Center to Study Indian Systems of Medicine to be Created at Natural Products Center

Watch video of CRISM ceremony.

OXFORD,
Miss. – In a historic uniting of the ancient East and the modern West,
the University of Mississippi has formally agreed with the Government
of India to establish a research center for the study of Indian Systems
of Medicine.

S. Jalaja, secretary of the Department of Ayurveda,
Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy, or AYUSH, in
India’s Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, inaugurated the center
Monday at the opening of the eighth annual Oxford International
Conference on the Science of Botanicals. The event, which runs through
Thursday at the Oxford Conference Center, is hosted by the university’s
National Center for Natural Products Research.

“The Indian
Systems of Medicine and the industry today are faced with the need for
validation of both the system and products on scientific lines,” Ms.
Jalaja said. “By initiating the creation of the Center for Research on
Indian Systems of Medicine, the Department of AYUSH hopes to meet
global concerns on the safety, efficacy and quality of ISM products.”


Indian Systems of Medicine refers to a number of traditional natural and herbal remedies which have been in use for more than 3,000 years. While the use of these practices continues to grow exponentially, to date few properly designed trials have been conducted to scientifically examine the clinical potential of Ayurvedic and other medications.

The Center for Research in Indian Systems of Medicine , or CRISM , has been seven years in the making. It is to be housed in NCNPR under the directorship of Ikhlas Khan, director of the university’s FDA Center of Excellence. A memorandum of understanding between AYUSH and UM was signed to ensure cooperation in the field of development of Ayurveda-Siddha-Unani herbal and botanical products of global standards. The Indian government is supplying funds for the center and UM is providing technical support and space, Jalaja added.

S.K. Sharma, adviser of Ayurveda in India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, discusses advances in quality standards of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medicines during the eighth annual Oxford International Conference on the Science of Botanicals. UM photo by Kevin Bain.

S.K. Sharma, adviser of Ayurveda in India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, discusses advances in quality standards of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medicines during the eighth annual Oxford International Conference on the Science of Botanicals. UM photo by Kevin Bain.

“The primary mission of CRISM would be to facilitate scientific validation of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani medicines through collaborative research,” said Larry Walker, NCNPR director. “This center will also provide an outlet for dissemination of information and awareness of these ancient Indian systems in the United States and beyond.”

More than 250 scientists from around the world have gathered together for the annual botanicals conference. The purpose of the conference is to review, discuss and explore methods for determining the identity, purity, quality and processing of medicinal plants.

Madame Jalaja was accompanied by G.N. Qazi, vice chancellor of Hamdard University; S.K. Sharma, Ayruveda adviser; and Mohammed Khalid Siddiqui, director of the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine. A mirror of CRISM has been established at the Indian Institute for Integrative Medicine in the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Jammu for coordinating the activities of the center.

“It is expected that this center would lead to world-class research, as well as the development, promotion and scientific acceptance of Indian systems of medicine and its products,” Qazi said. “By facilitating a dialogue between the scientific community and regulatory bodies of the two countries, Indian medicine may achieve market authorization in the United States.”

“We thought that it would be a very good idea if the East and West could collaborate and come up with some good products in support of all humanity,” Ms. Jalaja said. “Once they are tested and validated here, the pharmaceutical industry can market them everywhere.”

Following a traditional Indian medicine ceremony, members of the delegation also shared information on AYUSH-Indian perspective and policy support of the Government of India.

For more information on the conference, go to http://www.oxfordicsb.org/ . For more information on research at NCNPR, go to http://www/pharmacy.olemiss.edu/ncnpr/ . For more information on AYUSH, go to http://wwindianmedicine.nic.in/ . For more information on CRISM, go to http://www.jammu.com/crism/ .