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Bridging eastern healing and western medicine

09 Dec 2021

  • Leveraging our traditional medical practices to tap into contemporary market opportunities
BY Sumudu Chamara Sri Lanka’s Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine sectors are gearing up to develop and promote the two fields with a focus on catering to the demands of the modern healthcare, tourism, and trade sectors. While plans including those concerning laws and policies are being devised to achieve these objectives, the Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine authorities have already commenced several initiatives with the support of the authorities of other sectors.  At a time when the country is facing a massive challenge to earn foreign exchange and revive the tourism sector, the authorities have also paid attention to making Ayurvedic and indigenous medicinal services and products a major part of the tourism sector, and thereby boost the economy around such interests. The state of and plans for the country’s Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine sectors were revealed at a discussion held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) yesterday (9), which was attended by Indigenous Medicine Promotion, Rural and Ayurvedic Hospitals Development, and Community Health State Ministry Secretary Kumari Weerasekara; Ayurveda Commissioner Prof. M.D.J. Abeygunawardena; and Ayurveda Community Health Medical Officer Dr. Udara Athapaththu. Developing Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine According to Prof. Abeygunawardena, the authorities have already paid attention to developing the spiritual health aspect of Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine as part of wellness tourism in Sri Lanka, as they have identified the importance of going beyond mere treatment, and also because Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine is a way to earn foreign exchange.  Adding that plants play an essential part in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine, he also noted that attention has been paid to fulfilling such requirements through locally grown medicinal plants. He noted that in order to achieve that, it is crucial to focus more on growing medicinal plants in the country and exporting them while reducing imports. Prof. Abeygunawardena also emphasised that limiting the importation of such plants and exporting them would be a massive contribution to the economy, and that the authorities are planning to take the initiative to do so with a proper plan. It was also stated during the discussion that at present, Sri Lanka is importing certain medicinal plants which can be grown in Sri Lanka, because Sri Lanka currently does not adequately grow those plants to fulfil the demands of the Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine sectors. According to those who spoke, a certain lack of planning has led to the above-mentioned situation, and projects aimed at growing medicinal plants in the country coming to an abrupt halt is caused by, among other reasons, commencing projects before creating a suitable legal background to assist them. They also said that plans are being made to train farmers about post-harvest technology and farming, while in addition, buy-back guarantees are also being discussed. As temporary measures to support farmers, certain state institutions have been instructed to buy the harvest only from local farmers without giving priority to imported products, and that discussions with businessmen are underway to get more businesses to enter into agreements with local farmers to buy products from the latter. In addition, speaking on the present state of the Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine sectors, Weerasekara noted that even though the Indigenous Medicine Promotion, Rural and Ayurvedic Hospitals Development, and Community Health State Ministry receives a small amount of funds compared to other ministries, it has been possible to manage its work with the available funding. The discussion also focused on the future of Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine, i.e. whether it should remain as sectors divorced from western medicine, or progress along with western medicine. In this regard, Prof. Abeygunawardena stressed that what is more important is using the knowledge of these diverse sectors to serve the people, in a way that the people get the most out of the application of this knowledge. He added that the benefits this knowledge can deliver depend on the people’s attitudes, which in turn are predicated upon education and educational structures. He said: “Most of the time, a child who studied science tends to think within the science he/she has studied. But, Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine works within a philosophy, and due to that reason, certain things that come under those may be difficult to be explained within established scientific methods. However, if we look at the core values and knowledge, we can give the people a better service despite the differences between the two sectors. However, academics representing modern science can be seen trying to explain to the people, elements of Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine, and within the last decade or so, there was a tendency to bring people and Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine closer. As a result, the people now have more knowledge about it. However, the result should be the wellbeing of the people.” The positive results of western medicine and Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine working together, according to Prof. Abeygunawardena, has been observed during the Covid-19 pandemic. He added: “When we dedicated our hospital system for Covid-19 infected persons, experts in western medicine extended their support to our endeavours, and we were able to manage the situation very well. Under their guidance, we focused on dealing with complications that arise during and after the infection. This combined approach can help us achieve greater results than working separately, and it is the people who will get its benefit.” Another concern that was pointed out and discussed during the discussion was the people not being informed about the work done by the Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine sectors despite these sectors having provided a great deal of exemplary service to the country.  Prof. Abeygunawardena stressed that despite their service, the voice of the two sectors is not being heard adequately, and that the media have a huge role to play in this connection. “The lack of media coverage is an issue when introducing these medicinal practices to the people,” he expressed, adding that there is a greater need for more assistance to give the people the message about this work and thereby expand the services given to the people. Meanwhile, with regard to gauging the progress and achievements of the Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine sectors, Weerasekara noted that employing common health indicators to evaluate both western medicine and Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine collectively is concerning. She explained: “The indicators that gauge the results of the health sector are common, and include both western medicine and Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine. We have not been able to, or have not attempted to, separate this practice in order to identify the contribution provided by Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine. This contribution not getting adequate attention is one of the issues these sectors are facing due to this situation.” Meanwhile, responding to a question about quacks who got famous especially during the Covid-19 period, Prof. Abeygunawardena stated that the authorities have taken, and are taking, steps to manage such situations as and when such cases are being reported.  