many things go around this network of so-called donor egg. I don’t know why they are called as ‘donor’- females get paid for their eggs. So, it is a kind of selling eggs. Donation would mean no money is expected and a female wants to help a couple have a child. A news paper article’s heading read like this- Young Bangalore girls donate their eggs for easy money where the writer explain the situation – where Young girls in their early 20s are choosing to become egg donor to make quick money to fulfil their financial demands. In one sitting they earn around 30,00-50,000 rupees.

 There are agencies who recruit women for egg donation, there is a specific price for eggs selection, for example, a fair, young female’s egg would cost more. They can see the profile of egg donors too. There are couples who are particular about the donor’s profile-  the egg donor had to be under 25, fair, beautiful and educated. But most of all, she had to belong to their caste.I hope that there are some legality and morals in pace in these cases.

But patients should be given option- option to go for traditional medicines,  etc. But I guess due to the fight between modern and ancient, Ayurvedic medicines are neglected and completely ignored by the modern doctors. I do not complain. But I feel the ignorance as an Ayurvedic doctor. Anyways, that is another topic to talk about. Coming back to Ramya, she did not believe that I can actually help her. I asked her to go home and think about this. Gave her few things to read about Ayurveda.

After 1 month, she visited me on day 2 of her cycle. The husband and wife both were ready to give me 6 months -1 year for the treatment. I started my treatment. And her husband also started his medicines. She visited me once in 2 weeks. I gave her Panchakarma, medicines and counselled her about many other things. In Ayurveda, fertility is at greatest of health. Everything that you consume is transformed into your shukra, “the seed of life”. To maximise fertility health and to have good nutrition for seed of life, pay special heed on diet and mind-body health, and use herbs to be stable.

We also re-checked her hormones and did the scan when needed. We were going well except for few days when we were very close to pregnancy but it did not happen. However, we continued and after 7 months, we checked her AMH which went up to 1.85ng/ml. Meanwhile they were relocated to Pune, but she continued my medicines and came for checkup once in a month.

 I reduced my medicines and gave some necessary medicines to continue and asked them to start trying for pregnancy for next 3 months. After 2 months, she texted me that she is expecting. They were surprised. She did not believe that this could happen to her. She was pregnant naturally and that to with her own child. Last week she had sent me a picture of her baby shower and she is under my care for Ayurvedic pregnancy care along with modern obstetrics care. Till today, all is going well.

Final words: There are couples who cannot afford IVF or donor egg IVF. Many couples can pay such a huge amount, they do not like the idea of donor egg. They have their own challenges. Ayurveda may help tremendously in these cases. There is a need of more awareness and acceptance for Ayurveda and many myths should be busted out.

Dr Vibhuti Rao
Amruth Ayurvedic Centre
66/3, Vanivillas Road, Basavanagudi
Bengaluru 560004
Ph: 09739976069
Email: drvibhutirao@gmail.com

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So common among women, yet the cause is unknown to us. And we are still creating theories, doing experiments in laboratories and fighting with this unknown bull. It just to women with no cause what so ever, and then your life change for forever. Form one doctor to another, from one medicine to another, the struggle continues.  You got me right; I am talking about the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) – the puzzle of the century.  For some women it is like a lifelong curse where they experience all the worst symptoms. Managing problems such as Irregular periods, or diabetes, or obesity, hair fall, acne and hirsutism (unwanted body hairs) is itself difficult and takes a whole life to manage them. Think about a person who has got it all at once. Many PCOS women say to me, ‘I do not know how many births I need to take to overcome such difficult issues’. Well, in this article I am going to talk about hirsutism in PCOS and how Ayurvedic medicines can help you.

Neither all women with unwanted hairs have PCOS, nor do all the PCOS women suffer with these unwanted hairs on their body. Studies says, almost 80% of women with high levels of androgens (male hormones) have PCOS. By the name PCOS women generally believe there is serious problem only in their ovaries. They don’t see the doctor unless the symptoms of PCOS start troubling them especially if it is something to do with their external beauty. Irregular cycles do not bother them as much as this particular symptom take over their self-esteem, make them depressed and anxious. And that troublesome symptom is ‘Hirsutism- unwanted excess growth of hairs over face, chest and tummy’. Hirsutism is medically defined as the presence of terminal coarse hairs in females in a male-like distribution due to excess androgen activity.

