Biju Dharmapalan
Ayurveda, the ancient medicinal system of India, is one of the oldest and continuously practiced traditions, rooted in a solid foundation of philosophy and empirical observation. The founding principles of Ayurveda date back to the Vedic period of ancient India. The earliest texts containing knowledge related to health and healing practices are found in the Vedas, particularly the Rigveda, which contains hymns describing the healing benefits of specific herbs and plants. According to Ayurveda, each cell is considered an inherent manifestation of pure intelligence, earning it the designation of self-healing science. Along with this philosophy of self-healing, the use of medicinal plants is of equal importance in this ancient Indian medical tradition.
Since 2016, the Indian government has celebrated National Ayurveda Day on Dhanwantari Jayanti (Dhanteras) every year. Lord Dhanvantari is revered as a divine proponent of Ayurveda. Therefore, Dhanvantari Jayanti was chosen as an occasion to commemorate Ayurveda Day, to promote this medical system nationally, recognizing its potential to become a fundamental pillar of its eventual global expansion. This year, Ayurveda Day was celebrated on November 10, 2023 with the central theme “Ayurveda for everyone, every day”. By promoting Ayurveda, we not only promote our age-old and affordable medical system but also promote sustainable living with nature.
Over time, modern medicine has adopted and integrated elements of our traditional systems. In fact, the foundations of modern medicine can be traced back to traditional systems like Ayurveda. Many medications used in allopathic practices come from knowledge accumulated in traditional systems. However, in modern medicine the emphasis is on the isolation and use of the active ingredient or its chemical equivalent for targeted and rapid relief. As a result, medications prescribed for conditions such as heart disease or diabetes often come with a range of side effects, with practitioners tending to adhere to a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. This is where traditional Ayurvedic practitioners have an advantage. A competent Ayurvedic physician tailors medication selection and dosage based on the patient’s unique physiological state, similar to the personalized medicine envisioned by our scientists. It embodies a holistic approach to health and personalized medicine, encompassing physical, psychological, philosophical, ethical and spiritual well-being, presenting a comprehensive medical system.
Unfortunately, the majority of people turn to Ayurveda only when modern medicine fails or when it offers no solution to a particular illness. There are many reports of people regaining health and being cured in such cases. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 70 to 80 percent of the world’s population relies on unconventional, mostly herbal remedies for their health needs. The growing interest in complementary and alternative medicine is largely attributed to growing concerns about side effects associated with synthetic drugs, the lack of definitive treatments for many chronic diseases, high expenses associated with new drugs, microbial resistance and the emergence of new diseases. , among other factors.
Even in cases where modern medicine prescribes surgical interventions, Ayurveda has been successful in managing people without surgical intervention. Some specialist practitioners even treat people with multiple fractures without surgery. Proponents of modern medicine and even some policy makers may oppose these traditional healers. But for the common man, an affordable and reliable healthcare system is the top priority. In today’s world, the allopathic system has become a big business run by pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic centers and large corporations, making it unaffordable for the common man.
In recent times there has been an organized effort by proponents of Ayurveda to include this system in a line similar to allopathy. In many multi-specialty hospitals, Ayurvedic treatments have become more expensive than allopathic systems. The emergence of Ayurveda in tourism destroys the quality and essence of this paid medical system. Many people simply view Ayurveda as a wellness activity. The effects of Ayurvedic treatment cannot be felt in two or three days. It depends on your lifestyle and only if you systematically manage your daily lifestyle can you achieve results. In many tourist places, these centers are managed by unqualified staff, discrediting the system.
Booimg Ayurvedic pharmaceutical companies are also destroying the essence of Ayurveda. The culture that made allopathic treatment unaffordable has slowly crept into our traditional system. There is a lot of competition among Ayurvedic societies, and in many cases, to achieve rapid action, most of them deviate from what is prescribed in proven ancient texts. When companies deviate from what is written in the texts, especially in the processing of medicines, this can sometimes lead to harmful effects. Strict regulatory controls should be put in place to maintain the quality of Ayurvedic medicines.
Many people are suspicious of this proven health system and call for its scientific validation. We must indeed validate and document the knowledge contained in traditional texts using modern scientific approaches. But people need to understand that most of the discoveries of modern medicine that people “take advantage of” today have come at a great cost in human lives. Ayurveda has developed over the years without harming human lives. Even without sophisticated scientific techniques such as molecular biology techniques or cell culture, if an Ayurvedic practitioner could identify and treat diseases like cancer, what scientific evidence would they need? Of course, the government machinery should control fake practitioners who misuse and bring disrepute to Ayurveda.
In recent times, the whole world has started appreciating the contributions of Ayurveda and Indian knowledge system in healthcare and it is our duty and responsibility to provide quality healthcare to the world. all of humanity. Commercialization of Ayurveda should not deprive the common man of its essence.
(The author is a science communicator and assistant professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore)
