Wishing all ATM readers ‘A Happy and Safe Diwali!’

Dr. Amarprakash P. Dwivedi
M.S. (Ayu.), Ph. D. (Sch.)Asso.Professor & I/C, Shalya TantraEMail: dramar_d@yahoo.co.inMobile: 09323097013/09757445151

Happy Healthy Diwali

‘Deepawali’ or ‘Diwali’ is one of the most popular festivals in India. It comes in the Hindu month of ‘Ashwin’ as per the lunar calendar and corresponds roughly with either October or November depending upon the movement of the Sun & the Moon and their relative positions in the space and the time.

Meaning and significance: Deepawali means, a row of lights. Symbolically, it represents our divine nature and reminds us of our primary responsibility to pursue the path of light and find the divine.

The great Goddess Mahalaxmi, who symbolizes all the positive forces of light and the divine nature of wealth,is the principal deity of this  remarkably unique festival. Just as she represents health, wealth, happiness, victory,harmony, joy and enlightenment, Diwali represents the brilliance of life in its full glory. Many Hindu consider Diwali as the beginning of a new year.

It is also believed that the festival of Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya after spendind 14 years of extradition.

As far Ayurveda is concerned, it is believed that on the first day of Diwali festival  i.e. on Dhantrayodashi ‘Lord Dhanvantari’ emerged from the ocean holding the knowledge of spiritual medicines of Ayurved, to help the mankind fight against sickness, disease and death.

Diwali Health Mantra

Sweets and Festivals go hand in hand. And when it comes to Indian festivals, especially the grand Diwali, sweets are many, along with all kinds of rich dishes. If you tend to gain weight more easily, it is suggested to keep your taste buds in some control otherwise all your weight loss strategy will go waste. Here are some tips on adopting healthy ways of eating this Diwali.

•         Moderation is the mantra to enjoy festive food. Eat fatty foods, sweets and other fried snacks in little amounts. It’s good to go on Ayurvedic diets (Light easily digestible meals like Kichadi. Soups, Fruits & fruit juices, Coconut water etc. along with drinking Luke warm water) before the big day comes so that your body gets detoxified beforehand. After relishing the festive food, again go on Ayurvedic diets!

•         If you are making sweets yourself, use low fat ingredients- like low fat milk and other dairy products. Use natural sweeteners like honey and dates to make sweets and avoid using refined sugar or artificial sweeteners.

•         Before eating snacks, remember to drink water to bring in the feeling of fullness.

•         Instead of loading your plate to the brim with sweets, just take a few, may be one or two, items and eat them slowly and gradually.

•         If someone serves fruits along with sweets, try to take more of them in your plate.

•         A couple of sweets are OK but don't let yourself have more of carbonated cold drinks. Instead, have some natural refreshing drink like lemon juice, coconut water, or some other fruit juice.

•         Don't try to eat away all your gifted chocolates at once. Keep them in fridge. Eat them in moderation over a few days. They don't get spoiled so soon. There are much better options than this too. Give these chocolates to the young ones in the family, neighborhood or even to the children in the nearby orphanage! Enjoy happiness while sharing and keep yourself away from worries of weight gain at the same time.

The low-calorie guide to festive cooking:

•         Use skimmed milk to prepare dishes like shrikhand, rice puddings like kheer phrini, Bengali sweets, fruit custards, etc.

•         Make salted munchies such as mathris, shakarpalis, chaklis, kachoris, etc, using high-fibre flour such as finger millet or bajra, ragi or soya flour along with wheat flour.

•         Add green leafy vegetables such as methi (fenugreek), palak (spinach), kothmir (coriander) or mint to salted snacks.

•         Bake salted snacks instead of frying them. Bake cutlets or kebabs instead of frying them.

Serve roasted papads.Decorate biryanis with baked onions instead of fried ones.

•         Serve meals with rotis or pulkas or steamed pulao instead of puris or parathas or biryani.

•         Eat dry roasted nuts and dry fruits in their natural form instead of fried, salted or sugared.

Sweets, puddings, chocolates, ice cream and soft drinks are made with sugar that only contain empty calories.  

•         Many sweets are also rich in ghee or mava, making them calorie dense. Instead of buying commercial ones, make sweets at home using less sugar and ghee.

•         For instance gajar ka halwa can be made at home using condensed milk instead of khoya or mava.

•         Have rasgollas instead of gulab jamuns. Other less fattening Diwali sweets include sandesh and pedas.

Tips for maintaining the calorie count:

Diwali is a time full of celebrations. Holidays, shopping, partying, eating, fun and fare are all part of it. This is the time when you are most susceptible to put on weight. It is very difficult to resist those tempting dishes beautifully adorned on your table. Restraining yourself from not eating these yummy recipes is out of question. So here are some very simple daily activities which will help you to loose some calories, and you can very easily fit these in your holiday schedule…

·         Get off the bus one stop early.

·         Walk to a bus stop a few blocks away.

·         Walk briskly instead of strolling .

