New Delhi based Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN), established in 1978, is an autonomous body under the Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The council has a mandate to initiate, develop and co-ordinate scientific research in fundamental and applied aspects of yoga & naturopathy. Accreditation of educational institutions imparting training in these disciplines is also part of its job.

In an exclusive interview with Joe C Mathew of Chronicle Pharmabiz Prof. Dr. B.T. Chidananda Murthy, Director, CCRYN, talks about the activities and plans of the council. Dr. Murthy is the first professional Director & first Naturopath of India to head CCRYN. He has 30 years of versatile experience in research, teaching, training, hospital, administration, and has been instrumental in the establishment of reputed naturopathy institutions.

Excerpts:

Could you give a brief on the current research activities of the council?

The Council promotes research on various aspects of yoga and naturopathy by giving grants-in-aid to various institutions. The objective of research is to judge the efficacy of various yogic & naturopathic practices for prevention and treatment of diseases. Presently the Council is providing grant-in-aid to 14 institutions for conducting research. Through these research projects, it has been established that Yoga & Naturopathy can play a very crucial role in prevention and cure of various diseases like diabetes, hypertension, bronchial asthma, arthritis, obesity, coronary artery disease, spondylitis etc. Another major task is to initiate literary research to find out references of yoga & naturopathy in various ancient texts and interpret them in people-friendly language. Presently the Council is providing grant-in-aid to Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bangalore to carry out a project titled "Manushya mein Prana ke Aayam".

Could you elaborate on the research achievements of the council?

We have already completed 19 significant research programmes. All the findings are to be published soon. The first such research paper is on "coronary atherosclerosis reversal potential of yoga life style intervention" brought out by the Department of Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. The research carried out by Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation on "integrated approach of yoga therapy in the treatment of cancer" and the one carried out by the Department of Respiratory Critical Care and Sleep Medicie, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi on "the effect of various yogic practices on symptomatology and physiological parameters in the bronchial asthma" are two other examples. Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Dept of Clinical Immunology, M S Ramaiah Medical Teaching Hospital, Bangalore, National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, Atma Darshan Sadhna Kendra, New Delhi, Kaivalya Dhama, SMYM Samiti, Pune, Department of Physiology, JIPMER Pondicherry, etc are some of the major institutions that have carried out collaborative research programmes with us.

Does the council support establishment of patient care or treatment centres?

Yes. With a view to provide health care facilities to the people through yoga & naturopathy where such facilities are either inadequate or not existing, we provide grant-in-aid to run patient care centres by organizations of yoga & naturopathy. CCRYN also provides Grant-in-aid at a rate of Rs. 3 lakh per annum to various organizations treatment and propagation of these systems. Recently we have started specialized OPD treatment facilities in select tertiary care hospitals also. For example, the council has started a specialized OPD (Y&N) for Cardiac patients at RML Hospital, New Delhi. The OPD is presently taking up the specially the referred Cardiac cases from the Cardiology Dept. of the Hospital. Another OPD Counseling Centre is functioning at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. The patients are generally prescribed natural dietary regimen, simple nature cure treatments, life style modifications and taught Yogic practices including Asanas, Pranayamas, Meditative practices and simple cleansing procedures for three weeks as the first step.

With the kind of response yoga and naturopathy are getting from the developed world, are the current programmes adequate enough to make India's presence felt? What are the major constraints before the council?

I believe the government is doing its best to promote yoga and naturopathy. However, it would be nice if the council has more regional research centres and additional staff. This would help us develop more evidence based treatment protocols for various diseases and ailments. Since India is fast turning into a destination for quality healthcare at affordable rates for the entire globe, promoting India's strengths in yoga and naturopathy would immensely benefit the country.

Could you comment on the current staff strength and decentralized presence of the council?

The council is having 26 officials. This number is remaining the same as it was in 1978 when this council was established. During the course of time the activities of this Council has increased manifold but the number of posts remained the same. We have no field units like Central Research Institute or Regional Research Institute to implement our programmes.

Accreditation of yoga & naturopathy educational institutions has been one of the primary objectives of the CCRYN. How successful have you been in this regard? What is the status of yoga and naturopathy institutions in the country?

Teaching and training in nature cure and yoga is not yet standardized. It is necessary to follow a common model syllabus framed in consultation with genuine and experienced experts and to produce standard textbooks. Very few nature cure colleges have academically competent faculty. We are yet to be successful in introducing an accreditation system for yoga and nature cure institutions. However, I have initiated a move where CCRYN would promote the names of the institutions that have proper systems in place. As of now, we have given a list of 10 colleges conducting five or five and a half years BNYS courses. Various universities recognize all these institutions and degree courses.