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Ayurveda-Hautnah Magazine Articles and Editorials in English
Ms S.JALAJA Secretary, Department of AYUSH Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Government of India
On Behalf of Government of India I wish the Congress all Success.
AYURVEDA LEADS THE WAY
Ayurveda , the science of life is on a path of resurgence today. It is estimated that 40% patients of the world over are affected by chronic diseases for which biomedical science has no effective solutions. More and more people are turning to traditional methods of treatments. Ayurveda has much to offer to the world. This age- old system with its unique mind-body frame -work, can provide preventive, curative as well as promotive health care and ensure better quality life to millions of people across the world.
2. What are the unique strengths of this system? Unlike the biomedical system which is a health-care system, Ayurveda is a way of life. It speaks about five universal elements (air, space, earth, water and fire) acting upon the three humors (Tridoshas) in the body, the mind itself with its three distinct qualities acting in relation to these. The diseased state of the body is due to the imbalance in the three humors -treatment is to bring back the balance into the system. Mind, food,, environment, exercise all have a role to play in human wellbeing. The beauty of the system lies in its ability to interpret any disease in terms of the Tridosha frame work and use the same corrective measures to bring back the balance
3. The biomedical system dismisses Ayurveda as non -science and seeks its validation through scientific methods acceptable to itself, forgetting that it too recognises the importance of diet, exercise and the influence of mind-the difference lies in the method of diagnosis and the herbal- mineral medicines used. The validation of Ayurvedic treatments lie in the successful treatment of disease conditions which have no answers in the biomedical system.
4. In India over 60% people are dependent on the Indian Systems for their medical care. We have over 21,000 dispensaries in the rural areas dedicated to these systems The mainstreaming of Traditional systems is one of the Important goals under the NRHM (National Rural Health Mission), a flagship program of the government .Facilities for traditional medical services are being co-located in 3,464 primary health centers. 919 community health centers and 203 district hospitals which offer Allopathic services, so as to provide choices to people. Efforts of the Government are also to provide these services in all major allopathic hospitals in the country. High- end research is being promoted to find out how these systems work on the human body, help isolate active molecules, standardize raw materials and drugs, ensure their safety, efficacy and quality, and Promote good manufacturing practices. Efforts are on for reforming Ayush education to meet the emerging needs in the sector. A National Mission on cultivation and propagation of medicinal plants has been launched. Most important of all, these systems are being promoted to enhance the value of preventive health.
5. The Department of AYUSH is actively promoting AYUSH interventions in public health so as to make available the benefit of these systems to ordinary people across the country. National campaigns have been launched on ‘Kshara Sutra’ for ano-rectal disorders, Ayurveda for Geriatric Care, Homoeopathy for Mother and Child care and Quality Assurance of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs. New themes have been identified for launch of new Campaigns including Control of Maternal Anemia through Ayurveda, Unani for Skin Disorders and Yoga for Health. A unique campaign is being launched to promote the cultivation and use of Amla (Gooseberry) which takes care of ‘Tridosha’ in Ayurveda.
6. The Department is actively engaged with the World Health Organisation which supports a number of our activities and under whose aegis the Department has drawn up guidelines on basic training and safety in Panchkarma with a view to standardise this practice in various centres offering this therapy the world over. The guidelines are currently under consideration of the WHO.
7. Another unique initiative of the Department of AYUSH is drawing up a database on codified Medicinal Knowledge in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani for preventing misappropriation of this knowledge at International Patent Offices (IPOs). Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) enables conversion of original formulations from classical texts into patent compatible format into five international languages, namely, English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese. Over 2 lakh Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani formulations have so far been transcribed onto this database. The target users of the TKDL database are primarily the Patent Examiner (s) in national and regional IPOs worldwide. India has signed as Access Agreement with European Patent Offices (EPO) through which TKDL database would now be available to all the 34 member States under the EPO for establishing prior art, in case of patent applications based on Indian Systems of Medicine. This would obviate the need for contesting wrong patents at IPOs, which is a time consuming and expensive exercise.