·         Walk around the house while you talk on a cordless phone or mobile.

·         Climb stairs instead of taking an escalator or elevator.

·         Do a squat every time you pick something up. This forces you to use your leg muscles and will build strength

·         Take a 10-minute activity break every hour while you read or watch TV.

·         Take your dog out for a walk.

Also...

•         Make it a point to sit down and eat, as this will help you think about the amount of food you are consuming.

•         Eat slowly and chew your food well, and you will find you end up eating less.

•         Drink a 12-ounce glass of water before eating as it will take up room in your stomach and make you feel less hungry.

•         Quit smoking as it is injurious to health.

•   Avoid excessive drinking as excessive drinking can cause health problems like liver and kidney diseases.

•     Limit your coffee/ caffeine intake as studies shows that it raises the blood pressure.

These are some very simple activities which will help you in maintaining your calorie count. Good eating habits form the basis for maintaining strong health. To get robust in the right way, you may require changing your eating habits along with various other routine practices. Thirty minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (such as a brisk walk), at least 4 days every week, greatly helps in reducing blood pressure, cholesterol and weight.

…Wishing all ATM readers ‘A Happy and Safe Diwali!’ 

Vata Dosha..............

                                       Vata Dosha Revisited

Dr.H.S.Palep

M.D., D.G.O., D.F.P., F.I.C.O.G., G.F.A.M.

Prabhadevi, Mumbai

            Vayuh tantra yantra dharah , prana udana saman vyanapana, atma pravartaka

Iveshtanam. Uccha vachanam, niyanta pranetacha manasah, sarvendriyarthanam udyojakah sarvendriyarthanamabhivodha, sarva sharer dhatu vyuhakarah, shrotra sparshanayo moolam, harshotsahyo yonih, samirano agnih dosha sasoshanah, kshepta bahi malanam, sthoolanam srotasam bheta, karta garbhakritinam, ayusho anuvritt pratya bhooto bhavati akupita.      (Charak)

Vayu is described as a beholder of yantra and also the tantra. (yantra tantra dharah)

Yantra is the whole body machine. Tantra is the controlling mechanism of whole body organization comprising of seventy trillion cells. In its physiological state it is comprised of five types, viz., prana, udana, samana, vyana and apana. Prana denotes very life. It also means motion. Udana refers to its location in upper pat of the body. Saman vayu (samam anayati iti) is the one that homogenizes with body the food eaten, digested and absorbed.

Vyan vayu ( vi + an spandate) or visheshena spandate.   

It means that it has specialized quality actions of being pulsatile and vibrating. It is responsible for all the peristalitic actions in GI tract and pulsatile action of blood vessels. It is also described as maha java. It moves with very high speed. It is responsible for all neuronal and endocrine functions in the body. It is all body pervasive unlike other types of vayus.

Apana vayu (apa nayati , apa sarati) : It carries with it all metabolic waste and helps to excrete them. It is responsible for evacuation of bladder, bowel and delivery of fetus from utero. It also controls menstrual and seminal flow. It also programs the fetal growth. (karta garbhakritinam)

Other functions of vayu in the physiological state:

It is described as atma pravartakah.

What is atma? How does vayu regulate all the bodily functions?

Atma denotes self awareness or consciousness and intellect. Atma expresses through vayu. It controls and inspires mind. (Nayantah pranetecha manasah). Atma, the Self / Purush/ the conscious element/ agent / doer along with 24 constituents of Prakruti form the Human embodiment (Chikitsa purusha/ treatable human entity). This conglomeration alone experiences the entire worldly phenomenon. Since self has no attributes, by it self or through any indications or signs, it is not inferable. Since it is knower or the cause of all the awareness, it is called as the knower of the field. Consciousness is awareness, an ability to perceive one’s relationship with his environment. It is the capacity to receive, store, recognize the information and it also enables an individual to process the information in to knowledge and use this knowledge to organize or program all his activities. Thus an individual is a unique unit of experiences, activity and interactions that drive them along their developmental trajectories. (pravartakah cheshtanam ucchaavachanam).

Current sciences are exploring the field of human consciousness as never before. Andrade in 1999 described semiotic agency as information gathering and using systems. Zurek extended these properties to living entities. Semiotic agency merges and transforms the internal and external flows of energy.

