Abstract
Heavy metals in Ayurvedic medicines
Guest Editorial
Hygeia.J.D.Med. 2016; 9 (1):1-2
DOI:10.15254/H.J.D.Med.9.2017.14
Dr.D.SURESH KUMAR
Cymbio Pharma Pvt Ltd, Yeswanthpur, Bangalore – 560 022, India
Ayurveda is the traditional medicine of India that has been practised since ancient times. According to the modest estimates made by European scholars, it has a track record of 20 centuries. However, protagonists of the system claim that it is more ancient. Ayurveda texts give clear instructions on the type of land from which medicinal plants are to be collected. For example, Carakā Samhita states that herbs should not be collected from polluted places, burial grounds, pits, parks, ant hills and salty terrain. Similar views are expressed in Aṣṭāṅgahṛdaya and Śārṅgadhara Samhita. It is quite logical to presume that adherence to these conditions must have helped in maintaining the quality of herbs collected in those days. Manufacture of ayurvedic medicines has become an industrial activity in modern times. This has given rise to a brisk trade in medicinal herbs. Consequently, herbs are collected indiscriminately from all kinds of environment and this raises the problem of chemical contamination. ..
D. Suresh kumar. Heavy metals in ayurvedic medicines. Hygeia.J.D.Med 2016; 9(1):1-2. Available from http://www.hygeiajournal.com , DOI: 10.15254/H.J.D.Med.9.2017.14