Ayurveda’s standing in the contemporary world

Ayurveda has developed in full bloom through professional associations and national recognition. The funding and patronage by the government has elevated the ancient system of medicine to the status of a practical and viable healing option. The country has recognized Ayurveda as a comprehensive healthcare system, just like other systems prevalent and authenticated in the region.

The systems of Ayurveda are governed and recommended by the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM). Those who aspire to be practitioners of Ayurveda are given intensive training of five-and-a-half years plus one year of internship in certified Ayurveda Medical Schools. The candidates are required to obtain professional degree of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) from a recognized institution.

Today, there are more than 100 colleges in India that offer degrees in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. Research and training projects in Ayurveda are gaining momentum in the urban centres as well as rural hinterland. One of the premier bodies that encourage Ayurveda through numerous channels is the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS).

Ayurvedic medicines have also become popular thanks to the efforts of many pharmaceutical companies. Some of the established pharmaceuticals in India are Arya Vaidya Sala, Dabur, Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, Baidyanath, IMIS Pharmaceuticals etc. These companies promote tested concoctions of Ayurveda and also conduct research and development over new formulations. In an enterprising effort, a string of Ayurvedic massage centres are being promoted by the joint effort of Arya Vaidya Pharmacy and Hindustan Unilever Limited.

Ayurvedic medicines are produced by as many as 30 Indian companies that have access to 85 percent of India's domestic market. Here are some of the encouraging facts and figures that tell the inspiring and upcoming story of Ayurveda in India:

•    Dabur India Ltd., one of the leading companies that manufacture Ayurvedic medicines, has over 260 medicines for treating a range of ailments and body conditions from common cold to chronic paralysis.

•    Sri Baidyanath Ayurvedic Bhawan, another company specialized in Ayurvedic medicines, manages over 700 Ayurvedic products manufactured at 10 centers.

•    Another reputable company, Zandu Pharmaceutical Works, focuses primarily on Ayurvedic products and has total sales volume of about 45 million dollars.

•    Charak Pharmaceuticals, another pride of India, has three distribution centers of its Ayurvedic products in India.
•    Aimil Pharmaceuticals Ltd has a wide range of Ayurvedic herbal formulations that cover many therapeutic segments.

Despite its origin being in India, Ayurveda has managed to get a strong foothold for its natural system of treatment globally. One ace institution that is associated with propagation of Ayurveda is Gujarat Ayurveda University.

The Gujarat Ayurveda University has entered a Memorandum of Understanding with nine leading Ayurvedic institutes based in Japan, Australia, the Netherlands, Italy, Argentina, and Germany. The prime purpose of this MoU is to organize and augment spread of Ayurveda world wide via academic alliances.

One encouraging feature is that that about 500 periodicals pertaining to medicinal plants are published world wide. Ayurveda has got great encouragement via validations it has received through WHO, UNESCO and NIH. Their faith in Ayurveda has given a strong platform to preventive naturopathy.

Here are some specifics that establish the claim of growing popularity o Ayurveda in world:

•    More than 80% of modern medicine prescriptions include one or more Ayurvedic prescription. 

•    The global import of medicinal plants is growing by leaps and bounds.

•    Many of the modern medicines contain Ayurvedic herbs, like Codeine (Papaver somniferum), Atropine (Hyoscyamucm uticus), Ephedrine (Ephedra spp), Bromohexine (Adatoda vasaka), Digitoxin, Digitalis, Digoxin (Digitalis lanata), Paperverine (Papaversp), Quinine (Cinchona), Taxol (Taxus brew folia) etc.

•    In the United States of America, the NIH NCCAM spends some of its $123 million budget on Ayurvedic medicine research.

 
•    Many Ayurvedic postulates have been outlined by foreign scholars such as Dominik Wujastyk (United Kingdom).

•    In the United States, Scott Gerson has published part of his work on the antifungal activities of several Ayurvedic plants in medical journals.

 
•    A patent on the use of turmeric was issued by the University of Mississippi Medical Center. This patent was contested by India's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) with the claim that the traditional Ayurvedic practitioners had prior knowledge of the healing properties of the turmeric.
 
•    The Ashwagandha plant is catching the attention of scientists and several patents related to Ashwagandha are being filed or granted.

All these information edify the position of Ayurveda in the global scenario. Gradually and progressively, the world is fast recognizing the potential of Ayurveda and is all set to derive the best for global human health.