The Avyakta prakriti is the field, the un manifest primordial material source of entire creation. The first step in creation of life systems is the union of Purush/self with Prakruti. Next in the order is the creation of intelligent thinking systems, i.e., Mahat or ocean of cosmic consciousness. It is born out of self. Intellect is the rational thinking principle of mind. Intelligent is the one, who is endowed with the faculty of reasoning. The next in the order of creation is Ahankar/ ego, which is the ID of self. Next in line is Mind. Mind is not conscious, but when yoked to self, it is impelled by self in to activity. Mind has the faculties of dhee(reception/ understanding), dhriti (retention/ fortitude/ will power), smriti (recall/ memory), chintan (thinking) and buddhi (judgement/ intelligence). With the mind thinking systems develop. Mind is an instrument (upadhi). Objects of mind are thoughts, comprehension, contemplation, imagination, hypothesizing and determination (sankalp) and initiation of actions. The two qualities of mind are Ekatwam (single) and anutwam (subtle/ atomic). It is the basis for joy and enthusiasm (harsha utsahor yoni). Next in order are five tanmatras/ subtle qualities of sound, touch, vision, taste and aroma. (shrotra sparshanoyoh moolam). These qualities belong to five gross elements ether/space, air, fire, water and earth respectively. These five qualities can be perceived by mind through five organs of cognition, viz. ear, skin, eyes, taste buds of tongue and nose respectively (prakrutayo shabda sparshayo). Mind acts through five organs volition or conation, viz. tongue (speech) (pravartakayo vacha), hands, feet, excretory and genital organs (Kshepta bahirmalanam). (sarvendriyanam udyojaka – sarvendriyanamabhi vodha= It carries with it the impulses and initiates all sensory motor functions). It organizes all the tissues of the body (sarva sharer dhatu vyuha kara). It integrates the whole body. (sandhana karah sharirasya). It is responsible for metabolic fire (Sameeraner agneer dosha samsoshanah). It is also the basis for ones life span when in the physiological state. (Ayusho pratyabhuto bhavati akupita)    

Vayu thus regulates and integrates all the sensory and motor functions of the body. A gas regulating all the biological functions in the body was unthinkable for any modern scientist before the invention of NO. Most of them believed in neuro hormonal actions based on adrenaline or acetyl choline as neuro transmitters. 

Awarding of Nobel Prize in 1980 to Furschgot and Zawadski for the discovery of NO gas has completely changed the understanding of the role of neuro transmitters for maintaining normal vascular tone. NO is a gas produced by the endothelial cells of the vascular system and many other tissues of the body, viz., brain, CNS and nerves. Nitric oxide is a bi-atomic gas produced by the action of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase on the amino acid L-arginine. The by-product of this is another amino acid, L-citrulline, whose presence in tissue can be measured as a marker of nitric oxide synthase activity. Nitric oxide synthase is found in the endothelium, brain and central nervous system. Nitric oxide itself lasts only milliseconds in the circulation; it is rapidly degraded to nitrite and nitrate then excreted. L-arginine, a semi essential aminoacid and is a substrate for the NO generation. It is synthesized by the action of different nitricoxide synthases in different tissues of the body. In the nervous system it is nNOS. It is called Geneproduct-1. It generates NO in neurons and glial tissues. It regulates the cerebro vascular tone and regulates the learning and memory (Prana and Udana vayu functions). The Second Nitric oxide synthase is Inducible iNOS which is called Gene product –2. It generates NO in monocytes, macrophages, smoothmuscle cells, cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes and mega-karyocytes etc. It plays great role in maintaining the general immunity and inflammatory reactions of the body (vyana and samana vayufunctions). eNOS is the third Gene product which responsible for generation of NO in the vascular endothelial cells (vyana vayu). It determines the cerebral blood flow. NO reacts with guanyl cyclase resulting in cGMP, which is the relaxant of all the smooth muscles including the sphincters in GI tract (Saman vayu function). It causes vaso dilatation. This action of NO is responsible for penile erection, which is the basis for the action of sildenafil (viagra) –Apana vayu function. NO also functions as a neurotransmitter in non adrenergic and non cholinergic pathways of myocardial contractility, GI tract motility. It prevents adhesion and aggregation of leucocytes and platelets thus maintaining the integrity of the vascular system. It is different from other neurotransmitters since it has two way actions on both afferent and efferent nerves, as well on pre and post synaptic neurons.

Pathological effects of NO:

Defficiency or depletion or excessive of NO can lead to number of pathological conditions, e.g., hypertension, athero-sclerosis, and diabetese. Free radicals and advanced glycosylation end products inactivate NOs resulting in to various pathologies. Similarly vitiated Vayu can cause all different types of diseases enumerated above.

Prostagladins are local hormones produced in almost all the tissues and body fluids in response to diverse stimuli, mechanical, thermal, chemical, bacterial and hormonal etc. They are chiefly responsible for the pain sensation and inflammation. Prostaglandin synthesis and their metabolism are dependent on NO. Vitiated Vata is the cause of pain according to Ayurvedic conceptualization. Just as with Vayu, the spectrum of actions of NO and Prostaglandins encompass wide range of biological processes. Arachidonic acid (AA) is the precursor for all the different PGs (prostaglandins). AA is produced from the metabolism of dietary linoleic acid. Action of enzyme cyclooxegenase on AA result in PGs. Lipooxegenase action on AA results in leukotriens. Lukotriens are also the mediators of inflammation. They have profound effect on microvasculature causing exudation of plasma. They cause release of histamine from basophils, also cause chemotaxis of leucocytes. PGEs and PGA release erythropoietin from the renal cortex.