Cannabis The discussion also paid attention to the ongoing discourse on cannabis sativa cultivation as a commercial crop to be exported, which is a matter even lawmakers have discussed recently. In a context where the commercial aspect of this matter has been discussed before, those who attended the discussion explained the importance of cannabis sativa as a staple ingredient in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine. Prof. Abeygunawardena emphasised that cannabis sativa is not a new ingredient in indigenous medicine, noting that it is widely used to manufacture valuable medicines. He added: “We are allowed to use cannabis sativa for medicinal purposes under the provisions of the Ayurveda Act No. 31 of 1961, and these provisions stipulate how cannabis sativa can be used. Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine sectors and authorities, the State Ministry, or the Ayurveda Department have no authority to issue it for other purposes, but only for medicinal purposes. According to the law, cannabis sativa cultivation is also illegal. It is allowed within the existing legal provisions only for medicinal purposes, and at present, it is taking place. There has been no clash between the present discourse on farming cannabis sativa for exports or for commercial purposes and the discussion on using it in indigenous medicine.” In response to a question whether Sri Lanka has identified, or is trying to identify, the chemical components of cannabis sativa, in order for it to be grown as an export crop, he added: “In indigenous medicine, we use it only in its rawest form, which is known as amu oushada and do not extract chemical components to be used for medicinal purposes as western medicine does. In fact, to get only the chemical components of cannabis sativa, we don’t have to cultivate cannabis sativa. We can produce it in a lab. As far as regulating the cultivation and the use of cannabis sativa are concerned, it requires an in-depth discourse. In my role, I cannot give a direct answer regarding its commercial and export use. As the Ayurveda Commissioner, I can only talk about the manufacture of medicines using cannabis sativa, which we can do under the provisions of the said Act. However, we do it in a controlled manner. In our field, cannabis sativa can only be issued with the knowledge of the Ayurveda Department.” Prof. Abeygunawardena also noted that after the preparation of cannabis sativa to be used for medicinal purposes, the chemical components required for recreational purposes are no longer effective, and that it is not possible to think that that can be misused. He also noted that cannabis sativa used for medicinal purposes are usually obtained from courts when cannabis sativa gets seized during law enforcement raids, and that for this purpose, Sri Lanka does not import cannabis sativa.  Speaking further, he also revealed that Sri Lanka mainly uses the species known as cannabis sativa, and only a certain part of the plant. With regard to the plans to export cannabis, he added that steps are being taken to bring regulations in order to prevent the misuse of Ayurvedic or indigenous medicines that contain cannabis sativa. He also noted that the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) too has a responsibility as far as the sale of certain cannabis sativa-based products, especially medicines, in the market, are concerned. “We regulate sellers that sell Ayurvedic or indigenous medicines, and a lot of steps need to be taken to strengthen that regulation process,” Prof. Abeygunawardena noted. “Currently, growing, possession, and the sale of cannabis sativa are illegal unless for medicinal purposes; however, the applicable laws also need to be strengthened further. Laws are needed if we focus on exporting cannabis, and which authority should take the initiative for these legal changes needs to be further discussed,” he added. Spas The discussion also focused on spas that are spreading in the country, in a lot of cases under the guise of Ayurvedic or indigenous massage centres, to which Prof. Abeygunawardena said that even though the Department keeps taking actions within the powers it has been vested with in accordance with the law, there needs to be more legal provisions.  He explained: “How they are being regulated, and how they have contributed to medical purposes, are being assessed. The Department is tasked with regulating them. In fact, the places that are known as spas don’t come under our purview. However, maintaining such institutions under the guise of places that conduct Ayurvedic and indigenous medicinal practices comes under our purview. With regard to spas that don’t specify such, there is an unclear situation. The matter is being discussed, and it seems that they don’t belong to any field that comes under the existing law. Earlier, there were places that performed panchakarma (a method of cleansing the body of unwanted waste after lubricating it) treatment. However, as regulation of such was started, other forms of such places came into existence.” He added that such places, however, have to be at least registered as a business under the state institutions that regulate and monitor businesses. Explaining the legal action taken against such spas, Prof. Abeygunawardena further said: “We are looking into such places, and we monitor them. If they use the word Ayurveda, within the existing legal provisions in our Act, we can take action against them under the Act, or civil or criminal laws. As part of legal action, if illegal acts are committed in a registered institution, we can either revoke their permit permanently or temporarily, or impose restrictions.” To promote and regulate qualified Ayurveda or indigenous medicine-related therapy centres, according to Prof. Abeygunawardena, the Department is currently working together with the Tourism Ministry.  “We are planning to make such therapy a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)-identified field, and produce skilled therapists, in order to cater to the demands of the tourism sector and also foreign demands. This could be a good opportunity for school dropouts who don’t have high education qualifications by the time they leave school, and in a context where Sri Lanka produces around 300 indigenous doctors a year, we can direct them to engage in wellness tourism.” The discussion predominantly focused on Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine; however, a lot of matters that were discussed, if proper attention was paid, could also support Sri Lanka’s economy. While the market for cannabis sativa-related products is on the rise, promoting Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine can also play a considerable role in reviving the tourism sector. 


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