Traditional medicines can now safely go global | Health - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Traditional medicines can now safely go global

Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi
Jun 12, 2008 01:43 AM IST

Again, on May 8, Canada had raised a red flag and reminded people that some Ayurvedic medicines had heavy metals.

The quality, safety and effectiveness of traditional medicine will now be monitored better with the Shriram Institute of Industrial Research giving technical inputs to the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in the Union ministry of health.

HT Image
HT Image

“A growing lack of trust in traditional medicines had led to people turn to allopathy. This was also preventing India from capitalising on the growing global demand for traditional medicine, a market dominated by China. The new programme for enforcement of good manufacturing practices will increase the acceptability of these drugs, being manufactured by over 5,500 manufacturers across the country,” said Anita Das, secretary of the Department of AYUSH.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Quality issues have long plagued popular traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy. Two years ago, the United States and Canada took Ayurvedic and Unani medicines off stores and banned further import following dangerously high levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic being found in formulations manufactured in India.

These heavy metals can accumulate in the body and cause health problems ranging from dizziness and muscle cramps to mental retardation.

Again, on May 8, Canada had raised a red flag and reminded people that some Ayurvedic medicines had heavy metals.

“According to the principles of Ayurvedic medicine, heavy metals may be used in a detoxified state in these medicinal products because of their presumed therapeutic properties. However, improper manufacturing processes may result in dangerously high levels of heavy metals in the final product,” it said.

Oscars 2024: From Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Sanchita is the health & science editor of the Hindustan Times. She has been reporting and writing on public health policy, health and nutrition for close to two decades. She is an International Reporting Project fellow from Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and was part of the expert group that drafted the Press Council of India’s media guidelines on health reporting, including reporting on people living with HIV.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On