8. Having stated above the strengths of the traditional systems, and the efforts being made by the Indian government, now I may clarify why we want to promote Ayurveda outside the country. Many countries in the world, including USA, are now looking for an ideal system of universal health care. Despite the progress made by mankind in every sphere of human activity, chronic disorders of the body and diseases of the mind are on the rise. People everywhere are looking for a personal health care. Toxic side -effects, complicated treatment procedures and high costs are forcing ordinary people to opt for simple, low-cost treatments. It may also be remembered that millions of people are left out in the cold not covered by any system of care at all.
9. Government of India is now trying to propagate these systems, especially Ayurveda abroad through various activities, including organization of major events and exhibitions, exchange of scholars, funding for research, technical support to universities, promoting Ayurveda education, bringing out publications etc. As a part of these efforts an Indo – US Centre for Research on Indian Systems of Medicine (CRISM) has been set up in the National Centre for Natural Products Research (NCNPR), University of Mississippi, USA. The Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) and the industry today are faced with the need for validation of both the systems and products on scientific lines. There are increasing global concerns on the safety, efficacy and quality of ISM products. The initiative of the Department of AYUSH in setting up CRISM is intended to meet these concerns. The primary mission of CRISM would be to facilitate scientific validation and dissemination of information on Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medicines through collaborative research and advocacy. CRISM will also provide an institutional interface with US FDA. It is expected that the establishment of this Centre would lead to world class research and development on the potential of the traditional systems and latest scientific advances therein for promotion and scientific acceptance of Indian Systems of Medicine.
10. Ayurveda faces a number of challenges at present. Ayurveda is a nature-based system and so is fully dependent on plants and mineral resources. Due to population pressure, environmental pollution and other causes the availability and quality of these resources are badly threatened. The challenge is to find alternate easy growable plants, substitutes, develop new agro-techniques, propagation through tissue culture etc. Secondly, there is need to protect classical Ayurveda in its purest form. In fact Ayurveda should be protected as a heritage by UNESCO and other international agencies. Development of integrated medical systems wherein Ayurveda is used to support treatments under biomedical system needs to be carefully looked into. Use of AYUSH in public health is an emerging area. Ayurveda research needs to be streamlined with clinical trials developed on the basis of Ayurveda procedures. Ayurveda, Yoga, diet control need to be taken up together, instead of separately, in the treatment of disease conditions. AYUSH education should be revamped to be in tune with research and therapy. Finally, the most important of all, local health traditions need to be revitalized and AYUSH mainstreamed to pass on the full benefits of the system to the community, and, indeed to the humanity as a whole.
11. Ayurveda congresses are being held in different parts of the globe, the congress being organized in Baden Baden is the latest. The purpose is to assemble scholars, Ayurveda practitioners, experts, teachers, researchers, organizations/associations working towards promotion of Ayurveda, to discuss different aspects of Ayurveda, promote its strengths, inspire research and facilitate net working. The European Ayurveda Association, a premiere organization in this field is working hard to promote these objectives. Govt. of India is providing both technical and financial support for this endeavour. I hope the congress will be able to reach out to all those in Germany and other countries who are in search of a holistic system of healthcare and well being. I also hope that the Congress will bring about a paradigm shift in the human understanding of health care and high quality life. |
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Exhibitors • Email: ewac2009@euroayurveda.com • Ph: +49 (0) 69 4269 4284 Exhibitors • Email: ayurveda@onespirit.de • Ph: +49 (0) 7221 99 649 21 Conference and Concert • Email: ewac@euroayurveda.com • Ph: +49 (0) 26 5252 7756 Fax: +49 (0) 26 5252 7763 |
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Event Partners World Ayurveda Congress & Vijnanan Bharati |
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Supported by AYUSH Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India |