The setting up of the independent Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) has proved to be a boost for Siddha medicine and research, with as many as 21 research projects currently under way at five centres of the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), Ministry of AYUSH, including Puducherry.
On Wednesday, R.S. Ramaswamy, Director-General, CCRS, inaugurated a fully-computerised biochemical auto analyser procured at a cost of Rs. 28 lakh at the clinical pathology laboratory in the Siddha Regional Research Institute in Puducherry.
The auto analyser facilitates investigation of various blood parameters such as sugar, urea, cholesterol, proteins and liver markers with a single blood sample. With this advanced equipment, 135 patient samples can be analysed at the same time, and 400 tests can be performed in an hour, said a release from the institute. The time required for testing will be shorter, and probable test errors can also be prevented, it said. Tests will be done free for research cases, senior citizens, and for those below poverty line. For others, a concessional rate will be charged.
The Ministry of AYUSH had recently organised an AYUSH health Ministers’ conference, with representatives from different States such as Karnataka and Goa evincing interest in setting up Siddha centres. At present, Siddha medicine is strong in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala, and the Ministry is keen on expanding to other places, said Dr. Ramaswamy. He explained the functions of the CCRS in areas such as drug research, clinical research and formulations. Much progress had been made in diabetes research with their product, the D5 choornam, for which studies had been carried out in Chennai, Puducherry and Palayamkottai. His team is also looking at applying for patents for their medicines. Siddha medicine is being used for the treatment of many conditions including osteoarthritis, uterine fibroids and infertility.
“We have to create more awareness of Siddha medicine, which is a native system of medicine. This is our traditional knowledge, we must not lose it. There is good scope for growth in Siddha research,” Dr. Ramaswamy said, adding that the creation of an independent Ministry had created lot of posts.
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