Ayurveda Meets Modern Science: India's National Seminar on Liver Health

The seminar, themed "Yakrut Suraksha, Jiveeta Raksha" (Protect the Liver, Preserve Life), marks a significant initiative towards advancing integrative, research-backed solutions for liver and biliary health--an area that demands collaborative inquiry between Ayurveda and modern biomedical science, the release said.

Highlighting the significance of the initiative, Prof. Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS noted,"Ayurvedic Sciences offer a holistic framework for hepatobiliary wellness, emphasising prevention, balance, and sustainable healthcare. Through collaborative research, we are scientifically validating Ayurveda principles and formulations to better understand their mechanisms and clinical relevance. Such integrative efforts not only strengthen Ayurveda's global credibility but also pave the way for innovative, evidence-based solutions that can transform liver care and public health outcomes."

Sanghamitra Pati, Additional Director General, ICMR & Director, RMRC Bhubaneswar observed, "Hepatobiliary disorders present complex challenges that demand cross-disciplinary inquiry and innovation. Collaborative research between Ayurveda and modern biomedicine opens new frontiers for understanding disease mechanisms, developing safer therapies, and enhancing patient care. By integrating traditional insights with contemporary scientific rigor, we can create comprehensive healthcare models that are preventive, personalized, and globally relevant."

The two-day National Seminar on "Hepatobiliary Wellness through Ayurveda" will feature deliberations across five key themes, fostering collaborative research in liver and biliary health. Day One will focus on holistic preventive and therapeutic approaches, including Ayurveda dietetics, Dinacharya, Rutucharya, Panchakarma, and detoxification therapies, alongside sessions on scientific validation and disease-specific management of NAFLD, Hepatitis, and Liver Cirrhosis. Day Two will emphasize evidence-based integration, presenting experimental research on the safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of Ayurveda formulations, as well as protocols for harmonizing Ayurveda with modern hospital practices, including innovations like the Gut-Liver Axis. The event will also host 58 scientific presentations--22 oral and 36 posters--highlighting clinical outcomes and translational potential.

An exclusive session on "Ethnomedicine in Hepatobiliary Disorders" is planned to spotlight 20 tribal healers from across Odisha, reflecting the Ministry's inclusive approach to preserving indigenous medical knowledge.

This collaborative effort of CCRAS and ICMR underscores the Ministry of Ayush's focus on scientific rigor, interdisciplinary research, and translational outcomes. By bridging Ayurveda's holistic knowledge with modern investigative science, the seminar aims to open new avenues for integrative approaches to hepatobiliary wellness and strengthen India's leadership in global traditional medicine research, the release added.

Notably, the Ministry of Ayush has been undertaking extensive research through CCRAS and other concerned bodies, to scientifically validate Ayurvedic interventions for liver health, focusing on disorders such as MASLD and hepatitis. Pre-clinical studies on Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutaki) and Ayush-PTK formulations have demonstrated significant hepatoprotective potential, while collaborative research with CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow, is evaluating key Ayurvedic drugs against ATT-induced hepatotoxicity. In addition, a multicentric clinical trial on Arogyavardhini Vati and Pippalyasava has shown promising results in MASLD management. A double-blind randomized controlled study assessing the hepatoprotective efficacy of Ayush-PTK in tuberculosis patients on ATT therapy is also underway, reinforcing CCRAS's commitment to evidence-based Ayurveda research.

The National Seminar is set to boost and enrich the scientific discourse in the area. The event is set to witness the presence of leading experts from modern and traditional medicine, featuring Prof. Ashutosh Biswas, Executive Director & CEO, AIIMS Bhubaneswar; Subrat Kumar Acharya, Pro-Chancellor, KIIMS Bhubaneswar & Executive Director, Fortis Escorts, New Delhi; and Sarada Ota, Assistant Director In-Charge, CARI Bhubaneswar. The seminar will also be graced by eminent scientists, clinicians, and academicians including Prof. Manas Ranjan Sahoo, N. Srikanth, Ashok B. K., Rajesh Kumavat, and several others, establishing a multidisciplinary platform to advance hepatobiliary research and integrative healthcare through Ayurveda, the release added.

- ANI