Emphasising on the inevitability of preserving the originality of Indian clinical system, MLA N Yogish Bhat said the State and Central governments should be careful enough to see that the foreign countries do not own patents for the indigenous herbs.
   He was speaking after inaugurating ‘Paramparya Vaidya Sammelana’ (a conference on traditional clinical system), held under the aegis of Bharatiya Paramparya Janapada Ayurveda Vaidyara Seva mattu Kalyana Sangha at Mallikatte here on Sunday.
   Mr Bhat cautioned on the attempts of various foreign countries to get patents on several traditional medicinal herbs of India under their name.
   He was of the view that though the famous clinical methods of traditional India like Reiki, Pranayama, Yoga and meditation, had been becoming popular in foreign countries, the Indians were losing interest in them, due to their admiration towards allopathic branch.
   “Our people should understand the scientific background and greatness of our own systems,” Mr Bhat observed.
   Ayurveda system and folk medicines have the quality of bettering the entire way of life of human beings. Those who have knowledge about the valuable herbs should share it with the society, so that the system will grow, the MLA said and added that there was a need for further research into the traditional medicinal system.
   The government should recognise such medical practitioners. On the other hand, the Yunani practitioners should not misuse their system, instead they should dedicate it for the welfare of the society, Mr Bhat suggested.
   In his presidential address, journalist V B Arthikaje said there was a necessity of creating awareness about the traditional medical system among the common men.