Arjuna Natural Pvt Ltd.

Driven by the Dobbs decision, investors seeking action on benefits, data privacy, political spending, and more SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In coordination with Rhia Ventures, investors have filed thirty-one (31) shareholder proposals addressing the intersections between corporate policy and reproductive health care, more than doubling the volume of last year's activity. The proposals addressed employer-provided insurance and benefits, data privacy, political spending, and related matters in various industries. This year's filings build on a shareholder initiative launched in 2019. "Rhia Ventures is working with a network of institutional investors who are intent on seeing that the companies they hold in their portfolios do all they can to ensure access to the best reproductive and maternal health care," said Rhia Ventures director of corporate engagement Shelley Alpern. "Together, these investors have engaged with numerous companies to drive changes in policy and practice." Before this year, investors had collectively filed 28 shareholder proposals on this topic. In the 2022 proxy season, before last year's US Supreme Court decision ending the constitutional right to abortion protections (Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization), eleven proposals came to a vote concerning access to reproductive health care. Those proposals garnered significant support (30-47% of votes cast). Since the June ruling, more than 200 businesses have publicly disclosed or acknowledged improved benefits to support their employees as they navigate mounting obstacles to accessing abortion and other forms of reproductive health care. Rhia Ventures maintains an online database tracking these announcements at #WhatAreYourReproBenefits). This year's proposals fall into several categories: Ten proposals address corporate support for politicians and political committees seeking to deny access to reproductive health care in contradiction to their stated values. Nine proposals address threats to the privacy of reproductive health data collected and maintained by companies. Six call upon companies to report to shareholders on the risks posed to their companies by restrictive state policies and any strategies they are undertaking to minimize or mitigate these risks. Proposals were filed at two hospital companies concerning their policies around providing abortions. Three health insurance companies received proposals concerning their plan offerings concerning abortion and contraception. A proposal encouraging strong maternal health care benefits was filed at one retailer. Links to the proposal are appended below. The proposals note that beyond a moral obligation to address these issues, business interests are at risk. With increased competition for goods and services amidst globalized markets, consumers support companies that address worker needs and critical reproductive health care and abortion access. And the disconnect between political spending and stated values can damage the reputation and diminish the brand value and relations with clients, consumers, and other stakeholders. "We know that one in four women will have an abortion in her lifetime. We believe that companies succeed when their employees thrive," said David Stocks, executive director at The Educational Foundation of America. "We understand that state abortion bans impact companies by forcing their employees to take significant time off from work and spend hundreds of dollars traveling out of state. That's why it's important to EFA that companies support their workforce and reconsider their contributions to politicians harming their employees through enacting abortion bans." The Foundation has filed proposals at three companies this year. Dr. Ruth Shaber, founder and president of Tara Health Foundation, said, "The Dobbs decision has dealt a terrible blow to the availability of reproductive health care. We're calling on companies to do all they can to mitigate these impacts." Tara Health Foundation is the sponsor of five shareholder proposals this year. "The US has chosen to make corporations responsible for the health of their employees through employer-based health insurance. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, that means corporations have an essential role to play in ensuring that everyone has access to full spectrum reproductive health care, including abortion access," said Dorrit Lowsen, co-chief executive officer at Change Finance, which filed data privacy proposals at three companies. "Protecting reproductive rights is critical to women's health, but it's also a business imperative," said Natasha Lamb, managing partner at Arjuna Capital. "And in a post-Dobbs world, many companies are exposed to a new status quo that threatens their workforce and customers. Investors want to know how they will respond by updating health benefits, privacy policies, and aligning their political spending to support their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion." Arjuna Capital has filed proposals at five corporations. Rob Fohr, director of faith-based investing and corporate engagement for the Presbyterian Church USA, said that the Church "has had a policy in place supporting reproductive justice for decades. As the access to reproductive health care has become more limited, the PCUSA has made additional statements supporting reproductive justice while recognizing that poor, young, or homeless people of color are at a greater disadvantage to finding the care they need." "A company's leadership is responsible for competently handling complex issues, particularly when those issues are controversial. As investors, we expect them to not turn a blind eye to reproductive health care. Companies need to be proactive in demonstrating to investors that they understand that reproductive health is a business issue. There are no companies without female employees or consumers," stated Meredith Benton, principal at Whistle Stop Capital, a consultancy that supported Nia Impact Capital and As You Sow in filing shareholder resolutions at seven companies. Rhia Ventures is a social impact organization that leverages the private sector to advance equitable reproductive and maternal health outcomes for women and other birthing people in the US. Our Corporate Engagement program works with institutional investors to promote corporate responsibility regarding all reproductive and maternal health aspects. The names of some companies that have received proposals have been withheld because the proponents are in sensitive discussions with company management. CONTACT: Michael Ceraso, [email protected] SOURCE Rhia Ventures

