Hindu Voice UK, January 2007

Never far away from controversy, famous yoga-guru Swami Ramdev could face court action over exaggerated claims of the health benefits of the breathing exercises he teaches. It is alleged that Swami Ramdev has made a number of far-fetched and improvable claims about the effects of pranayama on the treatment of serious diseases.

India's Health Minister, Anbumani Ramadoss, has issued a notice to the Swami, under the 'Drugs and Medical Remedied Act', and an NGO called People's Health Organisation have threatened to take him to court.

It is alleged that Swami Ramdev had claimed that pranayama could cure cancers as well as HIV/AIDS, whilst delivering a yoga camp in Bhubaneswar. Swami Ramdev stands by part of this, saying that his treatment centre has a number of patients whose cancers have been cured. With regards to AIDS, he said that he has been misquoted, and that what he actually said was that pranayama is useful for people with AIDS, as a number of AIDS patients had increased CD-4 cell count upon starting yoga. He also responded by saying that he is willing to put any of the health claims that he has made under the scrutiny of controlled clinical trials.

Many practitioners of traditional or complementary forms of health care have long swore on the efficacy of their treatments in curing a whole range of illnesses, ranging from relatively benign minor ailments all the way up to the most serious long term conditions. They tend to regard their treatment as better than conventional allopathic medicines, in terms of side effects and outcomes. On the other hand, practitioners of conventional medicine generally treat the claims of alternative therapists with suspicion.

In India however, there is remarkably good cooperation between allopathic medical doctors and practitioners of traditional Indian medicine (ayurveda). A number of trials have been carried out on the effects of pranayama on the body, which have shown that there are subtle changes in the body's metabolic and hormone systems, that may prove useful in promoting good health, including on people who have serious diseases.

However, the idea that this could actually cure serious illnesses that are currently incurable by allopathic medicine has been met with outrage by India's medical community.

"Baba Ramdev's very successful magic concoctions need to be properly tested before being used by human beings. Are the concoctions put on trials before being marketed? The Swami-turned businessman-cum-drug manufacturer has to answer many questions," commented Indian Medical Association President Ajay Kumar.

Hindu Voice comment: The long standing debate about whether 'alternative treatment', such as traditional teachings propagated by Swami Ramdev can deliver effective treatment for serious diseases needs to be put to trial in a controlled setting, as soon as possible. There is no other way of supporting or negating any claims on either side of the fence.

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