Ayush Min moots herbal remedy to manage haemophilia

Saturday, 25 November 2017 | Archana Jyoti | New Delhi

Can herbal medicine improve the quality of life of patients with genetic bleeding disorders? Seeking an answer, the Union Ayush Ministry, for the first time, is set to assess the safety and potential benefits of alternative traditional medicine interventions in the context of haemophilia care.

Dr Pradeep Kumar Dua, research officer with the Ministry said that a definitive cure of haemophilia as of now till date is Factor only.

"But at the same time, it has been noticed the patients of the genetic bleeding disorder suffer from many disabilities and many other complications which can be very well taken care with the help of Ayush intervention and certain alternate medicine along with suitable diet and modification of lifestyle."

For instance, the patients of haemophilia have tendency of joint problems, overweight, osteoporosis and a few other medical problems. In this context, amla (gooseberry) can be a herbal remedy as we all know that it is good for calcium absorption and rich source of Vitamin C that helps improve blood, said Dua at an event to commemorate Founder's Day of the Haemophilia Federation, India (HFI) here on Friday.

The Ministry's move to harness the power of medicinal plants and certain other natural ingredients to manage the bleeding disorder came following representation from the HFI, a voluntary organisation having a large network of chapters across the country. 

Dua said, "We may conduct ayush-based researches in the medical health facilities where haemophilic patients are being treated to study the effectiveness of the herbal medicine therapies."

It is to be seen if herbal intervention may help the patients manage the disorder better, HFI President, Vikash Goyal said, adding that there more than one lakh patients but just 19,000 are registered. "We need to reach out to them and adopt holistic approaches like early intervention and detection to lessen their agony," he added.

SS Roychaudhary, CEO of HFI, spoke about how with the help of the World Federation of Haemophilia, the patients in the country have been provided one million units of Factors in the last three years, saving the national exchequer of about billions of rupees while Mukesh Garodia, vice-president (Development), HFI, called for more treatment centres in every districts to cover beneficiaries whose number is all to increase in view of increasing awareness about the disorder.

Sanjay Kant Prasad, Deputy Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities spoke in detail about the Persons with Disabilities Act passed last December which has expanded its ambit from the seven disabilities to 21 disabilities including the bleeding disorder like haemophilia. He suggested that since hemophilia has not been given disability benchmark status, the sector can approach funds from the National Fund for treatment.

Dr GN Singh, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) said that it is high time that rare diseases and blood disorders are given adequate focus. More research work is needed. He also assured the sector of ensuring quality drugs so that patient's life is not compromised.

Source: Ayush Min moots herbal remedy to manage haemophilia