Venturing into modern Ayurveda

 

 TECHNOLOGY HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE TO COMBINE TRADITIONAL IDEAS WITH COMMERCIAL PROSPECTS

Abhilasha Rayamajhi
Kathmandu

Scientific and systematic research and studies should form the base of any business. Investigations, examinations and experiments have led to new discoveries and breakthroughs around the globe in almost all the sectors. From introduction of new medical treatments to successful businesses almost everything has come out of intense research and data analysis.
Despite the huge scope for research, in Nepal the culture of research and study is quite low. Businesses are established randomly with little or no knowledge about the market.
However, some individuals and organisations have made efforts to combine traditional ideas and research and technology to come up with sustainable solutions for acute problems the world is facing today.
Brajesh Nanda Vaidya is a self- motivated, talented researcher with over 20 years of experience in establishing and operating commercial plant tissue culture laboratories and in leading commercial and research projects internationally.
Vaidya has a proven record of improving work relationship with farmers, entrepreneurs and non- government organisations with his innovative and sustainable ideas.
He possesses practical experience to work and lead team members for building strategy and successful completion of tissue culture projects.
Vaidya, a graduate of Science in Plant Biotechnology from Fort Valley State University, USA currently works as Research Assistant in the same university. When questioned about his interest in research on medicinal plants and herbs, he replies, “ People these days are too busy and stressed out. This has resulted in various diseases such as high blood pressure, depression, headaches, anxiety and so on and herbs have the power to cure these diseases without any side effects.” He adds, “ My uncle has been a huge source of inspiration for me and my last name is ‘ Vaidya’ so that says a lot about my interest in medicinal plants.” Vaidya is the Sanskrit word for Physician or one who practices Ayurveda.
Vaidya’s present role as the Assistant Researcher at Fort Valley State University includes training graduate students on microscopy techniques and to assist plant biotech lab classes. He shares, “ I also manage plant tissue culture research lab work on medicinal plant Scutellaria and multipurpose biomass tree Paulownia.” In 2013 he along with Terri A Brearley and Nirmal Joshee published a journal of medicinally active plants. The research was on the antioxidant capacity of fresh and dry leaf extracts from sixteen Scutellaria species.
He shares, “ The use of plant extracts have been proven to contain various types of bioactive compounds that are beneficial for human health and consumption.” Our lifestyles and dietary habits have changed drastically in the last few decades; stress from personal and professional life has had an adverse effect on our minds and bodies. The stress level has become so high that we are fatigued and our brain literally stops working.
Herbs like rosemary and skullcap have high antioxidant levels that remove oxidising agents from our bodies, according to Vaidya.
Moreover, the plant extract reduces specific brain tumor cells and his research is mainly on these plants.
“ Nepal has a lot of potential in this field and it could play a key role in the export of plant extracts internationally,” he says. According to him this can benefit the agriculture sector and also boost the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Nepal.
The use of biotechnology and farming medicinal plants in Nepal can generate a profitable venture. He shares, “ Farming models and cost benefit analysis should be developed before venturing into this business. Once there is an assurance from the extraction company or the industry that converts the raw into final product farmers can calculate their production cost and then go for further negotiation.” He says that a model can be developed in a way that is profitable to the farmers.
He concludes, “ The application of biotechnology in Ayurveda can be commercialised and this can benefit entrepreneurs as well as farmers. New plant based products in the market and innovations in science and technology has made it possible to combine traditional ideas with commercial prospect.”

 (The printed version of this article was published on The Himalayan Times Perspectives on July 24, 2016)