Prostaglandins have wide range of actions on all systems of the body. Some PG s e.g. PGE, PGI and PGA act as vasodilators, where as PGF and TXA (Thromboxane) are vasoconstrictors. They exert great effect on the blood cells. TXA causes platelet aggregation. PGE causes smooth muscle relaxation in bronchial tree, uterus and GI tract etc.

Gastric hydrochloric acid and other secretions are reduced where as the secretion of mucin is increased by PGA, PGI2 and PGE. PGs cause luteolysis.

PGs are responsible for the pyrogen induced fever. They also amplify the pain sensation in all the inflammatory processes. They also exert profound influence on carbohydrate metabolism by insulin like action and cause inhibition of lypolysis.

PGs regulate synthesis of cAMP by activating or inhibiting adenylate cyclase in the membrane bound receptors. Thus PGs functions can be compared to the action of various vayus in health and as well the disease.    

If vayu is equated to only neurotransmission and hormonal functions, the whole idea of Tantra yantra dhara description of Charak falls flat. It falls short very badly and can not explain all the functions or actions envisaged for Vayu. Neurohormonal basis only explains the Yantra part of the whole Tantra yantra dhara. Tantra relates to whole organization of the body where seventy trillion cells perform under one unified command. Therefore Vata concept probably also relates to genome. Brilliant discovery in 1953 of double helix structure of Deoxy ribo nucleicacid (DNA) as the basic stucture of genome has laid the foundation for the understanding of the basis for molecular biology. Now that there is need to rediscover Vata, Pitta and Kapha as the concepts of molecular biology. Nuceicacids are also proteins. All the proteins have Nitrogen as a benchmark. Vayu is the mixture mainly of Nitrogen, Oxygen and other minor gasses. Various biomolecules, that include gene proteins and small gas molecules e.g. NO,CO act on surface receptors of the cells to form ligand receptor complex resulting in  to specified action depending on the type of the cell. Ligand receptor complex results in to series of intracellular events. They include the formation of messenger RNA (m RNA) in Ribosomes (transcription), formation of new protein (translation). This newly formed protein causes replication of a cell and also repairs the damaged DNA of a cell. One of the most important regulatory gene discovered is P53. It is also known as molecular policeman. It regulates the repair and the programmed death of the cell, (apoptosis). Mutation of this gene can cause cancer. Gene proteins or regulatory proteins act through endocrine, paracrine and autocrine mechanisms. Therefore regulating proteins also participate in the umbrella functions of vayu that can satisfy the description of Tantra yantra action of Vayu.

Another interesting description of vayu is, it being Rajo pradhan. Raja is signified by motivated action.  In the experiment with Hydrocarbon polymer in solution of sea water, it is seen that particles in the solution in the beginning move in Brownian fashion. This solution when exposed to ultraviolet irradiation in presence of atmospheric air, these particle start moving rapidly. This change in the type of particle motion can be compared to Rajas. When the ultra sound is introduced in to this solution the particles are observed to be organizing themselves in to cell layers. This organizational ability is derived from the Satwa quality of Akash. The biological Vayu (vata dosha) is the result of combination both Vayu and Akash. Because of this Vata is responsible for both structure and function of the body correctly fitting in to the theme of Tantra yantra description of Charak. Structural and functional enzyme proteins are regulated by gene proteins. Self assembly is the property of all the biomolecules. They possess the capacity to replicate, multiplicate and perpetuate. This phenomenon is aided by Ahankar.

Ayurveda attributed volitional aggression (pragnyaparadh), incompatible environment, food and activities as the etiological causes for the increase or decrease of all doshas including vata leading to their imbalance, there by creating pathology. Excessive (atiyoga), Negative (hina yoga) and perverse (mithya yoga) interactions with the agents of environment, and as well the chemical and physical agents can cause damage to DNA. Thus Yantra tantra dhara concept of Vayu can now be understood in terms of NO and regulatory genes.

References: Ayurveda and Modern Medicine  -  Dr. R.D.Lele

                    Tridosha – Madhu Jeevan – Vaidya Nanal Ramesh

                    Scientific Foundation of Ayurveda- Dr. H.S.Palep

                    Nitric Oxide Donors – Christopher Lee

Role of Information Technology in improvement of Ayurved (Medical) Education

Dr. Arun Jamkar

Vice-Chancellor

Maharashtra University of  Health Sciences, Nashik

Role of Information Technology in improvement of Ayurved (Medical)  Education

         Ayurved science is heritage of India. We Indians have always been proud of this rich hreritage. We are the custodians of this heritage of our traditional knowledge.

LoLFkL; LokLF;j{k.ke@ vkrqjL; fodkjiz'kuea p  k

                     

                           pjd lfgrk lq_kLFkku v/;k; 30-26

         Ayurved is not only for treatment of disease but also for health promotion and preventive medicine. As a part of  health promotions about 23,000 kids attended suvarnprashan camp  in Nanded city reflecting  love , acceptance & affection of people to Ayurved science,.

         Education is dynamic & continuous process of predetermined change in behavior of a individual. Now a days no pathy is complete in management of all diseases so we have to accept medical pluralism and the solution is holistic medicine.