Let me tell you a story of one of my patients named Neela (imaginary name). Neela was in in her early 20’s when she visited me couple of months back. She was covering her head with a pink color silk scarf. I asked her, what brought you here to see me? Neela removed her scarf and showed me her chin and jaw line. ‘Look at this doctor, I have done it all to stop it but nothing is helping me to overcome these excess facial hairs. I feel terrible and ashamed’. I enquired in bit detail about Neela’s issue. She was not obese but definitely she had lot of fat around her tummy. I asked if she has been diagnosed with any medical issues, such as diabetes or PCOS?

She promptly said, ‘yes, I was diagnosed with PCOD (age of 15) right after one year I had my first cycle. My cycle was irregular with very less flow. I was told that it takes time for a cycle to settle due to hormonal changes in my body. I did not care about that as my cycle became regular slowly however, flow was anyway less only. But one day, I was shocked to see 2-3 long thick hairs on my chin. Also, I started visiting parlor for threading and waxing frequently than ever. I was sure something was not right. I went to a nearby doctor with the complaint of thick and dark hairs on my upper lips, side of the cheeks and over chin area, she said anxiously’.   These were only visible hairs. She also had such masculine hairs over her other body parts, which were easy to hide.

I was given some pills to regularize my hormones and asked to do some diet and exercises, although I was not fat at all. I took those hormonal pills (OCP) for one year. I was hoping to recover as I could see some flow during cycles and that heavy hair growth were thinning down. It was time to celebrate. I thought I am out of this curse and I will get my beautiful face back. But, good things never last long.   As soon as I discontinued the pills, my skin broke down. I got much thicker and heavier hairs over my chin and this time they spreaded although my jaw line. My mother took me to another doctor who diagnosed me with PCOS. I did not know what it initially. My mother thought I have got some serious problem. I was confused. Google came to help me understand it better. I remember, I had spent almost 1 week or two just reading about PCOS on internet. I was continuously asking myself, how on earth how got this problem. No one in my family had this. I accepted it as my bad karma and took medications given by the new doctor for 6 months. I was even bullied in my college for having such unnatural hair growth. I stopped all the medication and finally learned that there is no end to this. I concentrated on my carrier and forgot about PCOS. I even took some anti-androgen for 6 months with no better results.  I will never forget those days. Leela stooped taking after saying this. She appeared frustrated and sad.

Looked like, Leela had finally accepted her defeat with PCOS. She just wanted some cosmetic relief with her facial hairs. I talked her about Ayurvedic concepts of looking at her health issues. I informed that Ayurveda does not look at an issue as a separate entity rather it takes a holistic approach considering you have got this issue and not just your body parts. You need healing and not just your face or ovaries. I asked, do you trust that Ayurvedic medicines would be helpful to you? She nodded quite positively. She said, I don’t have any other option. At least I will not have any side effects with these’.  I asked her to come back tomorrow on empty stomach to check her nadi and then I can provide her remedies for her health issues. She was wondering why I need to check her nadi when she just wants to get rid of facial hairs and not PCOS. She asked doctor please give me some ointments or powders so I don t see theses hairs ever again. The quick solution is what everyone wants. Who wants to suffer from an illness for so long? Fair enough but there is a way to heal and not just to fix, I firmly advised her.

She agreed and came to me next day morning 9 am. I thought she would not come back considering I may take long time to heal her. Leela said, the only thing that bothers me more than anything is these facial hairs. I go to beauty parlor twice-thrice in a month to get a wax done. It is very shame full some times when my friends points towards to my chin and get curious  to know if there is any wrong with me. I have also taken laser treatment but that did not help me to get my feminine face back, moreover I cannot afford laser, electrolysis and expensive hormones.  Because of this facial hairs my relations friends and family is challenged due to myself low self-esteem. More over who will marry a girl with a beard and mustache. Please help me with Ayurveda.  I have read all your articles and have full trust in you, she said with confident.

I do not know what was changed in Leela in one day. I checked her Nadi and examined her as per Ayurvedic parameters. History taking is always important which describe both how the patients is and how the disease is. For Leela, it was severe Kapha and Vata imbalance. Her Pitta was too low, Agni was weak and lot of Ama (toxins) was collected in her gut. Leela was opened for the treatment. I explained her that she needs Panchakaram. This will help her to clean her body with abnormal toxins (AMA), support her Agni though Deepana and Pachana and then will start internal medication. After 45 days of cleansing (Panchakarma) , I gave her medicines which contained herbs such as harida, tulasi, ashwagandha, shatavari, yastimadhu, sharapunkha, Jatamansi, tankana, Cinamon, fenugreek and tulasi , Yasti , Shatavari , Gokshura, Varuna and guggulu. I also prepared a powder and oil for her to apply externally on her hair follicles of chin and jaw line after she waxes them which helped to reduce the thickness and growth of hairs. She took the treatment for 1 year with satisfied results, slowly I discontinued few herbs and she was able to manage her symptoms effectively than before with more positive outlook towards PCOS.

