Vanshlochan Substitution and Adulteration: Discussions on the Controversy over its Original Source

In India, about 80% of the rural population relies on herbal remedies for their basic medical needs. The increasing demand and trading of raw materials for herbal medicines often involve adulterants and substitutes. The reasons behind intentional adulteration are typically commercial and include degradation, admixture, sophistication, inferiority, spoiling, and other unidentified causes. Substitution is the use of comparable medications instead of the original ones. Similar Rasa, Guna, Virya, Vipaka, and most importantly Karma are the guiding principles for choosing alternative medicaments. The adulteration and substitution of herbal medications are currently a major issue in both the herbal business and Ayurvedic therapies. Vanshlochan or Tabasheer is one of the example, which has long been used as an anti-tussive in traditional medicine to cure a variety of illnesses. When this compound was first derived, the major constituent was silica with traces of other elements. Vanshlochan is prescribed as a bioavailability booster and offers a synergistic component to some well-known medications, including Sitopaladi, Talisadi, and Dadimashtaka in Ayurveda and other Unani formulations. To be utilized as a medication in conventional medicine, Vanshlochan needs stringent pharmaco-analytical approaches with evidence-based studies regarding its drug safety for human consumption. Therefore, it is essential to provide trustworthy procedures for the accurate identification, standardization, and quality control of Vanshlochan, Tabasheer, or Tugaksheeri

Sacred groves in conservation of plant biodiversity in Mahendergarh district of Haryana

693-700The study deals with the role of sacred groves in conservation of plant biodiversity in Mahendergarh district of Haryana. Sacred groves are oasis of plant biodiversity protecting areas. These groves in general act as repositories and nurseries for many of the medicinally and economically important plants. Among the 20 sacred groves surveyed, over 50 different plant species are reported. In the sacred groves surveyed, only a few are well protected while most are partially threatened due to anthropogenic pressure. Degradation of sacred groves not only signifies loss of species rich vegetation, but also the rich cultural heritage of the region. Considering all the dimensions of sacred groves, it is clear that these need proper conservation and protection strategies in order to save them from the verge of further degradation

Complete remission of Varicose veins through Integrated therapy w.s.r. to Jalauka avacharana: A Unique Case Report

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes and safety profile of leech therapy as a potential alternative or adjunctive treatment for varicose veins. Specifically, it examines the efficacy of leech therapy in managing varicose vein symptoms. Methods: A prospective case study was conducted with a single patient receiving treatment at the Ayurvedic Panchakarma department. The effects of leech therapy were assessed based on the patient's self-reported evaluation of varicose vein treatment over a 5-week period. Six sessions of Jalauka avacharana (Medicinal leech therapy) were administered to the patient. Results: Following the six sessions of leech therapy, the patient experienced gradual alleviation of symptoms, including reduced pain and burning sensations. Moreover, significant improvements were noted in reducing swelling, lumping, skin discoloration, tortuosity, and itching associated with varicose veins. These findings suggest the potential effectiveness of leech therapy in managing varicose vein symptoms. Conclusions: Leech therapy shows promise as a viable option for managing varicose veins, offering noticeable improvements in symptom relief and overall vascular health. Integrated therapy incorporating Ayurveda Panchakarma, naturopathy, and yogasanas may provide comprehensive support for individuals with varicose veins. Larger-scale studies are warranted to validate these preliminary outcomes and explore the long-term efficacy of integrated therapeutic approaches in varicose vein management

Impact assessment of integrated-pathy on cancer-related fatigue in cancer patients: an observational study

