The Central Council of Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS), Delhi, has developed several drugs from herbal extracts and found them effective in the treatment of many diseases. One of them is the Ayush-64, an ayurvedic anti-malarial drug, which was used by the government to control the malaria outbreak in the north-east. "We have also developed and patented Ayush-56 for treating epilepsy, Ayush-52 for diabetes mellitus and the 777 herbal oil for psoriasis," says H R Goel, the Council's director.

Goel is upbeat about the ICMR-approved Kshaarasootra (a medicated thread). The CCRAS has standardised this Ayurvedic technique for the treatment of anal fistula. The Council has evaluated 314 ayurvedic drugs for determining their pharmacological and toxicological aspects and for standardising the formulations.

The Council maintains a musk deer breeding farm at Maharuri (Dharamgarh, Uttar Pradesh) and has successfully extracted musk without sacrificing the animals. The extract is a life-saving drug, acts like cortisone and can be used in all types of fever. The CCRAS has also taken up experimental cultivation of about 300 medicinal plants.