Ayurveda prevents swine flu, but no scientific data: minister
By IANSTuesday, December 8, 2009
NEW DELHI - Ayurveda plays a “positive role” in preventing swine flu, which has claimed over 630 lives in India and infected around 20,000 people, but there is no scientific data to prove its efficacy, the Rajya Sabha was informed Tuesday.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare S. Gandhiselvan said swine flu is a recently reported condition caused by a new strain of the H1N1 virus.
He said no research study has been taken up in the matter by the research councils to determine the efficacy of ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy in tackling the disease.
“Though ayurveda has a positive role in prevention of swine flu, no scientific data is available to justify the claim of successfully treating the disease till date,” he said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared swine flu pandemic in June. In India, the first Influenza A (H1N1) virus case was reported May 16, while the first death occurred Aug 3.
