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Climate change threatening herbs, says Pratibha Patil

NEW DELHI: President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Wednesday expressed concern over climate change that was threatening the existence of several Indian herbs which are key ingredients in the traditional Ayurvedic system of medicine.

“The Ayurvedic medicines make intelligent use of herbs. Climate change is disturbing the ecological balance which is making herbs, used in Ayurvedic medicines, extinct. It is a big challenge for us,” she said while inaugurating the centenary celebrations of the All-India Ayurvedic Congress here.

She said herbs and plants which are getting extinct should be properly categorised and efforts made to protect them. Ms. Patil sought the help of the National Medicinal Plants Board and the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in this endeavour.

Ms. Patil also sought strict action against “quacks” who, she said, were bringing disrepute to Ayurveda. She advocated documentation, collation and certification of therapies of the medicinal system.

She said there was an urgent need for patenting Ayurvedic drugs. Only then, it would be accepted as Indian knowledge.

She advocated proper registration of “vaidyas” — practitioners of Ayurveda — along with their proper education and training. Some Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers were using modern methods to increase their production which was affecting the efficacy of the drugs.

“Some drugs need particular style of crushing and preparations which are being replaced by the modern production techniques resulting in an adverse effect on its efficacy. The manufacturers need to pay full attention to purity, quality and pharmacopian standards of the drugs,” she said.

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