When China is making fast strides of progress in several spheres, one field where our country needs to learn from them is the importance given to their traditional medicine. The patronage given by the Chinese to their medical system has made it popular all over the world. At the same time our approach towards Ayurveda, our traditional medicine continues to be lukewarm, said P R Krishnakumar the director of Arya Vaidya Pharmacy. He was speaking on the sidelines of a training programme for Ayurveda students at Mangarai in the outskirts of the city on Sunday.
"In the mid 1970's when the World Health Organisation (WHO) set up a separate wing for traditional medicine they requested the Indian government to appoint a deputy director general to the wing. Our government hesitated and China grabbed the opportunity. Now, when the Chinese medicine with the active support of their government is across the globe, our Ayurveda is still struggling for official patronage," Krishnakumar said.
Ayurveda has a global market, it has been neglected completely. A department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) under the Ministry of Healthand Family Welfare was established a few years ago, but this is almost a dumping ground for IAS Officers at the fag end of their careers. "They do nothing and take no initiatives," he said.
"Traditional medicines are considered as 'unscientific', and patronage is little for the practitioners"Army officers are not given reimbursement for ayurvedic treatment. Recently, defence minister A K Antony answered to a question in the parliament that Ayurveda is unscientific and ayurveda doctors cannot be appointed as doctors. Thus, the medical system is being totally shunned out from the official sector
, he said.
At the same time, Krishnakumar said that the ancient Indian medical system has begun to receive positive response in other nations. Dr Bhaswati Bhattacharya a doctor practicing in New York who uses Ayurveda along with modern medicine in her practice says the Indian medicine is gaining popularity in the United States. "Knowledge in Ayurveda helps to understand the health problems in a more holistic way. From diagnosing to advising patients this comes as a helpful tool," he says.
Sstrengths of ayurveda should be identified and acknowledged. There are areas where the modern medicine failed, this can come to help. Dr N V Sreevaths, who was the principal of the Coimbatore Ayurveda College said that there are several aspects in Ayurvdea which can be used to treat many diseases. A treatment of the system for anal fistula has been successful. There are many similar areas which needs to be explored, he said.
Source:TNN
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