AIDS INDIA site has some interesting ongoing debate on alternate pathies in HIV management---here are some excerpts
e: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AIDS-INDIA/message/11844
Mizoram Drugs Control issues warning
Some Ayurvedic medicines have been found to contain allopathic drugs.
Published on 08/17/2010
Aizawl, August 17: Mizoram Drugs Control Administration on Tuesday has issued a warning on the use of some Ayurvedic medicines meant for remedies of erectile dysfunction called by some doctors as the Indian Viagra which have been found to contain allopathic drugs.
A recent study conducted by the Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (DIPSAR) has found the presence of allopathic drugs in many formulations commonly marketed as Ayurvedic or Unani remedies for people having erectile problems, an official statement issued by the state drugs control administration said.
The statement said that Slidenafil and Tadalafil, which are prescription drugs, as well as allopathic medicines are found in Ayurvedic medicines like supersonic, titanic K2, Sikander-e-Azam and 2much Gold.
It warned, "Slidenafil can be fatal for someone who is already taking medicines that contain nitrates and it can also cause coma and hypertension if not taken judiciously.
"The DIPSAR also found nicotine in tooth powder of Vicco and Muska Gul and also toothpaste like Dabur Red, Arodent, Dentobac and IPCO," the statement added.
http://igovernment.in/site/mizoram-drugs-control-issues-warning-38222-
Mizoram Drugs Control issues warning
Some Ayurvedic medicines have been found to contain allopathic drugs.
Published on 08/17/2010
Aizawl, August 17: Mizoram Drugs Control Administration on Tuesday has issued a warning on the use of some Ayurvedic medicines meant for remedies of erectile dysfunction called by some doctors as the Indian Viagra which have been found to contain allopathic drugs.
A recent study conducted by the Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (DIPSAR) has found the presence of allopathic drugs in many formulations commonly marketed as Ayurvedic or Unani remedies for people having erectile problems, an official statement issued by the state drugs control administration said.
The statement said that Slidenafil and Tadalafil, which are prescription drugs, as well as allopathic medicines are found in Ayurvedic medicines like supersonic, titanic K2, Sikander-e-Azam and 2much Gold.
It warned, "Slidenafil can be fatal for someone who is already taking medicines that contain nitrates and it can also cause coma and hypertension if not taken judiciously.
"The DIPSAR also found nicotine in tooth powder of Vicco and Muska Gul and also toothpaste like Dabur Red, Arodent, Dentobac and IPCO," the statement added.
http://igovernment.in/site/mizoram-drugs-control-issues-warning-38222-
Ayurveda hindering HIV therapy, dump it'
Published: Thursday, Aug 19, 2010, 0:34 IST
By Jyoti Shelar
The organsation feels that the alternate treatment is destroying the importance of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and other therapeutic drugs for HIV. Acting on its order, the Mumbai District Aids Control Society (MDACS) has already stalled all such ongoing studies by students and doctors at various medical colleges in the city.
"Ayurvedic treatment or any other kind of immune boosters is not the mandate of Naco," said Dr SS Kudalkar, project director, MDACS, adding that Naco's letter clearly stated that the HIV patients underestimate the importance of ART and other prescribed drugs when they are put on alternate treatments.
According to Kudalkar, Naco has specified that any HIV patient, whether under the ART or not, should not be included in any such research papers.
"Very often the patients start thinking that Ayurvedic treatment is curing them but they suddenly find that they have reached an advanced stage of the disease. This is mainly because they start ignoring ART while taking the other line of treatment," said Kudalkar.
This is the reason why a student from Nair Hospital, who had recently applied for a research paper on 'Ayurvedic treatment as an immune booster' for HIV patients, was discouraged from proceeding with her work. The ethical committee set up by the college asked her to switch to another topic.
"The student's research was on neem, tulsi, haldi, cloves and other such harmless items as immune boosters for HIV patients. If the life span of an HIV patient can be increased through such easy techniques, then such studies should be promoted by Naco instead of discontinuing them," said a senior professor from the hospital, who refused to be named.
Another study by consultant physician and professor of medicine, Dr AR Pazare, from KEM was discontinued after Naco's order. The study which had completed one year, used an Ayurvedic drug as an immune booster for HIV patients. It had yielded positive results in increasing the CD4 count in the patients. The CD4 cells indicate the health of a person. The researchers are now seeking permission from the Centre to re-start the study.
http://www.dnaindia.com/health/report_ayurveda-hindering-hiv-therapy-dump-it_1425452
Published: Thursday, Aug 19, 2010, 0:34 IST
By Jyoti Shelar
Friends,Advocates and practitioners of Ayurveda may be claiming that the centuries-old system has a solution for the dreaded AIDS, but the National Aids Control Organisation (Naco) is not prepared to buy any of it. It has asked all medical colleges to stop experimenting with Ayurvedic treatment on HIV patients.
Re: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AIDS-INDIA/message/11844
No one can doubt or question any "Pathy" including Ayurveda.
This is not the pathy but its practitioner who can be doubted--my area of concern (as I stated in some earlier mail too) is that such studies should be well designed and not that in the name of Ayurveda we get carried away and allow all sorts of trial that too on human beings (Including PLHWA).
We in Amritsar rejected one such ill designed trial based on false notions--had we done that the persons concerned would have started selling their medicines on the pretext that the trial is approved by NACO ( as they could manipulate NACO-to give it to ethical committee for approval,of which I was a member).
I agree with our distinguished teachers Dr.Alka and Dr.Maniar that we should encourage such trials,but I will like to add "with Caution".
The organsation feels that the alternate treatment is destroying the importance of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and other therapeutic drugs for HIV. Acting on its order, the Mumbai District Aids Control Society (MDACS) has already stalled all such ongoing studies by students and doctors at various medical colleges in the city.
