Ayurveda known to have cured HIV, TB: President Pranab Mukherjee

CHANDIGARH: Urging to dismiss notion of Ayurveda as an "unproven" discipline, President Pranab Mukherjee today said the centuries-old knowledge system is believed to have treated diseases that resembled HIV and tuberculosis in ancient times and needs to be demystified and popularised.

Speaking at the 58th session of the All India Ayurvedic Congress here, Mukherjee said for too long Ayurveda has been dismissed as an "unproven" discipline and he would like to see Ayurvedic medicine being demystified and popularised through informative marketing and user-friendly packaging.

The President said he would like to see the day when we have mobile clinics delivering Ayurvedic treatment and medicine through the villages in all parts of India and that he would particularly like to encourage the youth of India to study, safeguard, practice and propagate this ancient knowledge system.

"It is believed that centuries ago, the medicinal systems of Ayurveda and Siddha had laid down protocols for successfully treating diseases that resembled the diseases that we know today as HIV and tuberculosis. If these remedies could be researched and the findings pursued, they could bring new hope to millions and revolutionise modern medicine," Mukherjee said.

To achieve this, there should be greater collaboration between ayurvedic and allopathic researchers to widen the database of treatment protocols and successful medical practices for the benefit of our people, he said.

"It would also be appropriate to establish channels of direct connectivity between Ayurvedic laboratories and drug manufacturers. Some modern hospitals are additionally offering Ayurveda in the name of integrative medicine. I would definitely encourage hospitals all over India to add the facility and service of Ayurvedic treatment in whichever way they can," he said.