Ayurveda fest offers a window to indigenous medical systems
05-Dec-23 04:36:54
Thiruvananthapuram: A pavilion of the union ministry of Ayush at the ongoing Global Ayurveda Fest (GAF) is giving insights into a range of indigenous systems by putting up clinics for Siddha, Unani, Homeopathy, Yoga, Naturopathy and Sowa-Rigpa, besides Ayurveda.
The Arogya Fair marquee houses a wealth of details about indigenous medicines available in the country.
“We have a variety of indigenous wellness systems, about which the visitor will get a clear and concise idea,” says Dr Dhanaraj Kumar Rana, nodal officer with the ministry of Ayush.
By displaying crisp notes, along with videos, charts and models, the informative content at the pavilion is wooing visitors. Among them, students of medicine especially, are rating high the knowledge value of the tips on ideal everyday life, health habits and mental well-being.
Another speciality of the Ayush pavilion is the exhibition of rare books and PhD theses on new-age studies in indigenous medicines. “These works are of public interest as much as they are for the academic circles, ” Dr Rana points out.
An array of rare medicinal plants is also awaiting those who visit the festival at Kariyavattam Greenfield Stadium. Visitors can familiarise themselves with these medicinal plants and buy them at affordable rates.
More than 50 species of medicinal plants are available at the stall of the botany department of the Kerala University. They include nelly, ashwagandha, kurunthotti, keezharnelli, brahmi, chitamrita, turmeric, aloe vera, arya veppu, asparagus, ginger, castor, tulsi, karinochi, atalotakam and dashapushpa.
A modern herb garden and seed bank are functioning under the Department of Botany, University of Kerala. Students grow and conserve rare medicinal plants as part of a project under the Department of Ayush with the financial support of the State Medicinal Plants Board. An exhibition of over 100 rice seed varieties cultivated in the Kerala University seed centre is also part of the GAF.
SOURCE & CREDIT: TIMES OF INDIA