The Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS), under the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH), has decided to begin large scale human trials on its herbal food supplement Antartica Tea and Antartica Laddoo among the soldiers in Siachen sector. The CCRAS has entered into a clinical research tie-up with the Army Hospital, Jammu for the purpose.

Informing this to pharmabiz.com, Dr G S Lavekar, director, CCRAS said that the health products had proved to have immense anti-oxidant character in a unique trial carried out among humans during an Antarctic expedition. The subjects involved in the study were the scientists of CCRAS themselves, claimed Dr Lavekar.

The clinical study was meant to prove the ability of these food supplements to improve body immunity and slow down the ageing process. The Antarctica trial was a big success, the director said. The soldiers in the Siachen glaciers will now use the ayurvedic laddoo and tea to see if it energizes them more than any other health drink.

These two formulations possess potent ingredients having diversified effects of rasayana (Immuno- stimulant action, Antioxidant action, Psycho physiological regulators, Thermoregulation, Adaptogenic activity, Nutritive effect and Appetizing action).

As pharmabiz had reported recently, the Antarctica expedition to establish the effect of Ayurvedic Rasayana, Food Supplement and Drink (Antarctica Tea and Antarctica Laddoo) was carried out on a team of scientists led by Dr. Rajesh Sannd, research officer (Ayurveda) and Dr. Parveen Bansal, research officer (Bio-chemistry) of the CCRAS. The CCRAS had partnered with the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research of the Department of Ocean Development in the project.