Ayurveda is one of the traditional medicinal systems of Indian. The philosophy behind Ayurveda is preventing unnecessary suffering and living a long healthy life. Ayurveda involves the use of natural elements to eliminate the root cause of the disease by restoring balance, at the same time create a healthy life-style to prevent the recurrence of imbalance. Herbal medicines have existed world-wide with long recorded history and they were used in ancient Chinese, Greek, Egyptian and Indian medicine for various therapies purposes. World Health Organization estimated that 80% of the word's inhabitants still rely mainly on traditional medicines for their health care. The subcontinent of India is well-known to be one of the major biodiversity centers with about 45,000 plant species. In India, about 15,000 medicinal plants have been recorded, in which the communities used 7,000-7,500 plants for curing different diseases. In Ayurveda, single or multiple herbs (polyherbal) are used for the treatment. The Ayurvedic literature Sarangdhar Samhita' highlighted the concept of polyherbalism to achieve greater therapeutic efficacy. The active phytochemical constituents of individual plants are insufficient to achieve the desirable therapeutic effects. When combining the multiple herbs in a particular ratio, it will give a better therapeutic effect and reduce the toxicity. This review mainly focuses on important of the polyherbalism and its clinical significance.

Polyherbal formulation: Concept of ayurveda.

Kidney toxicity related to herbs and dietary supplements: Online table of case reports. Part 3 of 5 series

Background & objectives: In the traditional system of medicine in India Ashwagandha powder and Sidh Makardhwaj have been used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis However, safety and efficacy of this treatment have not been evaluated Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ayurvedic treatment (Ashwagandha powder and Sidh Makardhwaj) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis Methods: One hundred and twenty five patients with joint pain were screened at an Ayurvedic hospital in New Delhi, India Eighty six patients satisfied inclusion criteria and were included in the study Detailed medical history and physical examination were recorded Patients took 5g of Ashwagandha powder twice a day for three weeks with lukewarm water or milk Sidh Makardhwaj (100 mg) with honey was administered daily for the next four weeks The follow up of patients was carried out every two weeks The primary efficacy end point was based on American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 response Secondary end points were ACR50, ACR70 responses, change from baseline in disease activity score (DAS) 28 score and ACR parameters Safety assessments were hepatic function [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin and s2 microglobulin], renal function (urea and creatinine and NGAL) tests and urine mercury level Results: The study was completed by 907 per cent (78/86) patients Patients with moderate and high disease activity were 577 per cent (45/78) and 423 per cent (33/78), respectively All patients were tested positive for rheumatoid factor and increased ESR level Ashwagandha and Sidh Makardhwaj treatment decreased RA factor A significant change in post-treatment scores of tender joint counts, swollen joint counts, physician global assessment score, patient global assessment score, pain assessment score, patient self assessed disability index score and ESR level were observed as compared to baseline scores ACR20 response was observed in 564 per cent (44/78) patients (American College of Rheumatology criteria) and moderate response in 3974 per cent (31/78) patients [European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria] Ayurvedic treatment for seven weeks in rheumatoid arthritis patients showed normal kidney and liver function tests However, increased urinary mercury levels were observed after treatment Interpretation & conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that this Ayurvedic treatment (Ashwagandha powder and Sidh Makardhwaj) has a potential to be used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis However, due to small sample size, short duration, non randomization and lack of a control group as study limitations, further studies need to be done to confirm these findings

Efficacy & safety evaluation of Ayurvedic treatment (Ashwagandha powder & Sidh Makardhwaj) in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a pilot prospective study

Ayurvedic medicine is the traditional medicine of India, which originated over 5,000 years ago. Parts of this alternative medical system have become increasingly popular worldwide as patients seek approaches to medical care that they perceive as more holistic and less toxic than those offered by conventional Western medicine. Despite the advent of highly effective pharmacologic therapy, most individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) continue to use alternative therapy at some point in the treatment of their disease. This report discusses some of the in-vitro data that suggest potential mechanisms through which Ayurvedic herbal medicines might have beneficial actions in rheumatoid arthritis, and the available clinical data evaluating the use of Ayurvedic medicine for RA.

