Question : AYURVEDIC MEDICINES CRITICIZED BY AIIMS



(a) whether Government are aware that AIIMS has made a study recently questioning the efficacy of Ayurvedic Medicines;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the reasons therefor?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI SHATRUGHAN SINHA)

(a) to (c) The AIIMS study has not questioned the efficacy of Ayurvedic Medicines. The study has only drawn the attention to the misuse of corticosteroids mixed in alternative system of medicine by quacks and to the existence of a few practitioners who dispense spurious medicines to the detriment of indigenous medicine. Corticosteroids are known to cause potential side effects on chronic use and may lead to serious ailments.