Steps taken by government to promote R & D in the area of herbal medicine

Bengaluru, December 4, 2015: Government of India has set up Research Councils for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy with a network of 80 field units spread across the country to undertake research and development and other scientific activities in the area of herbal medicines. A central sector scheme of Extra-Mural Research has also been implemented to promote and support scientific exploration of AYUSH interventions and remedies in various medical and other R&D institutions.

Multi-dimensional Research and Development activities have been taken up by the scientific institutions of the country to tap the potential of the herbal remedies including Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha systems. Considerable progress has been made in this regard in the form of development of new formulations, scientific publications and award of patents. So far, 26 patents have been granted to Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani Research Councils and 56 patents have been granted to the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) for herbal formulations and compositions. Many herbal remedies have also been developed by CSIR to address issues relating to tuberculosis, gastrointestinal side effects, prostate megaly, improving memory, diabetes, improving immune system, acute phase inflammatory response etc.

Research Councils are engaged in validation studies and safety & efficacy evaluation of the remedies described in the authoritative books. In these studies, integrated protocols involving both traditional and modern scientific parameters are used to evaluate the efficacy of medicinal formulations of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems.

This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik in reply to a starred question in Rajya Sabha today.

Corporate Comm India(CCI Newswire)