Expert interview of Dr. M.J. Prabhu, Senior Medicinal Plants Consultant, Karnataka State Medicinal Plants Authority (KAMPA)

The UN's Biological Diversity Day is coming ... on 22.05.2025. What does Biodiversity mean to the common man / woman? Well traditional medicine school of thought is one realm that comes to mind when we think of Biodiversity. Digital Discourse Foundation caught up with an expert - an Ayurvedic practioner and senior scientist / consultant at the Karnataka Medicinal Plants Conservation Area in Bangalore, India to get a deeper insight into traditional medicines. 

Email interview of Dr. M.J. Prabhu, Senior Medicinal Plants Consultant, Karnataka State Medicinal Plants Authority (KAMPA)

 

Karnataka State Medicinal Plants Authority (KAMPA)

Room No. 409, 4th Floor, 'Vanavikas',

18th Cross, Malleshwaram,

Bangalore-560 003.

 

Malini Shankar of Digital Discourse Foundation (DDF) in Bangalore engaged with Dr. M.J. Prabhu, Senior Medicinal Plants Consultant, Karnataka State Medicinal Plants Authority (KAMPA) for an insightful, expert interview on traditional medicines and Ayurveda for Biodiversity Day that is marked on 22th May every year by the UN.

 

1. DDF: Please tell us if indeed chronic diseases like Diabetes, Hypertension, cholesterol, arthritis, Asthma, joint pains, early stages of Cancer, Epilepsy, obesity, PCOD, gastro-intestinal disorders, Herpes Zoster etc can be reversed with traditional medicines / native nutrition and nutraceuticals.

 

Lifestyle diseases, also known as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, PCOD, mental health issues etc are  illnesses primarily caused by changed daily habits and choices, rather than being transmitted by infections. These diseases are increasingly prevalent due to changes in lifestyle, including dietary habits, physical activity, and even excessive technology use. There is very limited scope in modern system, whereas AYUSH system gives more emphasis to prevention of disease than curative aspect.

 

“Swasthasya swasthya rakshanam aturasya vikar prashamanshchya.”

To maintain the good health of healthy individual and to treat diseased person is the main principle of Ayurveda.

 

Dinacharya – Daily regimen, Ritucharya – Seasonal regimen  addresses prevention of lifestyle diseases. 

 

Treatment for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, PCOD, mental health issues etc have been mentioned in the classical texts.

 

Allopathy system has limited answer for Herpes Zoster are such viral diseases. Even now 80% of the viral diseases are being treated by indigenous systems of medicine and are found effective.

 

Ayurveda nutraceuticals is the area which has been neglected. It is the traditional approach to health and disease prevention that uses plant-based ingredients, often in the form of herbal preparations or dietary supplements, to enhance well-being and treat various ailments. These nutraceuticals are derived from various plant sources and are used in Ayurveda to promote health and prevent disease. 

 Ayurveda gives more preference to diet ;

पथ्ये सति गदार्तस्य किमौषधनिषेवणैः ।
पथ्येऽसति गदार्तस्य किमौषधनिषेवणैः ॥

It means “When someone suffering from a disease follows a proper diet, then what is the use of taking medicine? [And] When someone suffering from a disease does not follow a proper diet, then what is the use of taking medicine?”

 

As per Ayurveda Food, Sleep and Celibacy are the three pillers of life. Physical and mental status depends upon what we eat. Pathya aahara is such a food which has beneficial effect over the body and mind. 

 

Hence, Asta Ahara Vidhi has been mentioned in ayurveda. They are;

1.      Nature of food (Prakriti)

2.      Method of processiing (Karana/Samskara)

3.      Combination of food substances (Samyoga)

4.      Quantity of food (Rashi)

5.      Place of oriigin (Desha)

6.      Time of intake of food, season (Kala)

7.      Rules of taking food (Upayoga Samstha)

8.      The person who consumes the food (Uyokta) 

 

Like this there is a detiled diet description available for each individual as well as each disease.

2. DDF: What are the chronic ailments you treat with Ayurveda?

 Joint pain, back ache, varicose vein, piles, diabetes, obesity, gastritis, skin diseases, asthma etc.

 

3. DDF: What are the kind of diseases / disorders that can be treated with traditional medicines and nutraceuticals?

Yes, Ayurvedic texts, particularly Madhava Nidana, Madhava Nidana, have compiled and described a significant number of diseases, exceeding 200. Furthermore, classical Ayurvedic texts like Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Astanga Hridaya, and Astanga Sangraha have detailed various diseases, with Madhava Nidana, a comprehensive text on diagnosis, collecting descriptions from other classical works. Madhava Nidana, for example, mentions 85 diseases in its 69 chapters. In addition to disease descriptions,

 There is one more classification that is: Samanya Vyadi – caused due to vitiation of doshas. A total of 253 vyadhis have been described. Nanatmaja Vyadi – caused due to injury or trauma. 140 diseases.

Like this there are different types of diseases have been dealt in classical text starting from Eitioogy, pathogenesis, pathology, signs and symptoms. Different kinds of  treatment for individual disease is also mentioned in classical texts.

Diagnosis and treatment should be done as per ayurveda then only we can expect positive result.  Treatment protocol is unique to each invidual.

