Traditional systems of medicines always played an important role when it comes to meeting the global health care needs. Ayurveda, one of the foremost amongst all traditional systems of medicine in India, has great antiquity, with an unbroken practice dating back to about 3000-5000 years. Its Materia Medica contains resources in the form of drugs derived from plant, animal, metal and mineral sources, the use of which has been advocated in varied pathological manifestations. These raw materials have also been made in to poly-herbal, herbo-mineral and metallic compound formulations by the seers, who have documented their clinical experiences and have passed on the knowledge to further generations by way of recording them in texts.
In ancient times, the ayurvedic tradition of clinical diagnosis, therapeutics and manufacturing of medicinal formulations was typically passed on through the Guru-Shishya Parampara and very often through familial inheritance with the Ayurved exponent or Vaidya imparting his knowledge to sons, kin and a few select disciples. Ayurvedic exponents had established dedicated schools or Gurukuls for imparting theoretical and practical knowledge of all aspects of Ayurved and these schools sustained and flourished under the patronage of the benevolent kings and emperors.
Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing was almost always a family run activity with the details of manufacturing processes being closely guarded for efficient quality management. It was in form of cottage industry aimed at catering to the needs of individual patients. Vaidyas of ancient days, by themselves used to collect the herbs based on organoleptic characters of plants, i.e., typical taste, texture, smell, colour, and utilized them in preparing medicines. Based on their own observations, they had documented the principles of drug processing and qualities of finished drugs based on the parameters which were relevant to the scientific fervour of those times. The principles of pharmaceutical processing in those days were Paribhasha (definitions), Mana (Weights and measurements), Panchavidha Kashaya kalpana (five basic types of processing) namely Swarsa (expressed juice), Kalka (Paste), Kwatha (decoction), Hima (cold infusion) and Phanta (hot infusion) the five therapeutic attributes namely Rasa, Guna, Veerya, Vipak and Prabhava. The storage and shelf life of medicines was accurately described and medicines would be prescribed by the Vaidya in the optimal dose- matra and at the optimal time- kala and with suitable Anupana -adjuvant after thorough clinical examination of the patient and his disease. A lot of this experiential knowledge base was lost due to the foreign invasions, though the core knowledge is still available in form of well documented Samhitas or classical texts.
Although, Ayurved as system of medicine has been in practice in India for thousands of years but its growth as an industry commenced only a few decades back. Earlier growth of this Industry took a back-seat mainly due to lack of initiative by its practitioners, industry and even the subsequent Governments. The Ayurveda fraternity till late had been non-receptive and reclusive of modern techniques and advancements that have occurred in the modern pharma industry. The tradition of preparation of medicines by ayurvedic practitioners themselves has now almost come to an end. Now we find a much organised and commercial production of Ayurvedic medicines in big factories.
Although there are ample opportunities available in this sector, yet this sector is facing many challenges. The major hurdle in the wider acceptability of Ayurveda and its products is the lack of intent on the part of manufacturers to follow proper standardization techniques and its unpreparedness to accept global challenges. Some of the important challenges faced by Ayurveda medicine industry have been summarised as follows:
n Poor agricultural practices and lack of knowledge on cultivation of medicinal plants which happens to be the most important raw material for this Industry.
n Irregular availability and inconsistent quality of raw material.
n Lack of R&D related to high yielding varieties.
n Adequate R&D on product and process development.
n Inefficient processing techniques.
n Poor quality control procedures.
n Lack of regulatory mechanism in trade of medicinal plants as also on the standards of marketed products.
n Traditional medicines also face increasing competition from synthetic drugs.
The challenges faced for exports of Ayurveda medicines are as under:
n Lack of credible documentation of the safety studies, therapeutic values and non-compliance of EU standards of medicines and their formulation is a major constraint in export particularly to countries to EU.
n Lack of assumed availability for exports, in terms of quality.
n Lack of information about the total world trade, demand dynamics in the overseas market, marketing techniques, IPR and the regularly requirements of herbal/natural products in different countries and continents.
n Lack of standardization in products and processes.
The opportunities available for ayurvedic medicine industry are mentioned below:
n Ayurveda medicines have been used since ancient times, and passed on from generation to generation. These medicines have been used to maintain, and promote the human health, prevention as well as to treat diseases. They being time tested already have a faith element especially in communities and countries where it has been used since centuries.
n Government is giving incentives to drug manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and Ayush institutions etc. for registration of their products for exports to targeted countries.
n There is already an awareness and curiosity for use of natural medicines at the global level and hence retail selling through retail chain stores has become an order in almost all the developing and developed world.
n There is a lot of scope for exporting the herbal extracts to the Pharmaceuticals, Food processing industries and bulk consumers in the global market
n There are marketing experts now to help develop strategy to position Ayurveda products as nutritional supplements as well as medicinal products in the overseas markets.
