Awareness meet on alternative medicine held in Ludhiana

Ludhiana, April 22 (ANI): With a rising concern for health across the world, a lot of people in Punjab are increasingly getting drawn to alternate systems of medicine to escape the side effects of modern-day drugs.

A two-day awareness meet was held here recently to educate people on the traditional systems of medicine in India. 'Arogya' - meaning 'holistic health' was the ninth such event organised in the country aimed at promoting healthy living in modern-day society.

Organized by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, manufacturers of Indian medicines, practitioners, and people from different walks of life participated in the event.

"This is a choice, which we wanted to make available to the people who are earlier availing mostly the allopathic medicine. Now they have choice of Ayurvedic and homeopathic systems of medicine. There is lot of scope for this system of medicine. About 12-13 years back, a department of Ayurveda was set up in Government of India as independent department and in the state also we have well-qualified doctors of Ayurveda and Homeopathy. We are also promoting homeopathy and Ayurvedic system of medicine with allopathic system of medicine in health institution in the state," said Rakesh Sharma, Special Secretary for Health in Punjab.

At the fair, 70 manufacturers of Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy medicines showcased their products besides interacting with medical practitioners and consumers.he fair highlights the fact that there are diseases that have a more effective treatment option in the Indian systems of medicine.

Moreover, people made a beeline for the free Ayurvedic and Homeopathic OPDs to get check-ups done and avail of the free medicines that were being given out with prescriptions. nother aim of the fair was to provide information to the young generation about the advantages of the traditional systems of Indian medicine.

"The young generation is not very much aware of Ayurveda and to get quick relief from the disease, they adopt the system of allopathic medicine but if they try to understand about Ayurveda, they will know that it has very good results instead of Allopathic treatment," said Rajni, a trainee doctor.

With increasing faith of people in Indian medicines, a number of super-specialty clinics are now thriving in Punjab.

Dr. Batra's Homeopathy Clinic, Arogya Clinic and Ashirwad Ayurvedic Health and Panchkarma Centre - just to name a few - are providing complete treatment of ailments. By Karan Kapoor (ANI)