,da 'kkL_kae v/kh;kuks u fo|kr 'kkL_k fu”k;e  k

rLek}gqJqr% 'kkL_ka fotkuh;kfPpfdRld%      kk

                                       lqJqr lfgark] lw_kLFkku v/;k; 04

By studying a single scripture one does not know the conclusive essence of the same, hence the physician should try to understand the scripture after having knowledge of several disciplines. For clarifying the above idea by the verse is stated as ekam etc. without the multidisciplinary knowledge one can not grasp the ideas easily which are briefly mentioned like seed, because of the impressions of other scriptures. For the establishment of historical glory and status of Ayurved we must follow the advances in modern science like Information technology. There is urgent need to motivate students Ayurved as the science is not available in language of modern science so as to understand concepts & love to Ayurved. For making Ayurved popular short courses of Ayurved for housewives is essential.

As stated in Charaka Samhita, ‘The science of life shall never attain finality. Therefore, humility and relentless industry should characterize your endeavor and approach to knowledge. The entire world consists of teachers for the wise. Therefore, knowledge, conducive to health, longevity, fame and excellence, coming even from an unfamiliar source, should be respectfully received, assimilated and utilized’ 

Ayurved has advocated four levels of teaching: Adidhi is  the first step when information is just absorbed; the  second is Bodha that involves deeper understanding and  gaining knowledge; the third is Acharana meaning practice,  and the fourth Pracharana meaning preaching,  advocacy or dissemination of knowledge

Knowledge of Sanskrit and correct understanding of the basic principles, logic  and philosophy should be transmitted primarily through  a detailed study of Brihat-trayi using Adhyayana, Adhyapana and Tadvidyasambhashana.

It is now high time for evidence based medicine. Maharashtra University of Health Sciences had taken initiatives in conducting double blind controlled clinical trials on the basis of reverse pharmacology of success stories in management of diseases by Ayurvedic science. In area of research in Ayurved Sidney University of Australia is interested with Maharashtra University of Health Sciences Nashik. National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is started under National Institute of Health  in USA .

Ayurvedic genomic study is new area of research on which Dr. Bhushan Patwardhan is involved in interpretation of Ayurvedic Prakruti in light of bioinformatics, molecular biology & genetics.

Validation and standardization  of Ayurvedic medicine is essential on international accepted parameters like DNA fingerprinting by High Pressure Liquid  Chromatography ( HPLC),  Gas Chromatography ( GC) etc. Maharashtra University of Health Sciences is planning to set up industry sponsored Drug Standard laboratory. Toxicological study of Ayurvedic drugs is also important for acceptance of ayurvedic drugs globally. Some countries are refusing ayurvedic drugs because drugs are showing toxicity to face this problem Ayurvedic pharmacoepidemeology should be develop rapidly

New diseases are emerging ex. Chikungunya, Dengue, HIV there is need to diagnose and manage this diseases with Ayurvedic concepts. Superbug is new recent challenge to entire world for prevension for this condition chemoprophylaxis will help. Immunomodulation with Ayurvedic Panchkarma and Rasayantherphy to patients of infected diseases will help.  

TKDL (Traditional Knowledge Digital Library) is a collaborative project between Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology and Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and is being implemented at CSIR. An inter-disciplinary team of Traditional Medicine (Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Yoga) experts, patent examiners, IT experts, scientists and technical officers are involved in creation of TKDL for Indian Systems of Medicine. With help of this project all ancient literature relevant to Ayurveda will be available for entire world.

AyuSoft is a vision of converting classical Ayurvedic texts into comprehensive, authentic, intelligent and interactive knowledge repositories with complex analytical tools. This programme is prepared by Centre for Development of Advance computing with help of Department of Information technology Govt. of India. This programme will help students, teachers & practioners of Ayurved.

National mission for manuscripts is unique project in its programme and mandate, the Mission seeks to unearth and preserve the vast manuscript wealth of India with aims to locate, document, preserve and render these accessible—to connect India's past with its future, its memory with its aspirations.

Online journals like International journal of Ayurved Research & Journal of Integrative & Alternative medicine are available now with the help of AYUSH Govt. of India.

To link Medical Libraries with adequate stock of books and journals for access to all thereby reducing state expenditure on medical college libraries (Digital Library Network)

To promote medical research by providing infrastructure for quick exchange of ideas and co-ordination with group of researchers involved in collaborative multicentre studies and facilitating current information access through digital library network

Online Continuing Medical Education (e-CME) to enhance knowledge and teaching skill and possible Accreditation of Medical Teachers and Health Care Professionals Now online encyclopedia is available eg. wikipedia.

If family member of one Ayurvedic physion family(Vaidy Parampara) is not interested in Ayurved then traditional knowledge of that vaidya is not transferred to next generation. Preparation of video clips, CDs & DVDs of famous teachers to next generation student is another application of IT to preserve Ayurved knowldge.

