Homoeo Info

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa: Many parents are left questioning how to safely administer cough, cold and flu products to in their children this winter. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently raised concerns over patterns of misuse leading to overdose. Although initial focus was centered on infants younger than 2 years of age, an FDA panel convened on October 18 to review safety for cough suppressants, decongestants and antihistamine agents in children younger than 6 years of age.
"Antihistamines cause drowsiness and dry mouth while decongestants may act like a stimulant. Suppressing the cough interferes with the body's way of clearing the lungs, and these medications should be used sparingly," writes Lauren Feder, M.D., in Natural Baby and Childcare (Hatherleigh Press, 2006). In her book, this Los Angeles general practitioner, whose patients primarily consist of children, recommends using homeopathic medicine as one of several safe treatment options.
Homeopathic medicines, which include over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for cough, cold and flu symptoms, are made of micro-doses of natural ingredients. This type of medicine is generally considered one of the safest choices for self-treatment. They do not contain any of the ingredients under question for use with youngsters that are commonly found in other OTC decongestants and antihistamines.
"They work in a different way," explains Dr. Feder about homeopathic medicines. "The principle is that the body knows what to do best for itself. Rather than suppressing symptoms, these medicines work with the body by sending it a signal to help rebalance itself. What I like about using a homeopathic medicine is that there is no risk of overdosing, nor does it interact with another medication."
For years, Dr. Feder has recommended Oscillococcinum(R), one of the best- selling homeopathic medicines in U.S. natural markets. With a safety record of 65 years in the French market and 20 years in the U.S. market, Oscillo(R), as it's also known, is supported by clinical studies and has no reported side effects. Dr. Feder says she's seen great results and has never seen a negative reaction in her practice.
"It's an OTC that can be useful for nearly everyone in the family household-from 2 to 102. Because homeopathic medicines are not body-mass dependent, there's no need to give more or less medicine depending on body weight," says Dr. Feder. "Oscillo works best when taken at the first sign of fever, chills and body aches. And there's no wresting with kids to take it either because they love the taste of Oscillo's melt-away pellets."
Oscillo is regulated as a drug by the FDA.(1) A 2006 survey of pharmacists through Pharmacy Times magazine ranked Oscillo as the number one pharmacist- recommended homeopathic flu medicine.
Boiron, PRNewswire/Earthtimes, UK, Oct 18, 2007

Labels: UK

How many of us experience helplessness at minor or acute ailments when they strike us at odd hours and also in situations where medical help is not accessible? And wish that we knew about some safe medicines that would provide immediate relief. The safe healing powers of homoeopathy have been proven time and again and today it is one of the most popular and effective forms of natural healthcare. Safety is one of the major plus points of homoeopathy. Homoeopathic medicines have a lot to help in acute and minor ailments. Calendula for cuts and open injuries: Calendula is an essential component of any first-aid kit and may be used to bathe and sterilize wounds and grazes. This homoeopathic remedy is made from fresh flowering tops and leaves of marigold plant. It is generally used topically in the form of cream, tincture and ointment. Its general indications are cuts, tears and laceration, bleeding after tooth extractions. It acts as an antiseptic and promotes rapid growth of skin tissue. Calendula tincture, available in the market, contains a high percentage of alcohol and may sting if used un-diluted. Dilute 10 drops in a bowl of warm water to clean the damaged area before applying dressing. As a mouthwash after tooth extractions, dilute five drops in half a glass of water. Arnica for trauma, injuries and bruises: Nothing beats Arnica in treating blows, concussion, blow-type injuries. It helps by reducing localized inflammation and swelling. It can be used in both minor and major injuries. It has a special role in treating head injuries and should be used immediately in such cases. Arnica is helpful in treating closed type of injuries. Calendula is for cuts and open wounds 30c potency of Arnica can be used. In cases of head injuries 200c or higher potency need to be used. It is; however, better if one consults a professional homoeopath. Aconite for common cold: Aconite is often the most indicated medicine at the start of cold. As soon as one sees first signs of common cold -- e.g. running nose or sneezing -- aconite should be straight away used. Aconite is used internally and can be taken in pill form .30c potency would be a very safe potency in such situations. 'Suddenness' is the key indication for Aconite to be used -- sudden fevers, sudden colds. After exposure to cold air when first symptoms appear, Aconite is the most asked medicine. Remember Aconite is indicated only in the initial stages of illness. A high percentage of patients wouldn't require the help of a physician if Aconite is administered well within time. Three to four doses of Aconite 30c repeated at an interval of 15 minutes should serve as the proverbial stitch in time. Colocynth for colic: Severe pain in the abdomen area is often referred to as colic. Colocynth is very effective in treating abdominal cramps and is indicated in pains that are often very violent, sudden and are of crimpy character. Pains are severe and force the patient to bend double for relief. Colic comes with indigestion, over-excitement or anger. Such abdominal pains may be associated with diarrhoea, vomiting or nausea. Colocynth is very effective in treating wind-colic in babies where pressure on the abdomen provides momentary relief. It is also very valuable in treating abdominal pains during menses. Four to five doses of 30c potency repeated at an interval of 15 minutes should help alleviate the suffering.
Dr Shakoor Aslam/The Post, Pakistan, Oct 18, 2007