Ayurvedic Medicine for Rheumatoid Arthritis

RAACFDb: Rheumatoid arthritis ayurvedic classical formulations database.

Context Allopathic and Ayurvedic physicians collaborated on a study of traditional medicine, which was sponsored by the World Health Organization. Aims The aim of the study was to test the efficacy and safety of Ayurvedic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Settings and design This study was conducted at the Ayurvedic Trust, Coimbatore, India. Materials and methods In this unique study of classical Ayurvedic treatment for RA, allopathic physicians enrolled a total of 290 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of RA over a 7-year period, and once every 6 weeks evaluated Ayurvedic treatment outcomes on the basis of American Rheumatism Association criteria: grip strength, walking time, number of swollen and painful joints, joint count, functional class, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and rheumatoid factor. Ayurvedic physicians administered individualized treatment, closely adhering to principles set forth in classical Ayurvedic texts. The duration of treatment varied from 1 to 6 months. Statistical analysis used Due to limitations in computer technology in the 1970s, the data were not computerized. Therefore, data for 12 months at a time were analyzed, using repeated measures t-test. Measures of central tendency (means) and probability values were reported. Results from the patients enrolled and discharged at the end of the first year of the study (N = 33) are presented in this paper. Results There was statistically significant improvement in all parameters from admission to discharge. Conclusions The results indicated that classical Ayurvedic treatment was effective in this first cohort of patients who completed treatment. Even patients with severe functional limitations showed significant improvement. Although there was no control group, the results are positive enough to warrant further study of classical Ayurvedic treatment for RA in controlled trials.

The efficacy of Ayurvedic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis: Cross-sectional experiential profile of a longitudinal study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of infection control protocols among pediatric dentists in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: An online cross-sectional survey using a semi-structured questionnaire was conducted in the Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Malabar Dental College and Research Centre, Manoor, Kerala, and a link for Google Forms was shared with pediatric dentists on social media (i.e., Facebook and WhatsApp). Results: A total of 205 respondents were included in the final analysis, of which 91.22% were following the current WHO/DCI/IDA/CDC Guidelines regarding cross-infection control of COVID-19 in their practice. Majority of the participants had to modify their clinic setup to follow the WHO/DCI/IDA/CDC guidelines to practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the participants reported that these infection control protocols affected the income-expenditure of their clinics. Conclusion: The findings of the study revealed that most of the subjects had adequate knowledge regarding infection control protocol and are practicing it resulting in few cases of COVID-19 infection among the dentists.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice about infection control protocols among pediatric dentists in India during COVID-19 pandemic: An online cross-sectional survey

The Sabarimala Temple in the South Indian state of Kerala garnered national and global attention following violent protests against the Indian Supreme Court’s verdict in September 2018, allowing the entry of women of menstruating age to the temple. By studying popular Malayalam films released over the years, this article examines how beliefs around Sabarimala are intrinsically linked to the notion of the male householder, while simultaneously marginalizing women’s religiosity. We first delineate the influence of the film Swami Ayyappan (1975) in establishing the role of the deity Ayyappa in the welfare of hetero-patriarchal families in Kerala. The second section studies how the film Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala (1998) problematizes the centrality of the male householder in Kerala after liberalization and the way that the Sabarimala pilgrimage is used within the narrative to reinstate the patriarchal male. The following section examines the film The Great Indian Kitchen (2021) against the backdrop of the Sabarimala protests and developments in gender regimes in Kerala post-2000. Poised at the intersections of gender and religion, we argue that this film unravels the subtle forms of everyday gender discrimination and the undesirability of patriarchal masculinity in contemporary Kerala. It concludes by discussing briefly a few other recent Malayalam films, like Malikappuram (2022), released after the women’s temple-entry protests, to show their treatment of the Sabarimala issue and the politics of gender therein.

Kumar P R Krishna

Papers

The efficacy of Ayurvedic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis: Cross-sectional experiential profile of a longitudinal study.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice about infection control protocols among pediatric dentists in India during COVID-19 pandemic: An online cross-sectional survey

The Male Householder and the Hypermasculine Deity: Malayalam-Language Films Based on the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala