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Uttaranchal, a Fast Developing Ayurveda Hub
UDHAMSINGNAGAR: Normally Kerala is considered the country's favourite ayurveda hub. But Uttaranchal is fast emerging as one, with more and more tourists, both domestic and foreign, now preferring the northern State for the traditional ayurveda treatment. It is said that the Vedas originated in Uttaranchal. The State has all the necessary requisites that make the place a destination for nature lovers. Besides ayurveda, the State is fast emerging as a favourite destination for naturapathy too. DP Ahuja, a tourism expert, said Uttaranchal has all the requisites to make it the most sought-after destination for naturopathy. He said, "Ayurveda began here. All Vedas proliferated here. So this is a perfect place. It has mountains, the Ganga and the Char Dham. This is the best place, if spas and therapies have to be done, this is the place." Spas, yoga, meditation and naturopathy have generated increased interest in tourists who had earlier known the newly formed State only for its natural beauty. Axel, a tourist from Germany, said, "it's not only the naturopahy but also the natural beauty of the place which attracted me." He further said, "the purpose of the visit is to enjoy the ayurvedic treatments in the natural setting, which can be found here in the Himalayas. The air is very crisp, the skies are blue and the climate is not too hard for the body, as in the southern parts of India." With the increase in the number of tourists, the State Government is now planning to develop some world class resorts here. Uttaranchal tourism secretary NN Prashad said there was a serious need to advance the facilities and advertise them in order to tap the natural market. "We have noticed that maximum interest of the foreign investors, tourists or of Indian investors was towards yoga and meditation and naturopathy and there are huge possibilities of developing this product and the need is, first, to advance the facilities and secondly, to advertise them well," he said.
With the State Government's initiative, Uttaranchal has high chances
of emerging as the most sought-after destination for ayurvedic treatment,
spas and naturopathy in the near future. The natural beauty would be
an added advantage. Herbs 'No Aphrodisiacs' SYDNEY: If you are planning on going the herbal route to get some good lovin' on Valentine's Day, think again. Exotically named herbal aphrodisiacs like Yohimbine, Ashwaganda, Dong Quai, Damiana, Kava Kava, Ephedra, Saw Palmetto and Muira Puama might be hyped, but experts say there is little if any evidence to suggest they do the job, reports news.com.au. Some of them are not only potentially dangerous, but illegal. Professor Stephen Myers, director of the Australian Centre for Complementary Medicine in Brisbane, said the purported medicinal qualities of many herbs were based on tradition rather than research. This was particularly the case with herbal aphrodisiacs. British Ban on Herbal Tranquilliser LONDON: Remedies containing the herb kava-kava, used as a natural tranquilliser and as an alternative to Valium, have been banned after it was linked to four deaths. A year ago, it was voluntarily removed from the shelves after almost 70 cases of suspected liver damage associated with the herbal medicine were reported, four in the UK. Seven patients needed liver transplants. UK's Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) and the Medicines Commission recommended ban. The Medicines Control Agency (MCA), which monitors the safety of all herbal medicines, including unlicensed ones, is now acting on that advice. An order prohibiting the sale of kava-kava will come into force on January 13, 2003. But the ban will be reconsidered in two years' time. The MCA said that investigations had been unable to say what might put people at risk of adverse reactions to the herb. How the remedy damages the liver is also unknown.
Professor Alasdair Breckenridge, chairman of the CSM, was quoted by
BBC as saying, "Given the expert advice from the CSM and Medicines Commission
following the recent public consultation it is clear that this ban is
necessary". "The issues surrounding this decision have been very carefully
considered. A prohibition on safety grounds can be reviewed at any time
if new evidence emerges and the MCA will be undertaking a specific review
in two years time to assess whether this ban remains justified", he
added. XXXXXXX However, complementary health campaigners have protested
against a complete ban, saying kava-kava has none of the addiction problems
associated with conventional tranquillisers like Valium. Growing Medicinal Plants More Lucrative (Go To Top) BHOPAL: Affording a cellular phone, working on personal computer, having a website, is out of reach of most of Indian farmers. But not for Mishrilal Rajput of Khajuri Kalan village in Bhopal. Mishrilal can afford these things because unlike other farmers, he grows medicinal plants. These medicinal plants not only have huge demand in India as well as abroad, but also fetch him high prices. He grows various medicinal plants like White Moosli, Mentha, Lemon Grass, GN 5, Sughandha, Aswagandha and many more. And these plants are used in various medicines, varying from Viagra to Vicks. Mishrilal said, "White Moosli is used for strength-providing medicines. It is dubbed as Indian Viagra. Ashwagandha is used in the medicines, which help to sharpen memory. Sarfgandha is used in medicines for mental problems, blood pressure and sleeping pills. And Mentha is used in pain-killing medicines like Vicks and Balms". These medicinal plants have lot of demand not only in India but in foreign countries also. Mishrilal has got orders from many Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad companies. He had also supplied Lemon Grass to a French company. And presently he is hoping to get some fresh oders from London and Singapore. Mishrilal said, "White Moosli is considerd to be most valuable herb from India. It is used in medicines like Viagra. In foreign countries there is lot of demand for White Moosli. It is used in European countries very much."
Mishrilal advises farmers throughout the country to grow medicinal plants
as the risk involved is less and they fetch high prices. Mishrilal said,
"If we grow the traditional crops like wheat, grams, soyabean, we earn
around 10 to 15, 000 yearly. But if we grow medicinal crops, we earn
minimum Rs 2500, which can go up to Rs three lakh." With Mishrilal,
there are about ten more farmers in Khajuri Kalan village, who grow
medicinal plants. They were the first one in India to get loan from
Bank of India, to grow medicinal plants. They are even considering to
form a company to help farmers grow medicinal plants. Tripura's Herbal Industry Facing Stiff Foreign Competition (Go To Top) AGARTALA: Tripura, a haven for herbal plants, is facing stiff competition from foreign players in the medicine market. Under a 30 million dollar scheme started in 1996, the Tripura Forest Development and Plantation Corporation (TFDPC) began commerical cultivation and production of the multi-purpose medicinal herb, Discorea Floribunda. Found abundantly in the rain forest of the State, the herb is the only source of Diosgenin, a pharmaceutical intermediate used as a precursor for synthesis of anti-fertility and anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs find extensive use in rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual irregularities, renal and cardiovascular diseases, control of fertility, among others, and have a ready market all over the world. However, seven years down the line, the corporation, facing stiff competition from experienced and well-established players like Mexico and China, is still trying to find buyers. The biggest hurdle is the high cost of the Diosgenin produced by TFDPC. While the Diosgenin produced by China and Mexico is priced at Rs 1200-1300 per kilogram, the home-based drug comes at a considerably higher Rsd 1700 or sometimes even Rs 2000 per kilogram. TFDPC officials attribute the high price to better quality of the drug produced by them. However, despite the quality, TFDPC was forced to drop production to cover the losses. In India itself there is considerable market as the country produces only 60 metric tons of Diosgenin as against an annual demand of 150 metric tons. Ironically, even in the home market most pharmaceutical companies don't know of the TFDPC. They find it cheaper to import the drug. The TFDPC is now making amends and focusing on better marketing strategy and cutting down production cost. Instead of carrying out the entire cultivation and extraction process on its own, the TFDPC is encouraging farmers to undertake at least the cultivation part of it through an assured buy-back scheme. (October 16, 2002) -ANI |
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