Ayurveda & Hindu tradition: On Devshayani Ekadashi (July 25), a Hindu fasting tradition explains why rice is avoided—linked to beliefs that rice can absorb “negative cosmic energies” and reduce the fast’s spiritual payoff. Ayurveda for summer heat: Acharya Balkrishna shares home-style ways to cool “excess body heat” tied to Pitta, including a sattu drink meant to calm heat and support digestion. TCM goes global: China’s new 15th Five-Year Plan for Traditional Chinese Medicine aims to standardize care and expand access, as international visitors increasingly seek acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping. Fertility add-ons questioned: A new review in The Lancet raises doubts about common IVF add-on procedures, finding limited convincing benefits for several popular interventions. Medicine shortages hit patients: UK pharmacists are again rationing ramipril for another three months under a serious shortage protocol. Wellness experiences, not just prescriptions: Sound baths with tuning forks and luxury floating spa retreats in London highlight the growing mainstream pull of relaxation therapies. AYUSH expansion with delays: Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia faces construction delays for 14 Ayurvedic hospital buildings, while Uttarakhand plans Supraja Centres for Ayurveda-based antenatal care. Regulation watch: An FDA panel voted to loosen rules on controversial peptide BPC-157, a move that could reshape access via compounding pharmacies. Self-care in health systems: New research argues self-care works best when integrated into formal health systems with clear referral pathways.