You may have read in the papers and heard about Baba Ramdev and his companies multi-million dollar growth story.
What inspired me to write article was from this new read:
How our craze for Patanjali products made Baba Ramdev’s aide Acharya Balkrishna one of the wealthiest Indians.
So I thought let us address the modus operandi of their schemes using one of their product.
Company Name: Patanjali
Product name: Patanjali Dant Kanti
Claim: Herbal medicinal toothpaste. Ayurveda rocks.
Patanjali Kanti herbal toothpaste is wonderful natural toothpaste that helps to keep your teeth healthy.
It is a useful natural toothpaste that provides nourishment to the teeth and prevents diseases of the gums.
It is useful in preventing cavities of the teeth, inflammation of the gums and decay of teeth at an early stage.
It is also beneficial herbal toothpaste for children who get cavities due to eating too many sweets and chocolates. It is absolutely natural and safe and does not affect in an adverse way.
Source: http://www.swamibabaramdevmedicines.com/divya-dant-kanti
Composition of the toothpaste:
Akarakara ext. Anacyclus pyrentheum Root 100 Gum binder
Neem ext. Azadirachta indica Bark 100 329 Antiseptic,
Babool ext. Acacia arabica Bark 200 529 Gum binder
Tomer ext. Xanthoxylum alatum Seed 100 Antimicrobial, mouth freshener, pain reliever
Pudina ext. Mentha spicata Leaf 100 830 Mouth freshener
Haldi ext. Curcuma longa Rhizome 100 114 Antiseptic
Laung ext. Syzygium aromaticum Flower Bud 100 219 Antimicrobial, mouth freshener, pain reliever
Pippli Choti ext. Piper sylvaticum Fruit 100 16 Sugandhi
Pilu ext. Salvadora persica Stem Bark 100 591 Stambhak
Majuphal Ext. Quercus infectoria Flower
Bud 50 834 Stambhak
Base material: – Calcium Carbonate- 38-42% , Sorbitol-18-22%, Glycerine-4-8%, Sodium Banzoate-1.0-1.6%, PPt. Silica- 3.0-4.5%, perfume-1.0-1.3%, SLS Powder- 2.0-2.7%, Triclosan- 0.03-0.5, SCMC-0.550-0.625%, water-Q.S.
Source: http://reviewsimpact.com/patanjali-dant-kanti-toothpaste-review#ingredients
What are the functions of these compounds in the toothpaste?
Calcium Carbonate and 304.5% silica both are used as abrasive.
Sorbitol artificial sweetener
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative and suspected human carcinogen.
SLS: Sodium lauryl sulphate is "soap". You get foam because of this.
Sodium mono fluorophosphate is used in toothpaste to protect tooth enamel from attack by bacteria (cavities, also known as caries). It was developed to avoid infringing on the Crest patent for stannous fluoride.
Importantly: It contains FLUORIDE
Source: Wikipedia and
http://www.thefactsabout.co.uk/how-does-toothpaste-work/content/115
How does toothpaste work?
Toothpaste contains mild abrasives which physically scrub away the plaque and food debris without damaging the tooth enamel. Most toothpastes contains fluoride which protects the tooth enamel. Some also contain antimicrobial ingredients to reduce the formation of plaque which could lead to tartar build-up and further problems.
How does fluoride work?
It is found naturally in some foods such as tea, fish, vegetables and fruit juices, but its inclusion into toothpaste has been a major public health advance. Fluoride has been the major factor in reducing the incidence of dental decay and has been used in toothpaste for almost 50 years.
It works by promoting a chemical reaction in tooth enamel that draws in replacement minerals including calcium. Fluoride incorporates itself into enamel weakened by acid attack, making the tooth more resistant to future acid attacks.
What other ingredients are necessary for toothpaste?
Each make of toothpaste has a slightly different formulation, to appeal to different consumer needs. However, most will contain the following ingredients:
Abrasives: these remove stains and plaque, and polish the teeth. They must be abrasive enough to do this without damaging the enamel or any exposed dentine. Examples include calcium carbonate, silica, and alumina.
Detergents: these create the foaming action which helps dislodge food debris and bacterial plaque as well as providing a pleasant mouth feel. A common detergent is sodium lauryl sulphate.
Humectants (eg. glycerin): these give toothpaste its texture and retain moisture so the toothpaste doesn’t dry out.
Thickeners (such as cellulose gum) are also used for texture. They help the toothpaste to stay on the brush when squeezed from the tube/pump.
Preservatives: prevent the growth of bacteria or other micro-organisms in toothpaste.
Flavouring and colouring agents: without these, toothpaste would look and tasteless palatable.
Source: http://www.thefactsabout.co.uk/how-does-toothpaste-work/content/115
Where is the problem with Patanjali's claims?
1> They are just like any other toothpaste. The composition is exactly the same.
2> 80-85% of the toothpaste composition is inorganic and it's foundations lie outside of Ayurveda.
3> Whatever dental problems Patanjali claims that its product will protect from is correct but fluoride and other chemical composition that are present in the toothpaste are known to do exactly the same thing. Therefore the claim that Patanjali's ayurvedic composition is doing anything special or different from any other toothpaste is highly suspect.
4> The ayurvedic components are not consumed or applied in the way Ayurveda suggests it should be used. For example, haldi when ingested has certain effects and when applied on the skin it has a different set of effects. However, as a dental cream, there is little to no scope that the ayurvedic ingredients will be absorbed by the gums. Anyway, the quantities are so minute that their impact, if any, will be negligible.
5> At the most Patanjali can claim that their herbal flavoring agent is far more superior than other popular brands. The Ayurvedic composition here, in this case, seems to do nothing more than being a flavoring agent.
Conclusion:
Blind faith cannot be cured via any form of medicines be it allopathic or ayurvedic or homeopathy. Their claim, that Patanjali is ayurvedic herbal natural toothpaste and far different from other brands like Colgate, for example, are untrue.