Teaching reforms required for Ayurveda

This article concerns the 20th century saga of Ayurvedic Education up to the current situation, based on a general appreciation of knowledge in Ayurveda. In this light, it considers how to improve quality of teaching and teachers. This is most important, because in education, teachers are the custodians of tradition and knowledge. As those most responsible for maintaining or restoring quality, teachers have very important roles to play. The article also treats ‘learning and teaching’: who should learn Ayurveda, and how to teach Ayurveda so that it continues from generation to generation, leading to the final area of onsideration, reforms in teaching Ayurveda, and future prospects

Intra-aortic balloon pump use does not affect the renal function in patients undergoing off pump coronary artery bypass surgery

Renal dysfunction is known to occur during cardiac surgery. A few factors such as perioperative hypotension, use of potential nephrotoxic therapeutic agents, radio opaque contrast media in the recent past, intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and cardiopulmonary bypass have been blamed as the contributing factors to the causation of postoperative renal dysfunction in cardiac surgical patients. At times, in patients with renal failure and low cardiac output status, one may face the dilemma if the use of IABP is safe. We undertook this prospective observational study to determine the degree of possible renal injury when IABP is used by measuring serial values of serum creatinine and Cystatin C. Elective patients scheduled for off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery requiring preoperative use of IABP were included in this study. Cystatin C and serum creatinine levels were checked at fixed intervals after institution of IABP. Twenty-two patients were eligible for enrolment to the study. There was no significant change in the values of serum creatinine; from the basal value of 1.10 &#177; 0.233 to 0.98 &#177; 0.363 mg /dL (<i>P</i> value &gt;0.05). Cystatin C levels significantly decreased from the basal level of 0.98 &#177; 0.29 to 0.89 &#177; 0.23 (<i>P</i> value &lt;0.05). Contrary to the belief, Cystatin C, the early indicator of renal dysfunction decreases suggesting absence of renal injury after the use of IABP. Absence of elevation of cystatin C levels in our study suggests the lack of potential of the IABP to cause renal dysfunction in patients who received elective IABP therapy preoperatively

Terminalia chebula Retz. – an important medicinal plant

Ayurveda, whispered to be the ancient practice of healthcare existed and contributes a holistic approach to health, healing and longevity. Terminalia chebula Retz. is a popular plant and widely spread all over southern Asia. T. chebula is a native plant of India and its dried fruit is extensively used in various types of home remedies. Dried fruit of T. chebula contains high quantities phenolic compounds that consist of ellagic acid, gallic acid and chebulic acid. The fruit extract of T. chebula is known to display different biological properties like anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-protozoal, antimicrobial, hepato and renal protective activities, and in the management of metabolic syndrome. The phenolic active compounds might play vital role in the influence of biological activity. Fruit extract of T. chebula is widely employed as an important ingredient in various ayurvedic preparations like ‘Triphala’. This formulation is beneficial as detoxifying agent of the colon, purgative in chronic constipation, aids in digestion and as a body rejuvenator. The fruit has great medicinal significance and conventionally applied for the management of various illness conditions, such as sore throat, high cough, asthma, ulcers, gout, heart burn, vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, bleeding piles and bladder diseases. It is also utilized as mild laxative, antispasmodic and stomachic. Because of these enormous medicinal properties, T. chebula is commonly termed as ‘King of Medicine’ in Tibet and can be called as a ‘wonder herb’. In the present review, recent advances in medicinal properties of T. chebula are discussed