Labels: Pakistan

The risk of possible secondary effects means that pregnancy and conventional medicines do not always go together well. Which is no doubt one of the reasons why homeopathy is gradually gaining ground among mothers-to-be. Women are able to continue using homeopathic remedies, despite being pregnant, to relieve problems associated with pregnancy and even to prepare for the birth.
“With homeopathy, there are no contraindications”, explains Anne-Marie Curat, member of the French National Midwives Council. “It’s very reassuring for pregnant women, because as soon as they read the information that accompanies conventional medicines they see the familiar phrase: ‘not suitable for use by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding’”.
Nausea, vomiting, bloating, constipation, sleeping problems, cramp, stretch marks, tender breasts and, of course, contractions… Nowadays homeopathic treatments are used to treat most of the problems associated with pregnancy...including preparing for the birth itself. There is a homeopathic treatment called caulophyllum that is known to be effective and “encourages dilation and reduces the duration of labour”, states Anne-Marie Curat.
“Obviously we are not suggesting that these treatments be used as a matter of course”, the midwife continues. “We operate on a case by case basis. But very often we are responding to the requests of patients who want to be treated homoeopathically”.
Source : Interview with Anne-Marie Curat, September 2007/Destination Santé, France - Oct 5, 2007

Labels: France

For many people having children is a wonderful and exciting process, for others it can be a worrying time if poor health obstructs an otherwise joyous occasion.
During such times more people are seeking an effective route to better health while avoiding short or long term side effects.
The good news for new and expectant parents is that access to homeopathy, a safe natural alternative, has spread across Ireland thanks to increasing numbers of qualified homeopaths.
Qualified homeopaths have completed a four year course in a recognised college, they progress to become a registered homeopath and many go on to obtain a postgraduate qualification.
“Homeopathic treatment is used successfully during pregnancy, birth, and in early childhood for complaints such as morning sickness and infections during pregnancy and labour difficulties are frequently assisted. Colic, teething, earaches, and temperature irregularities can be addressed via homeopathy for even the youngest baby”, said Triona Healy from The Irish Society of Homeopaths. ”Homeopathy supports a person’s natural defence system, helping it to be stronger during times of strain on the body. It is a non toxic approach to health that does not cause side effects or dependency.”
Lots of people are amazed at the effectiveness of homeopathy when used during labour and its assistance at speeding up recovery after a booked section or delivery. It is seen in homeopathic practices that midwifes have turned to homeopathy for assistance when they are pregnant themselves after observing the effect in deliveries they have been involved in where homeopathic remedies were used in assisting childbirth.
Galway First, Ireland - Sep 24, 2007