Abstract Background Integrated-pathy aims to integrate modern medicine with traditional systems via applying the holistic approach of Ayurveda, Yoga, and natural medicine. This is important for addressing the challenges surrounding the delivery of long-term palliative care for chronic ailments including cancer. The prime intent of this study was to substantiate the underlying hypothesis behind the differential and integrative approach having a positive impact on Quality of Life of cancer patients. Study design Cross-sectional Observational study. Methods A standardized questionnaire was developed and used, after obtaining written informed consent from patients to assess the impact of Integrated-pathy on patients (n = 103) diagnosed with cancer receiving care at Patanjali Yoggram. The research was carried out over 8 months. All participants received a uniform treatment protocol as prescribed by Patanjali. For the sample size determination and validation, α and 1-β was calculated and for the significance of the pre- and post-treatment QoL ratings, Shapiro wilk test and other descriptive statistics techniques were explored. Results A total of 103 patients seeking cancer special-healthcare were interviewed, out of which 39 (37.86%) remained finally based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria with age (25–65 years), types of cancers (Carcinoma and Sarcoma), chemotherapy/radiotherapy received or not, before opting Integrated-pathy. Follow-ups revealed a significant increase in the QoL (17.91%) after receiving the integrated therapy over a course of at least 1 month. Further, a significant reduction in cancer-related pain followed by an increase in QoL index was reported in the patients. Shapiro–wilk test revealed significant pairing (p < 0.001) with validation of the model using test. Conclusions To bolster evidence-based backing for Integrated-pathy, there is a need for clearly delineated clinical indicators that are measurable and trackable over time. Clinical investigators are encouraged to incorporate Integrated-pathy into their proposed interventions and conduct analogous studies to yield sustained advantages in the long run

An Analysis of Policy Interventions in Agriculture and ICT Based Mechanistic Approach Towards Sustainability: An Indian Perspective

The present work stressed the negative prospects of the green revolution in India because of which despite having surplus productivity, there is a shortage of approximately 39% of food in comparison to demand. The present study investigated both qualitative and quantitative data regarding the input and output of agriculture to determine the currently existing gaps. Data from Government Organizations, Surveys, Audit reports were collected and evaluated. The analysis revealed that past policy interventions have collapsed in uplifting the farmer’s income which has caught farmers into financial crisis. Under these circumstances, the farmer’s growth is a matter of concern for policymakers. To overcome the present gap, the current Government has taken several new initiatives regarding organic agriculture and exemption of farmers from mandis to benefit the farmer which is expected to be proved as a milestone in uplifting the growth of Indian agriculture system. Present study aimed to propose a digitalized mechanistic approach to bring synchronization among Government, producer and consumer. Objective of the present study is to develop a mirrored view between Government initiatives and farmers for sustainable development of agriculture and people associated with them

An Analysis of Policy Interventions in Agriculture and ICT Based Mechanistic Approach Towards Sustainability: An Indian Perspective

The present work stressed the negative prospects of the green revolution in India because of which despite having surplus productivity, there is a shortage of approximately 39% of food in comparison to demand. The present study investigated both qualitative and quantitative data regarding the input and output of agriculture to determine the currently existing gaps. Data from Government Organizations, Surveys, Audit reports were collected and evaluated. The analysis revealed that past policy interventions have collapsed in uplifting the farmer’s income which has caught farmers into financial crisis. Under these circumstances, the farmer’s growth is a matter of concern for policymakers. To overcome the present gap, the current Government has taken several new initiatives regarding organic agriculture and exemption of farmers from mandis to benefit the farmer which is expected to be proved as a milestone in uplifting the growth of Indian agriculture system. Present study aimed to propose a digitalized mechanistic approach to bring synchronization among Government, producer and consumer. Objective of the present study is to develop a mirrored view between Government initiatives and farmers for sustainable development of agriculture and people associated with them

A comprehensive analysis of the advances in Indian Digital Agricultural architecture

ICT-based interventions such as smart farming and precision agriculture are helping to improve the output of traditional agricultural systems and drive them toward sustainability. Data-driven technologies like remote sensing, smart sensors, and IoT-based devices constructed over AI/ML algorithms have become a fundamental aspect of agriculture that assists farmers with critical decision-making. This revolution is strengthening the farmers in terms of farm management by improving crop yield, pest control, soil health, etc. in real-time. We have thoroughly reviewed the digital adoption in terms of insights into the Indian agriculture sector and presented a comprehensive account of major ICT initiatives undertaken followed by a redundancy analysis as well as its influence on the sector. Unfortunately, while being a significant agrarian country, India's adoption of digital solutions is still in its infancy, as apparent from a close look at important FMIS and key components of recognized solutions used internationally. We found 28 FMIS solutions that are active globally, and have produced a list of 29 local (Indian) applications spread across 23 different agricultural sub-domains. Sadly, a majority among these were not unique and replicated similar features, besides just a few were found to be crop-specific applications. The article is unique in its approach to presenting the tale of digital penetration in the Indian agriculture sector and will be helpful to further Agri-stack vision of India