IIT-Delhi to help AIIA by developing tools to heal wounds

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi is aiding All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) to develop tools for diagnosis and treatment. Both institutes have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work on seven projects. The timeline for these projects is two years. IIT-Delhi would be focusing on the validation aspects of Ayurveda principles. One of the projects involves making the dhoopan yantra, which would emit medicated condensed smoke to heal wounds inside the ears, vagina, etc in a user-friendly manner.

Rajagopala S from AIIA said, “In Ayurveda, we use medicated smoke for healing as it ensures quicker results. However, condensing it is a problem and we are currently doing it through pipes, funnels and earthen pots. But this takes a lot of space and is not user-friendly. IIT-D’s design department will assist us in the process.”

The second project pertains to making a biodegradable wound dressing, for which assistance is being provided by IIT-D’s polymer department.

AIIA, which has an integrated oncology department, is jointly working on another project for early detection and assessment of cancer and response of Ayurvedic drugs to breast cancer.

The other projects include studying the effects of the six Ayurvedic rasas (tastes) on gastrointestinal secretions, developing herbal formulations that would reduce the harmful effects of reused cooking oil, effects of Brahmari pranayama on the nervous system and analysing the impact of bhasmas (ashes) on proteins in neurodegenerative diseases.

IIT-D director V Ramgopal Rao said, “The amalgamation of traditional knowledge with technology is expected to benefit the society at large by offering better healthcare options. Validation is the key to making these forms of medicine more widely acceptable worldwide. IIT-Delhi researchers will be focusing on the validation aspects by working closely with the AIIA faculty.”