Labels: Ireland

From the flu to chronic pain, homeopathy has been used to treat a wide range of illnesses in its adherents for hundreds of years.
"I don't really understand how it works, and I really don't care. I just know it does," Rebecca Burbank* of New Orleans says, who has been using homeopathic remedies to ameliorate her mood for the past 18 months. The practitioner who treats Burbank, Robin C. Myers of Baton Rouge, La., explains that a correctly chosen homeopathic remedy often provides patients with healing on more than a physical level.
Although the word is now commonplace, many are not familiar with the broad effects of the practice. As Myers explains, it "fully embraces the patient, at all levels, and allows for graceful wellness to become the norm, instead of a faint possibility."
Homeopathic medicine was created more than 200 years ago by Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician who did not agree with harsh conventional 18th century medical practices such as bloodletting.
His quest to truly understand the nature of disease and find a scientifically sound methodology of treatment resulted in the system he dubbed "homeopathy," from the Greek word homoios, meaning similar, and pathos, or suffering. It is a form of alternative medicine that is widely used today in the U.S., Europe, Japan and India. The practice, though, is not without its skeptics who question its effectiveness and say its benefits have not been verified by scientific and clinical studies.
The deep healing so many proponents speak of comes from the core philosophy of homeopathy: Hahnemann believed that the root cause of acute and chronic diseases lay in a disturbance in a person's vital life force (also known as chi or qi in traditional Chinese medicine), and that in order to cure a patient , homeopath needed to take into account all aspects of a patient -- not just their symptoms and complaints -- to find the appropriate rebalancing remedy.
Penelope Dane, TheStreet.com - Sep 21, 2007

Labels: USA

The principle of homeopathic remedies is known as the "Law of Similars" (or "Like cures like"). What this means is that substances that cause healthy people to get symptoms can cure diseases that have these symptoms.
In conventional medicine, the symptoms are considered to be a manifestation of the disease. The drugs are given to kill the bacteria causing the symptoms. Homeopathic medicine, on the other hand, see the symptoms as the body's attempt to heal itself. It's a positive sign that the body's defense mechanism is trying to fight the disease. It's part of the healing process and hence the symptoms should not be contained or suppressed.
That's why when you use homeopathic remedies, you may feel worse before you feel better. Unlike conventional medicines, homeopathy remedies act first on the emotional symptoms, before they cure the physical ones. In essence, it is the opposite of traditional medicines.
Here is an example to explain the principle of the Law of Similars: Let's assume you have developed a severe rash. Let's also assume you have taken a prescribed medication to dissipate the rash. Suddenly you experience side effects from this medication and research its ingredients. Now, let's assume once again that your spouse has a terrible cold. You find that the ingredients in the medication you took for the rash can get rid of a cold, provided it is prepared by a homeopathic professional and given in a small dose.
Furthermore, anyone who is using homeopathy to cure an illness should be aware that there are certain foods and drinks to avoid because they counteract the remedy's potency. For example, homeopathic practitioners advise not to drink caffeine or eat anything with mint as this can suppress the remedy and render it ineffective.
Ricky Hussey/American Chronicle, CA, US - Oct 7, 2007

Labels: USA

According to WHO, homeopathy is the 2nd largest system of medicine in the world and is experiencing an annual growth of around 20-25%. It is estimated that by 2017, the world homeopathy market would be equivalent to the current alternative healthcare market which is Rs.52,000 crore.
The research was conducted to gauge the potential of the industry through market study and a patient behaviour analysis. It also highlighted the contribution of Dr. Batra’s Positive Health Clinics towards homeopathy. Observing the potential in the industry, this initiative was taken to conduct the first-of-its-kind patient perspective study of the homeopathy sector in India. The objectives of the research were to understand the patient psychographics regarding chronic ailments, to determine the psychographics of conventional treatments vs. homeopathy and to evaluate the brand perception of Dr. Batra’s ®. For the research, AC Nielsen conducted 650 interviews across 7 cities among a mix of people with certain specific characteristics. 222 interviewees were regular allopathy users, 215 non-Dr. Batra’s® homeopathy users and 213 Dr. Batra’s ® homeopathy users between November, 2006 and April, 2007.
Homeopathy is an effective means of treating chronic ailments. These ailments include hair & skin problems, respiratory problems, arthritis and other miscellaneous treatments like thyroid, bed-wetting, diabetes, and obesity. According to the research, 51% of the people suffering from chronic ailments try home remedies and 30% prefer to leave it unattended. Recurrent use of self-medication and ignorance of proper treatment could lead to severe consequences. 26% of the people resort to medical intervention, of which 47% people visit their family doctor or a GP (general practitioner), 18% resort to conventional treatments and 34% visit a homeopath if their ailment is chronic. Commenting on this, Dr. Mukesh Batra, Chairman cum Managing Director, Dr. Batra’s Positive Health Clinics Pvt. Ltd., said, “81% of people suffering from chronic ailments either self medicate or do nothing at all. This is a disturbing trend throughout the country. Homeopathy is often approached as a last resort when all other treatments have failed. Due to this, the duration of the treatment increases since the ailment reaches an advanced stage. In fact, 73% of homeopathy as well as conventional medicine users believe that we provide the best solution in homeopathy. 52% people in Mumbai believe that homeopathy is safe. ”
The research threw light on the friction between conventional medicine and homeopathy. It highlighted that while people opt for conventional medicine because it enjoys top-of-mind recall (59%) and has immediate results (56%), they choose homeopathy because it is safe (53%) or is recommended by friends and relatives (50%). Also, 20% of the population who had never tried allopathy would opt for it because it provides quick relief, and solutions for all problems. An important aspect to be considered is that while 62% of the current homeopathy users have never tried allopathy, 82% of homoeopathy users would not switch to conventional treatments.
Moneycontrol.com, India - Sep 20, 2007

