Sanjivini Heart Foundation, a heart scan centre, will open its third facility in Karnataka by associating cardiologists who are keen to expand their medical practice at Hubli. The Foundation will impart a weeklong intensive training on an alternative therapy for angiography, angioplasty and by-pass surgery at an affordable cost. Similar centres are already functioning across the country out of which two are in Karwar and Bijapur in Karnataka where cardiologists have invested around Rs 40 lakh to install the 3-dimensionbal cardiovascular cartography (3-DCC), a novel non-invasive investigation for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD). The therapy offered at these centres is a three-pronged procedure that includes investigation with 3DCC to detect CAD, prescription of an internationally approved Ayurveda drug 'Myodrops' and rehabilitation.

The Foundation in association with Pune's Global Heart Care Foundation is one of the first centres in Karnataka to offer 3-DCC and patients with CAD are prescribed 'Myodrops' an Ayurvedic proprietary product manufactured by the Pune-based Narayan Pharmacies along with a regimented cardiac rehabilitation programme of diet, yoga and meditation for a period of four months. The cost of the treatment is Rs 20, 000 for four months. Narayan Pharmacies has been acknowledged for its alternative therapy for CAD and received an award for the same from President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

Extensive research for over a decade has been conducted on the herb used to prepare Myodrops which is partially cultivated in Pune and also sourced from Khandala, a hill-resort in Maharashtra. The cost of Myodrops is Rs.1200 for 30 capsules. Another product of the company is Cholguard prescribed as an adjuvant therapy for cholesterol.

The Foundation handles only CAD cases and has achieved 82 per cent success with the therapy to treat only blockages. The affected blood vessels are rejuvenated and the rhythmic imbalance is corrected without hospitalisation. The therapy cannot handle any valve defects and congenital disorders. The reasons for the 18 percent of patients who did not respond to the treatment had CAD along with valve defects which required surgical invention, Dr. Vinod Shet, Ayurveda cardiologist, Sanjivini Heart Foundation, told Pharmabiz.com.

Patients who have undergone successful treatment of CAD at Sanjivini are those referred by cases that are completely cured. Most of the patients at the Foundation have undergone angiogram and advised angioplasty but were reluctant to go through any invasive intervention because of fear and cost of treatment, said Dr. Shet who added that to prevent and diagnose CAD in its early stages, which is a serious and widespread disease caused by lifestyle disorders for age groups between 35-70 years, the Foundation is organising a heart awareness drive through seminars for Ayurveda doctors and health camps to educate people on the need for early detection of CAD and the availability of treatments without surgery.