The treasures in our ancient wisdom regarding the Indian system of medicine have not been exhaustively explored and scientifically validated. The Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar is an effort towards making traditional medicine a scientifically proven system of medicine
The inauguration of the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) on April 19, 2022 in Jamnagar, Gujarat, with the support of World Health Organization (WHO) has paved the way for the traditional medicine in India, including desi dawai, Ayurveda, Yoga and naturopathy, Unani, Sowa-Rigpa, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH).
Sidelined by the advent of modern medicine (western medicine) over the past century owing to the lack of scientific evidence regarding the efficacy of traditional medicine despite its legacy of widespread application in healthcare, the recent upsurge of Covid-19 cases has led to the increasing use of the traditional medicine in the world.
It is understood that the move will help in revival and further global acceptance of the most practised form of health treatment since ages: Ayurveda which has the foundation since 2nd century BC, laid by Vaisheshika (ancient teachings/school of the Hindu) and Nyaya (the school for logic).
Ayurveda has been accepted to be divine and bliss by Hindu over the ages, from Brahma, the Hindu God as the “creator of the universe”. It is in the common parlance that the knowledge (Vedas) on holistic healing power of these medicines through ‘Shlokas’ have been passed from Brahma to the sages and then to the generation for the betterment of mankind.
These are based on four important aspects of knowledge of Hindu beliefs as “Yajur Veda, Rig Veda, Sam Veda, and Atharva Veda”. ‘Atreya’ is considered as the hub of knowledge received from Lord Indra through Lord Brahma and who has scripted these messages in the Atharva Veda and Rig Veda. Among these Vadas, the Rig Veda is regarded as the most important one which includes 1,028 Shlokas and 67 plants, whereas 81 and 293 useful herbal plants are discussed in the Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda respectively. The famous “Charaka Samhita” encapsulates all this knowledge compiled by Agnivesha and edited by scholars including Charaka.
In these noble Vedas, the popular believe is that Ayurveda is composed of five elements (Pancha Mahabhoota) of the universe: “Vayu (air), Jala (water), Aakash (space or ether), Prithvi (earth) and Teja (fire)”. These elements refer to the three basic humors as “Vata dosha, Pitta dosha and Kapha dosha” are known as “Tridoshas”. However, these treasures in our ancient wisdom regarding the Indian system of medicine have not been exhaustively explored and scientifically validated.
The present Government has taken some important steps in the context of ISM. The Indian Government founded the Department of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM & H) in 1995. The latest five-year plan (2012-17) has focused on the role of indigenous medicines in India. In 2014, a dedicated Ministry of Ayush was set up.
The allocation of budget in FY 2022-23 for the health sector stands at Rs 86,200 crore. This is an increase of 16 per cent from Rs 73,931 crore in FY 2021-22. Through the GCTM, the Indian Government has proposed to revive the Indian traditional medicine by various approaches, such as integration with the modern medicine, data pooling, clinical trials, public private partnership, and equity with sustainability.
It is important to point out that the available written records on medicinal plants are referred to the Sumerians dated back to 5,000 years who established archaeological studies and recognised medicinal practices.
This acknowledges herbal medicinal practices in Iraq about 60,000 years ago, around 8,000 years ago in China and during 6000-4000 BCE in India.
Japan, China, and Korea have progressed in the case of traditional medicine and developed better traditional medicine systems such as Oriental Medicine of Japan (OMJ), Korean Traditional Medicine (TKM) and Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM). China is applying TCM on a large scale which accounts for 40 per cent of their healthcare services whereas it is about 69 per cent in Korea. The national policies on healthcare have also included these systems in their treatment. China also gives better training to their healthcare professionals on traditional medicine and official approval was accorded on some herbal drugs for Covid treatment.
(Dr Pratap C Mohanty teaches Economics at IIT Roorkee. He is the principal investigator of the research grant on ‘Medical Pluralism in India’, sponsored by ICSSR, Govt of India; Kamal Sharma is a research associate)