Title : Integrative research in selected areas of women’s infections and nutrition
Abstract:
Traditional medicine is not always obsolete medicine. In reality the original texts describing time - tested enduring practices are a rich source of ideas for research and innovation. We will demonstrate this feasibility of research in selected areas of women’s health and nutrition. We have utilized our experience of research in modern sciences to explore selected areas where the knowledge base of Indian Traditional Medicine, Ayurveda, was explored and researched to identify effective Ayurvedic therapy for common medical problems. This will be exemplified briefly in 2 areas i) Lower Genital Tract Infections (LGTIs) in women ii) Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA). Management of different types of women’s diseases and guidelines for anaemia like disease have been described in ancient texts including Charak Samhita (3000 BC). Some of these practices are live till today and commonly used by traditional Ayurvedic physicians.
LGTIs in women: Earlier study on genital infections in women carried out in the National Institute of Indian Council of Medical Research for Women’s Health, Mumbai, had found a high prevalence of LGTIs in women of reproductive age. Cervicovaginitis was studied using multiple diagnostic methods like wet vaginal smear, Papanicolaou smear, Gram smear, aerobic and anaerobic culture, Immunofluorescence, and serology and correlated with symptomatology. This experience was used along with the co-investigators at KIHS-MRF (former KHS-MRC) to investigate the therapeutic potential of an Ayurvedic therapy, Panchvalkala, administered as a vaginal douche or as a new gel.
Iron deficiency Anemia (IDA): IDA is a common problem today despite several national nutritional programs. It is known that discontinuation rate of treatment with fersolate tablets as iron supplement was high. The commonest reason is a side effect of fersolate. Recently at KIHS-MRF (former KHS-MRC) we had the opportunity to investigate an Ayurvedic iron supplement, Mandur Bhasma (MB), in an experimental and in-vitro study. MB is safe and effective as reported by current Ayurvedic practitioners and well tolerated. It was very interesting for our team to be able to prepare Traditional classical MB in-house and to record the changes in physico-chemical characteristics of original iron ore during the sequential pharmaceutical stages as well as to demonstrate the ancient quality tests. We have used methods like Electron Microscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering, Nanoparticle Analysis etc for assessments and are in the process of analysing data. The pharmaceutical process was complex and purely manual without the use of grinding or any other machine. It was possible to convert raw iron ore into a fine powder containing nanoparticles with the ancient classical method with common purification (Samaanya shodhan) and purification specific for iron ore (Mandur). The role of purifying liquids will be discussed.
