Turmeric and Aloe vera – Wonder Medicine or Villain at Home

What popularly thought to be too good can go terribly wrong is the proof the recent research work on Turmeric and Aloe vera tells us. Whenever we lend our ears to any AYUSH discourses or to the obsessed lovers of AYUSH, more than anything about the science and merit of the system, the lovers and missionaries of AYUSH would say that all AYUSH products are safe as if rests of the things on earth are poisonous, toxic and venomous.

Even lead, mercury, arsenic, copper sulphate etc., are safe according to them because they are processed according to their principle. Their principle cannot go wrong because it was gifted by God. Further, they also would say that many people are consuming such products without any safety concern. When lead toxicity or other metal toxicity due to the consumption of AYUSH products are reported with proof, God knows what action Government has taken to protect the innocent believers from consuming all such toxic metals thinking such metals to be not only safe but also sacred drugs.

Unfortunately, most believers once developed a belief in something become bonded laborers or life-long prisoners and are not seems to verify or review such beliefs to understand whether it has any merit or not. Otherwise, no one can ever imagine or assume or claim that all AYUSH products are safe. If AYUSH products and herbal products are safe, then why we need the statuary warning in nicotine products, why several plants are listed as poisonous plants.

Even cattle and many herbivores animals don’t eat all plants and instinctively avoid eating many poisonous plants.

The respect, recognition, and glory enjoyed by turmeric and Aloe vera in our society cannot be described even by Lord Ganesh who is claimed to have written the epic Mahabharat. Turmeric can cure Cancer, it has antimicrobial activity and what, not the turmeric does not have? On the other side, Aloe vera is called as Kumari, representing youth is one of the principal kaya kalpa mooligai in Siddha system of medicine. Both these herbs if contest elections would not only get elected with huge margin but also could remain in power forever.

When faith becomes the science, science would naturally go silent, mute, deaf and blind.

The recent research revelations appeared in The Hindu daily dated December 14, 2015, entitled “Ayurveda hope for milk with lesser drug residue” reveals the other face of turmeric and Aloe vera. If the findings of the above research study are complete and undisputable, the face of these two herbs poses uglier truth than pleasant surprise to the world.

According to the above study report, the turmeric and Aloe vera could bring down the antibiotic load in milk significantly when the cattle were fed with these herbs/preparation.

The hybrid cows are highly susceptible than native breeds to bacterial infections due to their poor resistance. When they suffer from infections, treatment with a heavy dose of antibiotics is necessary. But unfortunately, the residual antibiotics do enter the milk and pose a problem to humans. The study findings say that both turmeric and Aloe vera brings could bring down the antibiotic level significantly in milk.

The findings may sound great and exhilarating from cattle farming and dairy industry is concerned. This finding of turmeric and Aloe vera certainly shows the nobler side of these herbs.

The same face also reveals its notorious side.

Imagine when human being under antibiotic therapy consume turmeric and or Aloe vera, won’t these wonderful so-called ‘drugs’ of AYUSH eliminates the antibiotics from the human system also and would adversely affect the bioavailability and thereby worsen the bacterial infection?

Or should we assume that turmeric and Aloe vera would neutralize antibiotics only in cattle milk and will not have any effect in a human being? Scientists can bring out many such probabilities and possibilities than what really science can.

Which Indian cuisine does not use turmeric? Should we not assume turmeric in our food won’t inactivate the antibiotics in our system also? Is that reason why doctors have to change the antibiotics frequently and that is how we have become one of the leading antibiotic consumers in the world?

If the above scientific findings were true and undisputable, then where is the science and rationale behind the claim that all AYUSH products are safe, time-tested etc.

The above finding brings out noise and fury than lyrics and songs to the medical world.

The above findings also expose the uglier and dangerous side of cross pathy by several institutionally qualified AYUSH vaidyas in private practice. In the name of complimentary the health care system, we are in fact complicating our health care. The above findings clearly show that many AYUSH products also may interact with several allopathic drugs and inactive or challenge their performance. But knowing nothing, we are over shooting integrated and complementary health care to be the ultimate answer to our health problems.

As a burka and parda to all inefficient AYUSH products, we allow allopathic drugs to be used by AYUSH vaidyas in private practice (cross pathy). We also make honest confession to ourselves that we go blind towards cross pathy mainly because it benefits poor and innocent people who live in rural India as they do not have MBBS doctors. Therefore, let the nonMBBS doctors occupy the niche of MBBS doctors and after all even if it affects, it affects only the health of poor people in rural India.

AYUSH treatment and allopathic treatments should not be taken together without understanding the interactions. It also reveals another truth. AYUSH cannot be promoted as drug and cure based medical science. It is paramedical practice. Once AYUSH is promoted for the paramedical benefit, the likelihood of AYUSH vaidyas engaged in cross pathy will come down and instead they could engage in providing paramedical service.

As long as we remain ignorant, even the worst can sound great to us. But the question is can we afford to be ignorant when it affects the health and well-being of poor people in our society. Can we afford to surrender to ignorance in the name of faith, ancient tradition, religion, and patriotism? Let the villain face of turmeric and aloe vera awaken our society and consciousness of our Government to end cross pathy by a large number of institutionally qualified AYUSH vaidyas in private practice.

Let AYUSH products are like God, whom we cannot see, experience or could feel but the believers would emphatically say God exists everywhere and control every action on earth. Let us not convert such claims to be science.

S Ranganathan