Its time to set up Ayurveda research database

KOZHIKODE: Principal Scientific Adviser to the Union Government R Chidambaram has said that time had come to create an easily accessible user-friendly database for enhancing research-based knowledge in the field of Ayurveda. Inaugurating a national seminar on ‘Ayurveda in the 21st century’, organised by the KottakkalArya Vaidya Sala to celebrate the Navati of Dr P K Warrier at the Tagore Centenary Hall on Sunday, he further said that “this should be a database limited to investigations, both Indian and foreign, which can withstand the scrutiny of modern science.”Citing the importance of research in the field, Chidambaram said that these studies should focus on the long-term needs of the society, industry and the Indian strategic interests, which would benefit the country in a larger perspective.“In allopathic treatment, patients showing the same symptoms will be provided with same medicines with slight difference in dosage. But on the other end, individualised treatment is being talked about, depending on the genome of persons,” he added.  He also said that discovering new drugs in Ayurveda was both time-consuming and expensive, owing to the extensive nature of clinical trials needed. Now there are approaches on using reverse pharmacology for drug discovery using natural products. This approach is inspired by reversing the routine ‘laboratoriesto clinic approach’ to ‘clinics to laboratories approach’. Approaches like these will expedite drug discovery and development, he said.Commenting the contributions of Dr P K Warrier in the field of Ayurveda, he saidthat “Warrier himself has made special efforts to incorporate scientific and technological advances in the activities of Arya Vaidya Sala, without deviating from basic tenets laid down in the classical texts.”Dr P K Warrier distributed awards to various people for their contributions in the field, during the function. Dr Ashok B Vaidya, Research Director, Kasturba Health Society, Mumbai, presided over the function. Dr P M Varier, Dr M S Valiathan and others attended the seminar.