There are instances where traditional systems of medicine have come to the rescue where modern medicine couldn't. Speaking several years ago at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, Prathap C Reddy, the founder of Apollo chain of hospitals, observed that 25 years from then, the present system of medicine would become an alternative system.
He recounted interesting personal experiences to testify to the efficacy of alternative medicine. He said when his brother had a heart disease, allopathic doctors predicted he had only six weeks left to live; the Ayurvedic treatment his brother underwent in Kerala ensured his survival for 42 more years.
Reddy recalled he had his fractured hand treated at the popular bone setting clinic in Puttur in Andhra ainiltyPradesh's Chittoor district. He also said the Rauwolfia Serpentina (Sarpagandha) was still the most trusted root by cardiologists.
Ayurveda is already a hit in Russia, coming to the country following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, to treat victims of radiation.
Today, there is a serious need for alternative medicines. The new guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research for testing indigenous systems of medicine will address this issue.
It will benefit the poor if low-cost, reliable and effective medicines based on traditional systems were made available. The country also needs to meet the challenges faced by the Indian health care industry, as mentioned by Reddy. These are gross inadequacy of health resources, lack of access to health care and insufficient bed strength.
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He recounted interesting personal experiences to testify to the efficacy of alternative medicine. He said when his brother had a heart disease, allopathic doctors predicted he had only six weeks left to live; the Ayurvedic treatment his brother underwent in Kerala ensured his survival for 42 more years.
Reddy recalled he had his fractured hand treated at the popular bone setting clinic in Puttur in Andhra ainiltyPradesh's Chittoor district. He also said the Rauwolfia Serpentina (Sarpagandha) was still the most trusted root by cardiologists.
Ayurveda is already a hit in Russia, coming to the country following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, to treat victims of radiation.
Today, there is a serious need for alternative medicines. The new guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research for testing indigenous systems of medicine will address this issue.
It will benefit the poor if low-cost, reliable and effective medicines based on traditional systems were made available. The country also needs to meet the challenges faced by the Indian health care industry, as mentioned by Reddy. These are gross inadequacy of health resources, lack of access to health care and insufficient bed strength.
CV Krishna Manoj Hyderabad
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number