MUHS has started department of AYUSH in university to make available research activity in drug development, multicentric double blind controlled clinical trials,  various certificate and fellowship courses eg. Reverse Pharmacology and drug development, preventive cardiology. For which separate ad-hoc board for AYUSH courses is established in university. In this department we have started Ayurvedic consultation in Health centre. For endangered medicinal plants Maharashtra University of Health sciences planning to develop AYUSH Medicinal Plant Garden & plant tissue culture laboratory with the help of Forest Development Department, horticulture experts soil geologists and agriculture experts.

Research in Sanskrit language is also essential because students are studying through only translated syllabus books which are not sufficient for understanding the subject matter so in collaboration with Kavi Kulguru Sanskrit University, we are planning refresh courses for teachers and students of Ayurved.

Education was in Class Rooms in Schools, Medical Colleges, Online Education requiring just a Computer and an Internet Connection. Future of universities is outside convetional classroom and outside traditional campuses. Universities should create throught leaders, change agents, and globally recognizable innovations. A population of India is an asset. There is more intelligent student in India than total no students in US. Now there is need of transformation of Mass production to mass customization of student and industry model to collaborative model.

IT made available us information easy as internet facility with 3G , Broadband all information is available even in mobile  which is becoming sixth sense of students. eg. Android application of Ayurvedic Medicnal Plants. IT is providing us quick information which is available whenever we need. Answering  queries , Sending  images  of Histology, radiology CT  scans  and  MRIs.Thus IT will change current hard copy generation to digital world generation.

All the medical education knowledge content will be stored in the central repository located at the data center of national resource center with a backup facility at disaster site

Due to 3G service of communication availability of online videos eg. websites of khanacademy, youtube, websurge is good source of education which can be utilized for dissemination of knowledge.

Use of social networks like facebook, google plus, twitter can be used for teaching eg. http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/jamkarstudents/. Sending  images  of Histology, radiology,CT  scans  and  MRIs, Answering  queries ,

IT has been desolved limitations of time & distance and made possible to get relevant information anytime and anywhere. The medical teachers can take the help of their colleagues who are specialist for those topics are in the medical colleges and may be separately by continues. The knowledge and experience of a medical becomes available to a wide student audience spread. IT will help in development of syllabus through exchange; collaboration and innovation of course content to improve knowledge creation & intellectual capital.

Problems in Lack of computer literacy among most medical students & teachers, lack of cooperative behavior from management of medical colleges, non availability of addresses of important web-site addresses.

        There is need of National Medical College Telemedicine Network Architecture which will work on the basics of cloud computing. As there is diversity in standards of quality of teachers,  availability of educational tools (slide projectors, projecting microscope, still and moving digital images), books and journals, quality and type of patient materials (geographical difference in the incidences of various diseases). There is also diversity in rural, urban and semi urban patients and diversity in the quality of students because of entry and exit parameters.

Networking of medical colleges can bridge distance between student & Teacher, quality of Postgraduate education in Indian Medical colleges will be improved, and tertiary academic medical centers can provide additional inputs through networking

          Objectives of this network will be, Improving quality of medical / paramedical education and meeting the educational needs of the students despite paucity of teachers, facilitating cognitive component of learning by providing interactive teaching material online developed by a group of competent teachers at undergraduate, postgraduate and super-specialty levels, to promote psychomotor skill development through tele-mentoring, to link Medical Libraries with adequate stock of books and journals for access to all thereby reducing state expenditure on medical college libraries (Digital Library Network),to promote medical research by providing infrastructure for quick exchange of ideas and co-ordination with group of researchers involved in collaborative multicentre studies and facilitating current information access through digital library network ,online Continuing Medical Education (e CME) to enhance knowledge and teaching skill and possible Accreditation of Medical Teachers and Health Care Professionals,  implementing uniform examination pattern and evaluation. Coaching students with online and offline in MCQs ,  enhancing computer literacy among medical students and teachers, facilitating e-Health Governance , sharing of resources and establishing effective communication between the medical colleges and its faculty, providing educational material & tools to medical teachers, improving quality and reducing the cost of health care delivery by tele-consultation and tele-follow up.

          For development of road map for this network there is need to identify a National Knowedge Resource Center which will be connected with high speed fiber network with few selected apex medical institutions which in turn will be networked with medical colleges in the region and to identify of few apex medical academic institutions region wise and networking each with medical colleges in the region covering few states. We should also identify, MPLS-VPN Network backbone to provide bandwidth 10 Mbps to start with  (ultimately 1G) at Regional & 2 Mbps at medical college  nodes or as part of National Knowledge Network where ,each medical college serves as an  node to be linked with district hospitals in their perimeter.

 One lecture theatre of each medical college will be converted to digital integrated medical lecture theater providing necessary infra structure. Each resource center will have facility for multimedia education content development. All the medical education knowledge content will be stored in the central repository located at the data center of national resource center with a backup facility at disaster site.

