Thalassemia patients to be treated with goat blood soon
What's the story
A government ayurvedic hospital in Ludhiana will start treating thalassemia patients with goat blood under a project funded by Punjab government and Centre. A fund of Rs. 35 lakh has already been released by the Union Health Ministry for the project. Punjab government has also contributed Rs. 13 lakh for the project. The treatment is likely to start in four-five months. Here's more.
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Goat blood is injected into a patient's body through rectum
Hemant Kumar, medical officer at the Government Ayurvedic Hospital, said: "Goat blood is injected into a patient's body through the rectum. This does not let the hemoglobin level in the patient drop. Over a period, the patient no longer needs blood transfusion."
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Former director of the CMC Hospital not confident
However, when contacted, AG Thomas, a former director of the CMC Hospital, said there was "no substantial proof in this form of randomized control trial". He said those practicing it should publish their line of treatment in international medical journals. The Akhandanand Ayurvedic Hospital Ahmedabad in Gujarat is already running such a program. Atul Bakar from Gujarat was the first to start this treatment.
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This is a 5,000-year-old method, another ayurvedic expert claimed
"The equipment for the purpose is being procured. This is a 5,000-year-old method, but nobody was practicing it till Bakar took the initiative and tried it successfully," claimed Vatsyayan, another ayurvedic expert.