Present status and future prospects
India is called “Botanical Garden of the World” as it is the largest producer of medicinal herbs. Out of more than 25,000 plants of medicinal value, only 10 per cent are used for their medicinal value. Around 1,800 species are systematically documented in the codified Indian systems of medicine. India has 45,000 diverse plant species spread over 16 different agro-climatic zones, 10 vegetation zones, 25 biotic provinces and 426 habitats of specific spices. Besides, India has up to 18,000 flowering plants, 2,500 algae, 23,000 fungi, 1,600 types of lichen and 1,800 varieties of bryophytes. Of this vast quantum around 15,000 to 20,000 are of medicinal value, but out of this only, 7,000 to 7,500 plants are used by traditional medicine systems in India. These herbal products are preventive, protective, nutritive and curative.
The world, which due to technological advances, developed medicines which are quick acting, potent and capable to treat and provide symptomatic relief, has now started to feel the need for longer lasting and more fundamental cures for their problems of health. Attention now being shifted from relief to prevention and cure. The intention to go back to nature and use natural materials and methods of ancient times.
According to the' Ayurvedic market Analysis and Trends Report 2016 published by Globe Newswire, Dublin, The Indian ayurvedic market is poised to grow at a compound annual growth rate of around 16 per cent over the next decade. Some of the prominent trends that the market is witnessing include growing urbanization and changing lifestyle, adopting as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), new innovative product launches and growth opportunities/investment opportunities.
Based on mode of sale, the market is classified retail sale and online sale. Depending on the product, the market is segmented personal care product and healthcare product.
By personal care product, the market is further divided into oral care, make-up, skin care and hair care and fragrances. By healthcare product, the market is further segregated into dietary supplements, ayurvedic nutraceuticals and ayurvedic medicines. By application, the market is subjugated into skin diseases, cardiovascular, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, cancer, mental health, nervous system disorders, respiratory disorders and other applications. Based on distribution channel, the market is subjected into pharmacy and drug stores, internet retailing, supermarkets and other distribution channels.
Demand for herbal products worldwide has increased significantly and according to WHO forecast, the global herbal market would be worth $6 trillion by the year 2050. There is a pressure of the people and communities of the respective countries on their Governments to adopt Ayurveda products. Therefore many countries are now allowing and regulating the sale of these products into their countries. Those who have not done this are on the way to allow Ayurveda products into their countries.
What needs to be done for better future for Ayurveda medicine Industry?
n Facilities of testing the raw materials as well as the finished products have to be made available to the small manufacturers who cannot afford expensive tests as well as expensive research laboratories. This can be done either by a consortium of Ayurveda industry or by the initiatives of the Governments of India.
n The research going on in ayurvedic colleges, ayurvedic institutes and other allied disciplines like pharmacy colleges, chemistry departments, medical colleges; all of that needs to be reviewed by one single agency and the best of the researches need to be published in indexed journals. This exercise will bring on table all the efforts made so far by the Institutions good or bad. Good ones can become leads for future research and product development with already available scientific evidence.
n Although Ayush Mark has already been implemented, this needs to be popularised and made simple and less expensive so that small manufacturer can also go through the mandatory scrutiny that is involved for Ayush Mark. Similarly country specific export certification of Ayurveda and other herbal products by the government agencies has been a long pending demand of the Industry. This will increase the credibility of the Ayurveda industry globally.
n Domestic regulations are required but they ought to be done in consultation with the small and medium sized Industry so that stringent regulations do not become barriers to business.
n Authentic substitutes are important specifically for classical products as number of herbs are not available today and many more are already categorized as ‘endangered species’. There has to be review committees specifically for declaring the official substitutes to enable promotion of classical products. In the absence of adequate substitutes, those raw materials which are not available are either falsely claimed on label to have been put into the drug or some other substitutes (not recognised by Ayush Ministry) are included.
n Most of the regulations for the Indian medicinal products in the other countries have become more of trade barriers. Government of India needs to continue with the dialogue with such countries after consultations with the Industry.
n The lack of a killer instinct in the ayurvedic industry to have a larger share of sales in the domestic as well as in the international market has resulted in loss of opportunities. Our allopathic pharma industry has grown several thousand time in comparison to the Ayush industry. Adequate incentives to change this trend needs to be worked out whether it is the benefits in tax or a hand holding in terms of subsidies and soft loans to the Industry.
The quality parameters of raw drugs used in manufacturing as well as the finished drugs of Ayurveda and other traditional systems from India are already published in ayurvedic pharmacopoeia as well as in formularies which is commendable step taken by the government. The TKDL has also helped in bringing down the piracy of the Traditional Knowledge as also to popularise the age old formulations globally. QCI also has been involved in certifying Ayush products. Although a lot has been done after the establishment of erstwhile Department of Indian Medicines and Homoeopathy and now matured into Ministry of Ayush, a lot more needs to be done. The past of the Industry has been very bleak, present is the stage of Ayurveda industry where it is coming out of Infancy to childhood but we all have to assure a brilliant growth of this child to full blown adult.
(Prof K R Kohli M.D(Ay), PhD is director Ayush, Govt of Maharashtra & Dr Sumant Khardenavis M.D(Ay), Asstt Prof, R.APodar Medical College(Ayu), Mumbai)