Dont commercialise Ayurveda

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ashtavaidyan Vaidya Madom Cheriya Narayanan Namboodiri called upon the ayurvedic community to be alert against the dilution of the great science of ayurveda. He was speaking at the inaugural function of the Global Ayurveda Festival, organised by the Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA) and the State Government in collaboration with the ayurveda   fraternity.  “There is no science as integrated, as wholesome as ayurveda. It is not merely the science of medicinal plants, but that of personalised medicine. However, I am distraught at the way this magnificent science of life is being commercialised,” he said.  Talking about how CMC Vellore had approached him for the treatment of over 150 terminally-ill cancer-afflicted patients, Vaidya Madom Cheriya Narayanan Namboodiri said that his role was as minimal as that of a pencil or a pen.“The role of a vaidyan is to understand the disease and give treatment for the problems. But we can treat only those diseases that can be treated. The lifespan is not for us to decide,” he said. Earlier inaugurating the festival Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said that ayurveda should be taken to countries such as the Caribbeans where it was welcome. “In America and other western countries the pharmaceutical giants and multinational corporations will try their best to prevent the entry of ayurveda to that hemisphere, but there are a lot of countries which are looking positively at ayurveda,” he said.  Vayalar Ravi suggested that Ayush should have a relook at ayurveda without letting it get entangled in red tapism.  The inaugural meeting was presided over by Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan.   The Ayurveda Acharyas of the state including Padmabhooshan P K Warrier, Padmabhooshan E T Narayanan Mooss and Ashtavaidyan Vaidya Madom Cheriya Narayanan Namboodiri were honoured at the function.