Labels: India

Health bosses have recommended that NHS funding for a homeopathic hospital in Kent should be stopped.
West Kent Primary Care Trust has been conducting a review of all its funding.
Up until now, part of it has been paying for patients to be treated at the Tunbridge Wells Homeopathic Hospital, or at a clinic in Bromley.
Spokeswoman Emma Burns said the move was because "the NHS has to decide the best use of money on the evidence of clinical effectiveness".
Trust executives recommended to board members at a meeting that the £160,000 spent on treatments each year could be better spent elsewhere.
It follows a lengthy and extensive public consultation.
The clinic treats up to 1,000 patients a year, and is one of just five in the UK to provide homeopathic treatment on the NHS.
The hospital is run by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust which will have to make a decision on its future, now the outcome of Thursday's PCT meeting is known.
The Homeopathic Hospital also houses community paediatrics and a child and adolescent mental health service, but it is just the homeopathy department that is under threat.
BBC News, UK - Sep 28, 2007

Labels: UK

The withdrawing of funding from homoeopathy in the NHS is welcomed in a letter to this week's BMJ.
In the UK National Health Service, primary care trusts are, quite rightly, withdrawing funding from homoeopathy, writes David Colquhoun, Professor of Pharmacology at University College London.
"Something has been done, at last," he says, following news that Tunbridge Wells Homoeopathic Hospital will close and the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital is in great danger.
He also supports the view that the US Congress should stop funding the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).
He points to an article about National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which states: "After ten years of existence and over $200 million in expenditures, it has not proved effectiveness for any 'alternative' method. It has added evidence of ineffectiveness of some methods that we knew did not work before NCCAM was formed."
eMaxHealth.com, NC, US - Oct 12, 2007

Labels: USA

Campaigners fighting to save a homeopathic hospital in West Kent have hit out at health bosses after it was revealed patients in the east of the county would continue to receive the service.
West Kent Primary Care Trust (PCT) decided to axe funding for the complimentary treatment after a lengthy public consultation and despite thousands of objections.
Lesley Herriot, chairman of the Campaign to Save the Homeopathic Hospital (CaSHH) in Tunbridge Wells, said: “It looks like a case of postcode lottery to us.
“It seems that our patients and friends could continue to receive homeopathic treatment on the NHS if they were to move to East Kent where homeopathy is funded and will continue to be funded.
“Kent is one county so why discriminate against us because we live on the wrong side of it?”
She said patients who could not take conventional medicines, many of whom cannot afford to be treated privately, were hugely concerned about what they will do next March when their current treatment end.
A spokesman for Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT said the trust had a contract with UCL Hospital in London and that GPs and consultants could refer their patients for homeopathic treatments.
CaSHH members swore to keep fighting after West Kent PCT’s board decided to stop spending £196,000 out of its £747 million budget on homeopathy.
Kent News, United Kingdom - Oct 13, 2007