Expected outcome from this network will support multimedia data exchange, multi-point video conference, both in interactive and video broadcast mode.  Central Repository of Medical Education Content will do live transmission of the content on day to day basis. Entire network will provide a platform for interactive distance learning and adaptive environment for medical students, teachers and health care professionals. It will also support digital library network. Ultimately Virtual Medical University can be established at National Level.

Electronic classroom is basically a mailing list of a single class in which teacher himself is the moderator. Possible usages will be reviews  of  websites  showing  contents of  undergraduate levels, answering  queries , sending  images  of Histology, radiology, CT  scans  and  MRIs. Ask the entire class of students to have an email address and make a mailing list of the entire class then send notes, images and addresses of topic related websites to the mailing list.

Possible usages of e-class will be,  connection  between students  of  different  medical  Colleges  for  sharing of  experience,  prevention  of  duplication of  effort, building a generation  of  second  professional medical  students which  is  comfortable with  online medical education, possible solution  for  shortage of  medical  teachers. For making e class more effective ask some superspecialist on the subject concerned from around the world to join. Mention some content of the web-site during the class. All handouts and forms should be given in electronic format.

Request to central council will to make Computers compulsory in every Department especially Basic and Para-Clinical Departments and promotion to cross-fertilization techniques between different streams of Knowledge

In concept of smart medical college, all faculty and students including paramedical and nursing are computer literate and have an Email address. Every Department has at least one Computer. Everybody is linked by an Electronic Classroom of the Institute through a Wi-Fi network and Cloud Computing. Management should sponsor this Project. An active team of faculty and students Panel should operate the electronic classroom jointly. Medical CDs should be available in every Department.

Telemedicine network project in Orissa has been implemented with help of Indian Space Research Organization. Doctors who are computer literate are more powerful than those who are not.

Knowledge management is a discipline that promotes a collaborative and integrated approach to the creation, capture, access and use of a health system’s information assets.  This includes database, patient records and, most importantly, the un-captured, tacit expertise and experience of individual worker IT is helping us for better knowledge management.             

Ayurveda Today Magazine Diwali Issue

 MANAGING DIABETES: AYURVEDA WAY

Dr. K. R. Kohli M.D (Ay), PhD

1. Dean

R. A. Podar Medical College & Hospital, Worli,

Mumbai- 400 018

2. Director of Ayurved, Maharashtra State

Contact: 022-4947144, 09869329777, 

Email: krkohli@rediffmail.com 

Web: www.ayurvedinstitute.com

Diabetes mellitus is one of the major killers of present times. The recent studies suggest that it is acquiring the status of an epidemic. The reasons of its fast spread in the urban as well as in the rural areas are ill understood. It is suggested that the increase in the occurrence of this disease possibly is due to changing food habits and the increased stress in the society. Use of pesticides may have some contributing factor in this particular context. Diabetes mellitus is all the more dreaded because of its complications in almost every parts or rather every cell of the body. Ayurveda recognized this disease right from the Vedic period. All the classical texts refer it to a disease known in Ayurvedic literature as Prameha which appears to have very strong co-relation and similarity to Diabetes mellitus. The name Prameha is self explanatory which means Prabhuta-mutrata (excessive urination) and Aavil-mutrata (turbid urine). Under the chapter of Prameha the causes (Hetuu) the symptoms (Purva-roopa & Roopa). The pathogenesis (Samprapti) and the treatment (Chikitsa) are astonishingly all very similar to the corresponding chapters on diabetes mellitus. From the following shloka it is evidenced that Ayurvedic physicians even three thousand years ago were aware of the extent to which all the body tissues are involved in the pathogenesis of Prameha.

“Kaphah Sapittah Pavanashcha Doshah, Medo Asra-shukrambu Vasa Lasika

Majja rasaujah Pishitam cha Dushyah Pramehinam Vimshatireva Meha.”

Madhav Ni. 33/4

A study of the ancient literature indicates that Diabetes was fairly well known and well conceived as an entity in ancient India. The aetiology, pathogenesis and the principles of management which are described in Ayurvedic classics resemble with the modern concepts almost in toto. Description of two types of Prameha from management point of view strikingly is same. Krisha Pramehi (Lean Diabetic) and Sthoola Pramehi (Obese Diabetic) are classified in Ayurveda on very similar grounds as Diabetics are classified in IDDM and NIDDM respectively. On the very similar pattern we find the classification asSahaj Prameha (Congenital) and Apathya-nimittaja Prameha (Due to overeating and wrong eating habits). The modern management of diabetes inspite of many advances still remains unsatisfactory. Drug intolerance, hypersensitivity and resistance to insulin, the danger of acute and chronic complications, the fear of hypoglycemic episodes with sulfonylureas makes it all the more important to search out safe, effective and cheaper remedies. Such remedies could be explored from the huge wealth of Ayurveda which still remains unexplored on the modern technological advances. At present, Ayurveda is enjoying a revival. There is already a swing back to the olden traditions. All the constituents of the modern society have begun to take greater interest in herbs and their utilities. In spite of the extraordinary thrust and our dependence being laid on the modern medicines, global estimate indicates that around 80% of the population cannot afford these products of Western Pharmaceutical Industry. Even in most of the nations of the Western World, there is an increasing interest in the use of herbs/plants as most of their own drugs are costly and tagged with serious side effects. The latest developments in the treatment of Diabetes Mellitus suggest that it is the average control over a longer duration which helps the diabetics in real sense. Ayuvedic physicians were well aware of the presence of hyperglycaemia in Prameha which is clear from several references which like ants getting attracted over patients urine, “Madhuryat Cha Tanoratah” meaning that sweetness is spread all over urine, patient passing urine which resembles in physical characters of Honey. Ayurvedic scholars laid more stress on correction of the whole internal environment which involves correction of deranged Dhatus and correcting the smechanism of pathogeniesi (Samprapti) involved there in rather than reducing the blood sugar levels alone.