"Ayurvedic treatment or any other kind of immune boosters is not the mandate of Naco," said Dr SS Kudalkar, project director, MDACS, adding that Naco's letter clearly stated that the HIV patients underestimate the importance of ART and other prescribed drugs when they are put on alternate treatments.
According to Kudalkar, Naco has specified that any HIV patient, whether under the ART or not, should not be included in any such research papers.
"Very often the patients start thinking that Ayurvedic treatment is curing them but they suddenly find that they have reached an advanced stage of the disease. This is mainly because they start ignoring ART while taking the other line of treatment," said Kudalkar.
This is the reason why a student from Nair Hospital, who had recently applied for a research paper on 'Ayurvedic treatment as an immune booster' for HIV patients, was discouraged from proceeding with her work. The ethical committee set up by the college asked her to switch to another topic.
"The student's research was on neem, tulsi, haldi, cloves and other such harmless items as immune boosters for HIV patients. If the life span of an HIV patient can be increased through such easy techniques, then such studies should be promoted by Naco instead of discontinuing them," said a senior professor from the hospital, who refused to be named.
Another study by consultant physician and professor of medicine, Dr AR Pazare, from KEM was discontinued after Naco's order. The study which had completed one year, used an Ayurvedic drug as an immune booster for HIV patients. It had yielded positive results in increasing the CD4 count in the patients. The CD4 cells indicate the health of a person. The researchers are now seeking permission from the Centre to re-start the study.
http://www.dnaindia.com/health/report_ayurveda-hindering-hiv-therapy-dump-it_1425452
Friends,
Once again I reiterate that there is no "pathy" which is good or bad--it is their practitioners.
I want to highlight one case. This man in his late thirties presented with Cd4 less than 200 five years ago and was advised to start a combination of AZT+3TC+NVP, he did so also,but because of side effects (nausea and vomitting) decided to switch over to homeopathy on the assurances of a local homeopath of repute (he is considered the best in Amritsar).
His wife also started the same .Good thing was despite being under homeopathy ,the couple kept me in the loop. Two years ago when the wife had Herpes zoster with dissemination and started loosing weight and started showing rapid decline in Cd4, she started the ARV's and doing fine and is off Homeopathy. But the husband continued the same till the beginning of this year, when he presented to me with some fulminating skin infections and Cd4 below 100.
The skin infection refused to go despite best and suitable (after culture and sensitivity) antibiotics and Cd4 kept declining and the homeopath kept reassuring and thus distracting patient from starting ARV's.
The patient and homeopaths arguments were that his weight is not falling,so he can not be a candidate still for ARV's.Refusing to go to ART center,this man kept getting his Cd4 tested every week almost from different labs in the hope that there is something wrong with the labs.
Result today after confirming a Cd4 below 50 from atleast three different labs, he reluctantly agreed to start the ARV and after a good counseling session lasting for more than an hour-he purchased the medicines.
Lo behold your breath,he still went to the homeopath and again postponed the therapy.God save this man.
Moral--
1. I would love to even educate practitioner of other pathies and convince them that till they really have a breakthrough (proven by scientific research,as is done with allopathic medicines)tehy should not give false hopes to PLHWA.
2. The idea of treating PLHWA is not only increasing the Cd4,the ARV's kill the virus too and only problem is that the ARV can not fight the HIV army to finish.
Rakesh
Dr.Rakesh Bharti,
Bharti Derma Care and Research center,
27-D,Sant Avenue,The Mall,
Amritsar143001,Punjab INDIA
Email-rakesh.bharti1@gmail.com
9814044213 / 01832277822 /01832278522
Once again I reiterate that there is no "pathy" which is good or bad--it is their practitioners.
I want to highlight one case. This man in his late thirties presented with Cd4 less than 200 five years ago and was advised to start a combination of AZT+3TC+NVP, he did so also,but because of side effects (nausea and vomitting) decided to switch over to homeopathy on the assurances of a local homeopath of repute (he is considered the best in Amritsar).
His wife also started the same .Good thing was despite being under homeopathy ,the couple kept me in the loop. Two years ago when the wife had Herpes zoster with dissemination and started loosing weight and started showing rapid decline in Cd4, she started the ARV's and doing fine and is off Homeopathy. But the husband continued the same till the beginning of this year, when he presented to me with some fulminating skin infections and Cd4 below 100.
The skin infection refused to go despite best and suitable (after culture and sensitivity) antibiotics and Cd4 kept declining and the homeopath kept reassuring and thus distracting patient from starting ARV's.
The patient and homeopaths arguments were that his weight is not falling,so he can not be a candidate still for ARV's.Refusing to go to ART center,this man kept getting his Cd4 tested every week almost from different labs in the hope that there is something wrong with the labs.
Result today after confirming a Cd4 below 50 from atleast three different labs, he reluctantly agreed to start the ARV and after a good counseling session lasting for more than an hour-he purchased the medicines.
Lo behold your breath,he still went to the homeopath and again postponed the therapy.God save this man.
Moral--
1. I would love to even educate practitioner of other pathies and convince them that till they really have a breakthrough (proven by scientific research,as is done with allopathic medicines)tehy should not give false hopes to PLHWA.
2. The idea of treating PLHWA is not only increasing the Cd4,the ARV's kill the virus too and only problem is that the ARV can not fight the HIV army to finish.
Rakesh
Dr.Rakesh Bharti,
Bharti Derma Care and Research center,
27-D,Sant Avenue,The Mall,
Amritsar143001,Punjab INDIA
Email-rakesh.bharti1@gmail.com
9814044213 / 01832277822 /01832278522