Labels: UK

Patients will no longer be able to receive homoeopathy treatments at a specialist hospital because they are a waste of money and do not work, an NHS trust said.
Health bosses have decided that annual NHS funding of £160,000 for Tunbridge Wells Homeopathic Hospital in Kent could be better spent elsewhere. The hospital is one of five in Britain providing homoeopathic treatment on the NHS.
Times Online, UK - Sep 28, 2007

Labels: UK

Homeopathic remedies are taken by 30 million people worldwide – but what are they and how do they work?
Jemma Walton Spoke to one of the three homeopaths currently working in Peterborough to find out.
TO some people it's snake oil, while to others – like Prince Charles – it is a natural, effective way of treating illness. But what is homeopathy?
Homeopathy is one of those things, like acupuncture and reiki, that lurks in the pages of women's magazines. We have all heard of it, but we're not really sure what it is or whether it could do anything for us.
For the past few months I have been suffering from outbreaks of an itchy rash on my arms and legs that will come and go without warning. Doctors have said it was an allergy – to what, they weren't sure. And so it has just been a case of waiting and seeing what triggers the rash, if anything. Great.
The antihistamine Piriton gets rid of the rash, but it makes me sleepy, which isn't ideal as dozing is banned in the ET office, officially at least.
And so when I heard about Barbara Reid offering homeopathy from Broadway Chiropractic Clinic, I made an appointment to see her to find out more about homeowatsit – and whether she could stop the itchiness.
Barbara has previously worked as a lecturer in housing at London South Bank University, where she was interested in the link between quality of life and housing.
But she became even more fascinated by quality of life when a homeopath helped her to get rid of the migraines and period pains she had suffered with for years.
Barbara trained at the London School of Classical Homeopathy, is a member of the Society of Homeopaths, and has been seeing clients from her home in Newborough. From this month she will be offering consultations at Broadway Chiropractic Clinic.
Before I let her take a look at my lumps and bumps I asked her a few questions, like what is homeopathy? How does it work?
She said: "Back in 1796, a German doctor called Samuel Hahnemann discovered a different way of curing the sick that he called homeopathy. Homeopathy
is a complete system of medicine which can help people with all kinds of illnesses, from depression to arthritis, migraine to ulcers, it is safe and natural, and suitable for people of all ages."
Apparently, homeopathy works according to something called the "Law of Similars", which states broadly that a substance that can make someone sick, can also heal.
Jemma Walton/Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK - Sep 25, 2007

Labels: UK

Chandigarh: Claiming alternate medicinal therapies were highly in demand in Europe and the US, two NRI physicians have said Indian doctors could meet the demand.
"Indian doctors have better success rate and future doctors will be required to be well-versed with various ayurvedic, unani, homeopathy treatments as well as knowledge of yoga which is becoming a part of holistic treatment abroad," Associate Dean at All Saints University of Medicine Jagmohan Singh Sidhu said at a conference "Future of Medicine".
All Saints University of Medicine (ASUM), Aruba Director of Clinical Affairs Gurmit Singh Chilana said there was a growing trend towards alternate medicine in Europe.
Chilana and Sidhu visited the city and Punjab for a tie-up with medical institutions to provide for clinical rotation in US-based hospitals.
Sify, India - Oct 14, 2007

Labels: India

In spite of being the second largest system of medicine in the world and having proved its efficacy in many therapeutic segments, homeopathy still remains much unorganised and often the last resort. Sushmi Dey explores the promising system of medicines.

Docs and the bitter pills have always been objects of threat to patients of all age groups. Homeopathy has not just come as a relief to all such ideas but also as an effective alternative system of medicine. The origin of homeopathy is also as interesting as the system of medicine itself. Remarkably, the system of homeopathic treatment was first cracked by none other than a physician who himself used to practise conventional medicines. Back in the late 18 century, harsh and threatening methods of medical treatment prompted Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, chemist and linguist to develop an alternative and less threatening way of treatment. Way back then, medicines contained toxic elements like arsenic and mercury and treatments involved lot of blistering and bloodletting (according to reports). The first breakthrough occurred while Hahnemann, disturbed with such medical practices, was translating an herbal text and came to know of a treatment used to cure malaria with Cinchona bark. Hahnemann observed the undiluted bark for sometime and discovered that he himself developed symptoms similar to malaria symptoms. This observation proved to be a landmark and lead to the concept of homeopathic medicines.
Express Pharma, India - Oct 4, 2007

