New Delhi: The Ministry of Ayush has taken a firm stand against the rising trend of misleading advertisements that promote Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homeopathy (ASU&H) drugs as possessing “miraculous” or “supernatural” healing powers. In a public warning issued recently, the ministry highlighted the dangers of such deceptive claims, urging consumers to be cautious.
This move is a direct response to the surge of unverified health claims in various media, where ASU&H remedies are often portrayed as cure-alls. While traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda and Siddha have deep cultural roots and play a significant role in wellness, exaggerating their potential can harm the very people they aim to help. The ministry emphasized that such exaggerated claims not only mislead the public but also pose significant health risks.
In its detailed statement, the ministry clarified that it neither certifies nor licenses ASU&H drugs for therapeutic purposes. Instead, that responsibility rests with state and Union Territory authorities under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940. The Ayush Ministry also pointed to the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act of 1954, which explicitly bans advertisements making false claims about curing certain diseases.
Adding to the precautions, the ministry stated that ASU&H drugs containing Schedule E1 substances should only be taken under the strict supervision of qualified medical practitioners. These drugs must feature warning labels in both Hindi and English, making it clear that they are not intended for self-medication or casual use.
The ministry urged the public to refrain from self-diagnosis or self-medication with these remedies and advised that any deceptive advertisements should be reported to the authorities.