Since thousands of years, the ancient physicians of this great nation have been successfully treating Prameha with the Ayurvedic measures and drugs. Many drugs have already been screened for their anti-diabetic property/blood sugar lowering property. The modes of management of Prameha includeVyaayam (Exercise), Pathya (dietary regulation), Panchakarma (Bio-purification procedures) and the use of therapeutic measures.

Role of Activity and Exercise:

Rigorous physical activity is advocated for Prameha patients. But while advising these activities, individuals have been catagorised according to their social status as per Chaturvarnya Vyavastha.

A poor and friendless patient should live on alms lead a life of perfect continence like an ascetic, forego use of shoes and umbrella and walk a hundred yojanas(A yojana is equal to eight miles)or more on foot without staying for more than one night at a single village. A rich man (suffering from Prameha.) should live on Shyamaka, Kapittha, Tinduka and Ashmantaka and live among the Deer. He should constantly follow the tracks of cows and take their urine (for food and drinks). A Brahmana patient should live on the grain spontaneonsly fallen from plants, constantly study the Vedas and draw chariots occupied by Brahamanas. A patient belonging to the lower orders of society (shudras) should sink wells (under such circumstances). All these references highlight the importance of exercise (body activity) in case of Prameha.

The basic principles of chikista of Prameha:

“Sthoola Pramehi Balwanhiekah, Krishas tathaikah Paridurbalash cha

Sam brimhanam tatra krishasya karyam, Samshodhanam Dosha baladhikasya.”

Charak Chikitsa 6/15

Major principle of management suggests two groups of patients, viz,

1) In obese pramehi with adequate body strength having intense increase of doshas, purification of the body is advocated depending on the dosha predominance viz. Kaphaja are advised to have emetics, Pittaja purgatives

2) Slender and weak patients are advised to have `Brimhana i.e. medications and diet which increase dhatus in the body.0iliative medications depending on the symptoms and pre-dominance of doshas are advocated and in case of weak pa-tients Charak has advised "Santarpana chikitsa".

SHAMANA (PALLIATION):

The herbal drugs used in the management of Prameha are bitter, astringent and pungent in taste. Because one has to check the extra fluidity of dhatus and, give them good strength and compactness.

The most commonly used drugs (Shortlist) are tabulated below according to Ayurveda:

Swaras: Guduchi, Amlaki (B.R.)

Churna: Ankolyadi Yoga, Katak Bijyoga (Nighantu Ratnakar)

Sphatik Churna (B.R.)

Kwath: Palash pushpa kwath, Phalatrika kwath. Vidangadi Kwath.Nyagrodhadi Kashaya.

Asava: Lodhrasav, Dantyaasav (C.S., Ci.)

Sneha: Trikantakadi tail, Simhamrit ghrit, haridradi tail dadimadhya ghrit.

Vati: Chandrakalavati, Chandraprabhavati, Shukraamritika Vati.

Bhasmas: Mandur bhasma, Loha bhasma, Nag bhasma, Vanga bhasma, Swarna makshik bhasma.

Rasayana: Panchaloha Rasayana Vasantakusumakar Rasa, Vangeshwar Rasa, Mehari Rasa, Trivang Bhasma

INDIVIDUAL DRUGS THAT HAVE BEEN SCREENED EXTENSIVELY.

1. Eugenia jambolana Jamun beej churna

2. Gymnema sylvestre Gudmar patra churna

3. Pterocarpus marsupium Vijaysar kashtha churna

3. Ficus bengalensis Nyagrodha twaka churna

4. Shilajattu (Shalsaradigan Bhavit)

5. C. Tamal Tejpatra

6. Fenugreek seeds Methika churna

7. Momordica chirantia Karvellaka

What stages one should expect Ayurvedic Medicines to be effective?

1. Newly diagnosed mild to moderate diabetic mellitus.

2. Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes.

3. Post prandial Blood sugar below 350 mgm%.

4. Obese Diabetics.

5. Uncomplicated Diabetes mellitus.

6. Those in which there is a secondary failure: in such cases Ayurvedic drugs can be combined to their regular hypoglycaemic agents.

7. Complications need to be assessed by modern means, although some good remedies are available for early nephropathies, neuropathies and retinopathies.