New study demonstrates lower dose of botanical blend provides quick pain relief. KOCHI, India, Oct. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Results of a third clinical study reveal that Arjuna Natural Pvt. Ltd.'s Rhuleave-K® is also effective in pain relief at a dosage 50% that of the previous two studies. The blend of pure extracts of frankincense (Boswellia serrata) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) already was recognized in the first studies as providing relief of acute musculoskeletal pain following exercise, demonstrating a strong cumulative pain relief effect at 1,000mg. In response to the impressive results of the current study, the researchers note that it was encouraging to find that Rhuleave-K® works well even at 500mg. Continue Reading Rhuleave-K Demonstrates Significant Pain Relief at Half the Dose The earlier, multicenter study, using Rhuleave-K® 1000mg in subjects with acute musculoskeletal pain, was published with 88 subjects in 2020, and repeated in 232 individuals in March 2022. This also brought to the conclusion that Rhuleave-K® is effective equally for relieving musculoskeletal pain in the head and neck, the upper and lower limbs, the trunk, and throughout the body. The recent study[1], published in June 2022 in the Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences led by Jerrin Kizhakkekara, MD, and Saif Mohammad, MD, was a prospective randomized double-blind study with 40 subjects, receiving either a single dose of 500 mg of Rhuleave-K standardized curcuminoids and acetyl ketoboswellic acid (AKBA), or a placebo. The primary outcome was the sum of pain intensity difference at 6 hours, as evaluated by the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and total pain relief (TOTPAR6) evaluated by categorical pain relief scale (PRS) every 30 minutes over 6 hours. Results showed a significant decrease (62%) in pain intensity for Rhuleave-K®, with total pain relief 84% better than with the placebo. There was a 43% improvement in the quality of pain relief compared to placebo, as assessed by the McGill short-form questionnaire. The researchers concluded that Rhuleave-K® at the 500mg dose had significant and cumulative pain-relief properties. Joint and tendon pain is one of the leading causes of visits to health and medical practitioners. As a discipline, pain management has become a primary category for specialization. Typically, persons suffering from such pain—whether from overexertion, injury, or inflammation—turn to over-the-counter analgesics, such as aspirin or paracetamol. But such medicines, while generally safe, can have undesired side effects and risks. Increasingly, consumers are seeking more natural solutions to address physical health needs. "There was a distinct gap in the herbal space for fast relief of acute pain," remarks Benny Antony, PhD, Joint Managing Director for Arjuna. "Rhuleave-K® is composed of all-natural botanicals, well-known in traditional Indian medicine and has seen growing support from the scientific community for their strong anti-inflammatory capacity. But more than anti-inflammatory, it's the analgesic—or nociceptive—action which makes Rhuleave K® stand out. And being able to halve the dose makes it extremely affordable, opening more options for creating new formulations using Rhuleave-K®." A third, base component, black sesame seed oil, is employed as an effective carrier agent for the two compounds and has been recognized itself for specific anti-inflammatory and warming properties. "These ingredients were not as successful individually for fast relief of pain," explains Antony. "To our knowledge, Rhuleave-K® —crafted through Arjuna's proprietary SPEEDTECH process—is the first such blend of botanicals clinically documented to offer fast pain relief in acute musculoskeletal pain and pain following exercise." Arjuna's scientists already are looking into other types of pain, such as headaches, that could benefit from the powerful, long-lasting relief Rhuleave-K® offers. About Arjuna Natural Pvt, Ltd. For more than three decades, Arjuna Natural (Arjuna Natural Private Limited.) has been an innovative, science-based organization specializing in natural extracts for Health and sustainable living. The company always sought to serve the unmet needs by bettering lives across the globe through innovative natural solutions. Established in 1992, the company has grown rapidly, with customers in 64 countries, and has an advanced research facility that works in collaboration with international universities on phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, formulation, development, pre-clinical and toxicity studies. Arjuna Natural's facilities comply with the highest world standards, are GMP-certified, and have ISO, NSF, and halal and Star-K kosher certification. Arjuna will showcase Rhuleave-K® and other branded ingredients at CPHI, Frankfurt, on November 1-3, booth #110F82 and at SupplySide West, Las Vegas, on November 2-3, booth #3228. For further information please contact: [1] Photo - SOURCE Arjuna Natural Ltd.