This is not the only story I have. Many young girls are now suffering with this issue. At times, I have seen them complaining about such abnormal facial hairs since they get mature. Well, that is serious agony. Also think about a young hard working professional who just got a high profile job in a reputed company is struggling to keep her face ‘hair free’. And it seems her life will almost end if she does not wax or thread those long hairs over her chin. No one to blame!

You may already know is that this is all because of high levels of Androgens (Male hormone) in your body or so called ‘too much active’ testosterone. Androgens are known to be responsible for promoting hair cycles among men and women. Males generally have high levels of androgen and thus have larger hair follicles- mustache and beards etc.  Every woman needs male hormone in their body to trigger their female hormone – estrogen to work efficiently. But if this male hormone is excess then that is where women start feeling symptoms of being  ‘masculine’ – belly fat, hard skin, hair fall, growth of men like hairs over body and evens some develop deep voice like men.

For most women with PCOS this male hormone levels are higher than normal.  Doctor may recommend a simple blood test and may find that your free testosterone levels are high in your blood. However, hirsutism can be present with normal ovulatory function and normal androgens level. High levels of free testosterone in your body prevent ovulation and that’s why you may not be getting pregnant if you are trying.  If you are diabetic then you have got to work on that too as insulin too worsen the male hormone levels.

How to reduce androgens in female naturally in ayurveda – Ayurvedic Management

Ayurveda talks about Atiloma and Pushpaghni Jatharani which have symptoms like Leela explained. Acharya Kashyapa has given very precise description of Pushpaghni Jatiharini, which is almost having the symptoms of PCOS as told by modern science. Well, I am not comparing the two distinct sciences but trying to find a bridge where you can come to an agreement with me. The reference goes like this-

“Vritha pushpam tu yo nri yathakal prapashyati. Sthulalomashganda vpushpaghni sa api revati” (Ka S.K.6/32-33)

It is curable. Woman menstruate in time but it is useless (vyathpushpa i.e anovulatory cycle). She has corpulent and hairy cheeks –hirsutism; may be due to hyperandrogenism.

So what you need to overcome these unwanted hairs is to look after your hormones. Balance your doshas and Agni.  The healthy diet will help you much extend. Use the anti-androgen that causes unwanted body hairs in PCOS. If you are obese then lose some weight. Check your blood sugar levels, if you are insulin resistance. Eat healthy food and excise’s to improve your insulin and glucose control. This will help your ovaries to reduce the male hormones’ secretion.

Let me talk more about Almonds here, research says that they tend to reduce the potency of male hormones-testosterone. Again, many women with PCOS have high levels of male hormones in their body. So, eat 5-6 almonds soaked the previous night and munch on them. For external application- apply haridra churna and chickpeas flour together on the hair follicles.

What your food should have- The best thing to start your day is to have Vata-Kapha balancing Ayurvedic herbal kashaya (tea).

• Your breakfast should have Kapha balancing foods, such as Barley or Horse gram soup, Whole wheat Roti, Ragi, and 1 handful of nuts/seeds. Avoid- fermented food items such as dosa, idli, vada and white rice early mornings.
• Kapha balancing snack- buttermilk is best with ginger, also can have 1 apple or papaya.
• Lunch- should have small portion of brow\n rice, lots of veggies or meat or sea food and salads.
• Vata balancing snack– in the evening it is best to the herbal tea again or handful of nuts/seeds or just 1 glass of milk.
• Dinner- should have lot of different vegetables and roti if required. Also can have cooked brown rice, quinoa, porridge, low sugar baked beans, red kidney beans, lentils or chick peas. Avoid having rice and heavy meals in the night.

Remember beauty doesn’t live in the physical appearance, it lies within you. It is more important to understand how do one feel rather then we look. 

Dr Vibhuti Rao
Amruth Ayurvedic Centre
66/3, Vanivillas Road, Basavanagudi
Bengaluru 560004
Ph 09739976069
Email –  drvibhutirao@gmail.com

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