Labels: India

Roberta Bivins traces the chequered history of some of our favourite alternative health remedies
The founding father of homoeopathy was a German doctor named Samuel Hahnemann. In 1810 he was investigating the properties of a malarial medicine called cinchona bark, which is now known to contain the antimalarial compound quinine. He noticed that, when eaten, the bark gave him fever-like symptoms similar to those of malaria. So he came up with the concept that “like treated like”, becoming convinced that a natural treatment should elicit the same symptoms as the disease that it was treating.
Dr Hahnemann’s homoeopathic ideas soon became popular and spread across the globe. One of the reasons for this popularity was the DIY element to it; people could treat themselves by using a homoeopathy book and by picking up ready-made preparations from a homoeopathic doctor.

There was much rivalry in the 19th century between conventional doctors and the doctors who practised homoeopathy, as both at the time carried equal authority in the eyes of the public. The two schools of medicine became embroiled in a vicious war of words and, at one point, the American Medical Association stated that its doctors should refuse to see any patient who had admitted to using homoeopathy. This didn’t stop the rising enthusiasm for homoeopathic treatments, which continued into the 20th century. However, the battle was eventually won by conventional medicine and the last homoeopathic medical school closed in the 1940s.
The clincher for conventional medicine had been advances in surgery and antibiotics, as homoeopathy had nothing to match this. However, homoeopathy made a comeback in the 1970s and it is one of the world’s most-used alternative therapy. In India it is more popular than conventional medicine.
Times Online, UK - Oct 12, 2007

Labels: UK

I read with sadness the story of Luke Hatfield (Mercury, last week) whose seemingly ideal drug is on the 'red light' list of the Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust.
I suspect he is not the only person who has had this problem. As we are all well aware allergies of all sorts are on the increase, and the amount of money that the NHS has at its disposal is not infinite.
Hay fever starts for some when the oil seed rape comes into flower, or even before, for others it seems to be grass pollens and for others various tree pollens.
The main time for sufferers in my experience is from the beginning of May to the end of June, this of course is not only the time of year for weddings but also exam time for children from GCSE, though AS, A-levels and university exams and it spoils this time of year for them as well as distracting them from their studies.
I have been involved with children like Luke for many years as a homeopath. What I realise is that many families are not aware that there is an alternative to medication from their GP.
Research has been
done (Reilly, 2006) showing the effects of homeopathic treatment for hay fever, asthma and perennial rhinitis.
Not only did the hay fever improve in a significant number of cases but the general level of health also improved and the hay fever tended not to return.
Homeopathy is an ideal method of treating this problem as it individualises the sufferer's own problem and is so easy to take.
Annie Hall, North Street, Stamford/Stamford Mercury, UK - Oct 12, 2007

Labels: UK

I understand there is a an attempt to get rid of the Arizona Board of Homeopathic Medical Examiners Homeopathic Physicians, and I think this is an enormous mistake.
I appreciate that we have a choice here in Arizona about our health care. My son recently was diagnosed with autism, and every Arizona Medical Board-certified doctor I have consulted thus far has not seen the need for homeopathic treatments.
However, I have started using some homeopathic treatments, and my son is a new child. The doctor who diagnosed him said that he would never communicate in certain ways or do certain things. And now, even after only a few short months, not only is he communicating with others, he plays with his brothers in ways he never has before.
Because of my ability to choose alternative health care, my son is on a clear path to recovery.
All medical needs must be met, and to do that, two separate medical boards still need to be in place. . -
Leslie O'Shea,Scottsdale/Arizona Republic, AZ - Oct 12, 2007

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Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Health Minister P.K. Sreemathi has said that disputes between various streams of medicine would only have bad effects on medical sciences.
She was speaking after inaugurating the eye camp organised by Thiruvananthapuram Press Club and Sreedhariam Eye Hospital here on Sunday.
All streams of medicine have both good and bad sides. The need of the hour was to bring together the good side from every stream of medicine, she said.
The faith of the people was the most important factor for any system of medicine, whether allopathy, ayurveda or homoeopathy, she said.
Press Club president K. Sreekandan presided over the function.
15/10/07 Newindpress, India

Labels: India