Traditional Medicines an Effective Tool in Health Care: To be
Implemented in National Health Policy
Dr. P. S. Byadgi*
Traditional medicine
Traditional medicine (TM) refers to the
knowledge, skills and practices based on the
theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to
different cultures, used in the maintenance of
health and in the prevention, diagnosis,
improvement or treatment of physical and mental
illness. Traditional medicine covers a wide variety
of therapies and practices which vary from country
to country and region to region. In some countries,
it is referred to as "alternative" or
"complementary" medicine (CAM). Traditional
medicine has been used for thousands of years
with great contributions made by practitioners to
human health, particularly as primary health care
providers at the community level. TM/CAM has
maintained its popularity worldwide. Since the
1990s, its use has surged in many developed and
developing countries.
(http://www.who.int/topics/traditional_medicine/e
n/)
Traditional medicines: A ray of hope for
better health
Traditional medicine has a long history of use in
health maintenance and in disease prevention and
treatment. Promotion for research and
development, innovation, knowledge management
is necessary for over all development. Quality,
safety and effectiveness of traditional medicine
were well established through continuous research
but still it needs to be standardized at national
level in uniform method. Adequate encouragement
to consumers, practitioner communities and
researchers is necessary in setting standards for
and regulating training, services and therapies for
the overall development of AYUSH in India and
at the global level. Consumer’s desire for
accessibility and availability of the better
therapeutic approaches needs to be addressed
carefully.
Ayurvedic medicine is an Indian system of
traditional medicine that originated from the
Indian subcontinent. The famous oldest ayurvedic
classical texts are the Charaka Samhita and
*
Assistant Professor, Department of VikritiVigyan,Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Banaras Hindu
University (BHU), Varanasi -221005, India.
E- mail: psbyadgi@rediffmail.com
© ADR Journals 2014. All Rights Reserved.
Susrutha Samhita and these classical Sanskrit texts
are among the foundational and formally compiled
works of Ayurveda. Sushruta and Charaka, the
two legendaries of Ayurveda, are respected
worldwide not only for their profound knowledge,
medical skills, logic, and exemplary contributions
but also for their open, inclusive, scientific, and
critical approach. Ayurveda facilitates the
transformation of faith-based tradition, to a cause
and effect-based rational system of medicine
essentially considered as evidence based medicine.
The Samhitas greatly emphasize the need of
introspection and reflection for impartial
understanding of science. According to Charaka,
an Ayurveda specialist should try to assimilate the
skills needed to assess a continuously changing
world. Critical outlook on life and approaches to
learning has significantly played a role in
Ayurveda's evolution as a science distinctly
different from empirical folklore practices
available all over the world. A humble Ayurvedist
always tries to acquire more knowledge, attempt
continuous introspection, and encourage
questioning as it is in practice since the inception
of Ayurveda. It is need of the hour to include the
research-oriented perspectives of modern science
to explore the science at global perspectives. This
kind of attitude is essential for the resurgence of
Ayurveda in today's rapidly changing world. Core
skills of Ayurveda professionals need to be
recognized in their own right, and made available
at the health promotion and primary care level as
an invaluable and highly necessary branch of
science to deal with the health issues in a holistic
manner. Ayurveda practice is a noble profession
and considerably improves public health and
provides better care for chronic non
communicable diseases. Ayurveda professionals
assume greater responsibilities towards their
patients because of their holistic individualistic
approach to patient care and it is also safe,
effective, and affordable treatment modalities for
general public with minimal adverse reactions.
Interestingly, the situation is very challenging but
present opportunities are very exciting and
expectations from the profession are
correspondingly high to counter act certain
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diseases. Among these challenges, the Ayurveda
fraternity must engage with contemporary
sciences, and to design evidence-based integrated
models for better health. Ayurveda needs to
reinvigorate its research methodologies, which
will be the real booster for its development from
present scenario. It is necessary to bridge the gap
between the realities, opportunities, and
expectation wisely and tactfully. Ayurveda says
that wholesome food is the only sole cause for the
growth of living beings. Three factors which
support life are Ahara (food), swapna (sound
sleep) and brahmacharya (one who is having
control over his senses and full of spiritual bliss).
By this, body will possess strength, complexion,
and growth and will live longer, provided the
person does not indulge in factors which
deteriorate health. Consumption of proper amount
of food certainly benefits the individual with
strength, complexion, happiness and longevity. A
person is called healthy or Swastha if he possesses
the equilibrium state doshas (body humors), Agni
(the bio-digestive fire), dhatus (the tissues) and
malas (wastes) associated with the pleasant state
of soul, sensory organs and mind. It is the basis of
normal immunity.
Personalized Medicine: An Ayurvedic
approach
An Ayurvedic system of medicine approaches
each individual as a different entity and it is
aiming to predict the risk and the treatment of
disease on the basis of a person's genetic profile,
psychological condition, physical strength, disease
strength etc. hence, it is essential to prescribe the
therapy to the patient, which constitutes
J. Adv. Res. Ayur. Yoga Unani Sidd. Homeo. 2014; 1(1): 1- 2.
2
karyadesha or the site for the administration of
therapies with a view to bring back the
homeostasis among dosha, dhatu etc. Personalized
approach is essential because if a physician not
having examined each individual properly,
suddenly administers an intensely potent drug, the
patient may die. Prescribed therapy should not be
injurious to the body and mind. Stronger therapies
that are neither distressing during their digestion
nor associated with serious complications may be
administered slowly and gradually. Similarly, if
weak therapies are administered to a strong
individual having a serious disease without proper
examination, the disease does not get cured.
Hence, the patient should be examined in respect
to Prakriti (constitution/ genetic profile), Vikriti
(morbidity of diseases), Sara (essence of vital
tissues), Samhanana (compactness), Pramana
(Anthropometry), satmya (suitability), satva
(psyche), agnibala (biodigestive fire), bala
(strength assessment), vaya (age), Dosa (humors),
ausadha (medicines), desha (Habitat), kala (time/
season), Sharira (examination of body) and Ahara
(diet). These tools provide the framework in terms
of prompt and individualized diagnosis and
treatment to the patient and help to recover from
diseases promptly without leaving any hazardous
impact on the body. Ayurveda gave emphasis on
lifestyle, diet, sleep; seasonal regimen, bio-
purification of the body from time to time,
rejuvenation measures and aphrodisiac therapy to
maintain excellent health.
All traditional medicines are unique in their own
way in health maintenance and in disease
prevention and treatment, especially chronic
diseases.