Ayurvedic Nutrition: Food as Medicine

In Ayurveda, food is considered mahabhaisajya, the most superior medicine. This is true for both prevention of disease and disease management. Food is poornabrahma, which satiates the mind, body, and spirit. An important mechanism encompassed within Ayurveda is epigenetics, whereby gene expressions can be upregulated or downregulated as needed to restore balance through proper management of diet, digestion, lifestyle, behavior, stress, and environmental factors. This, in turn, can have a transgenerational impact.

 

4. DDF: Do neutraceuticals help in treating diabetic complications like neuropathy or will it help mitigate drug resistance too?

         In Ayurveda 20 types of pramha ( Urinary infections) have been dealt. This diabetes is  compared     to Madhu meha  one among vataja prameha. It is  said that prameha is yapya roga               (managable/pallative disease). It cannt be cured, but controlled by food and medicine.                        Etiology,pathgenesis, poorva roopa, roopa, prognosis (sadhya-asadhyata), complications, treatment etc         are described in detal.  Complete diet for diabetes is available in classical txts. Wholesome Grains,         vegetables, legumes, seeds, milk products, animal products, fruits, oils, etc have been mentioned             along with restrictions. Importance of Vyayama – exercise, stress management told in traditional     medicine. Different stages of madhu meha is mentioned, the complications can not be reversed     completely but quality of life can be improved with Ayurveda neutraceuticals. By following Ayurveda diet and medicine one can reduce reduce medicine dosage gradually. If somone develops resistence towards medicine there are multiple options in ayurveda.

 

 DDF: In combination with yoga and walking will native nutrition and nutraceuticals help in reversing such chronic conditions (special reference to Diabetes and hypertension)?

 

Yoga is a holistic practice that combines physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation to promote both physical and mental well-being. Regular yoga practice can improve flexibility, strength, balance, and posture, while also reducing stress, improving mood, and enhancing mental clarity. Both Yoga and native neutraceuticals are close to nature. Nature can indeed be a powerful source of healing. We should lead a sustainable, nature friendly and close to mother earth for reversing chronic conditions.

 

6. DDF: Is it true that fenugreek sprouts can effectively reverse the side effects of steroids’ administration?

Fenugreek, particularly its steroid saponin extracts, may help mitigate some complications associated with steroid use, such as those affecting muscle, cardiac, and skeletal health. Fenugreek extracts have been shown to potentially increase testosterone levels and reduce certain biomarkers associated with anabolic activity. Additionally, fenugreek may offer some protection against the toxic effects of anabolic steroids on cardiac and skeletal muscles. 

 

Poision can be judiciously used as medicine similarly nectar can become poisoin if it is not administered correctly. So, everything on earth has medicinal value.

 

 

7. DDF: Does Ayurveda / traditional medicine help mental health conditions like bi-polar disorder or schizophrenia or Clinical depression, Alzheimer’s Dementia etc?

 

Yes, manasika vyadhis (Psychiatric conditions)  are been described in Ayurveda. There are specialized ayurvedda vaidyas treating Manasika rogas. Bi-polar disorder shows as that of tridoshaja Unmada, Schizorphrenia is compared with Vatika Unmada and Alzheimer’s dementia wherein patient suffers from memory loss. All these conditions and treatment aspects are dealt in Ayurveda. There are many patients who have benefited from traditional medicine.  Ayurveda vaidyas are not good at documentation hence, we have failed in proving our own science as evidence based medicine.

 

8. DDF: I recall one claim that traditional medicines and neutraceuticals can help reverse HIV / AIDS. How true is this claim?

Yes, there are many Vaidyas who claim they cure HIV to cancer or diabetes. There are many quaks practicing different systems of medicine. They fool people by such claims.

Ayurveda medicines and traditional nutraceuticals can improve the quality of living by improving immunity, physical strength, adapt to physical and mental stress and anxiety. Qualified ayurveda Vaidyas do not claim to cure HIV or Cancer or such chronic diseases.

 

9. DDF: Are there any Ayurvedic vaccinations?

Many traditional practices have proven to improve immunity. For example Swarna vacha or Swarna prashana being practiced by many Ayurveda vaidyas. In our text it is told that vacha suvarna improves immune system, brain development, increases intelligence and memory. It is part of preventive aspect of Ayurveda.

 

Another example of traditional vaccination is to Saptaparna bark juice on Ashada Amavasya in Dakhina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka. It is said to build immunity against malaria and other diseases occurs during varsha ritu.

           

There are many such practices in our tradition which improves immunity and prevent infective diseases. All our traditional practices are very much capable of preventing lifestyle disorders. We have no respect for our culture and our tradition hence, day by day we are loosing our traditional knowledge and invited many lifestyle disorders.

   

10. DDF: Ayurvedic veterinary medicine? Any scope and hope for that?

Pashu ayurveda is a branch of Ayurveda dealing with preventing and treating animal diseases.

•       Ashwayurveda – treatise on treatment of Horse is written by the sage SHALIHOTRA.

•      Hasti Ayurveda or Gajayurveda - treatise on treatment of elephant is written by the sage PALAKAPYA.

•      Gava ayurveda - - treatise on treatment of elephant is written by the SAHADEVA of Mahabharatha.

There are many folk healers practice veterinary medicine through out our country. It is very important to conserve such oral tradition as well as written classical texts.

Many pharma companies are manufacturing herbal veterinary medicines for dogs, cats, cow, buffalo, poultry, fisheries etc. Now people are looking for alternate for antibiotics because of too much of antibiotic residues in the animal product and developing resistance for antimicrobials. Pashu Ayurveda has lot of scope in coming days.