News and Articles on Ayurveda, Yoga, Kundalini and other Indian way of health and medicines.
Curd is a transformed food. Milk becomes curd through fermentation, and this process changes its nature. Milk is generally sweet, cooling and nourishing. Curd becomes sour, warming, thicker, heavier and more stimulating to the digestive fire. This transformation made dadhi important in both household food and classical Indian dietetics.
Wheat is not treated as a casual filler in Ayurveda. It is a brimhana ahara — a food that builds the body. It supports bala or strength, helps nourish the dhatus or body tissues, and is traditionally valued for people who need grounding, stability and sustained energy. For farmers, warriors, labourers, students, children, the elderly and people recovering from weakness, wheat has long been one of the steady foods of the Indian kitchen.
A key pillar of this transformation is the expansion of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana. The number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras has increased from around 84 centres in 2014 to more than 19,200 centres across the country in 2026. This expansion has taken low-cost, quality generic medicines closer to ordinary families, especially in smaller towns, semi-urban areas and rural districts. The programme has also helped citizens save more than ₹40,000 crore on healthcare expenses.
India’s role in this partnership is built around affordable and accessible healthcare. As one of the world’s largest producers of generic medicines, India can support partner countries with high-quality drugs at reasonable cost. This is especially important for small island states where medicine procurement is often expensive because of distance, freight costs and limited market size. Reliable access to Indian medicines can help Kiribati strengthen public hospitals, clinics and community health services.
Health Minister Nadda said India remains committed to Africa-led efforts and announced USD 10 million for outbreak preparedness, response and recovery. He also highlighted that India has already delivered 45 tonnes of medical supplies to support affected regions. These supplies include critical materials needed for emergency health operations, diagnostics, treatment support and field-level disease-control measures.
Among pulses, black gram holds a special place because it is deeply nourishing. Green gram is light and gentle. Horse gram is sharp and heating. Bengal gram is dry and filling. Black gram is heavy, oily, strengthening and building. It is the pulse of strength, stamina, tissue nourishment and Vata control.
With the change now in force, cough syrups in these smaller villages will have to be sold and dispensed only through duly licensed pharmacies. This brings rural sale practices closer to the regulated pharmacy system that applies in larger towns and cities. The move is aimed at improving oversight, ensuring safer distribution, and making sellers more accountable under the country’s drug laws.
Few trees give as generously as the jackfruit tree. Its tender fruit becomes curry. Its ripe bulbs become sweet food. Its seeds become roasted, boiled and curried nourishment. Its leaves are used in traditional cooking and ritual life. Its wood has value in furniture, temple craft and classical instruments. Its latex and other parts have old folk uses. The entire tree stands as a symbol of rural abundance.
Ayurveda values green gram because it respects agni, the digestive fire. A food may be nutritious, but it becomes useful only when the body can digest, absorb and transform it properly. Mudga has the rare quality of giving nourishment while keeping digestion clean and steady. This makes it suitable for children, elders, recovering patients, students, workers and people seeking a sattvic daily diet.
The government’s Biopharma SHAKTI initiative is an important step in this direction. The initiative aims to support the launch of 100 biologics by 2047, aligning the sector with the larger goals of Viksit Bharat and Swasth Bharat. This target reflects a long-term vision where India becomes a major global hub for high-value biopharmaceutical innovation and production.
