Traditional Indian medicine, primarily Ayurveda, emphasizes holistic health through a balance of mind and body, using herbal formulations, diet, and lifestyle interventions.

Central to its philosophy is the concept of doshas (vata, pitta, kapha), which guide personalized preventive and therapeutic approaches.

Herbal medicine remains at the core, focusing on disease prevention, wellness, and tailored treatment plans for individuals .

Institutional support for Ayurveda includes India’s Ministry of AYUSH, established to promote, regulate, and integrate traditional medicine systems, facilitating collaboration with global agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO’s Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India aims to standardize and scientifically validate Ayurvedic practices globally .

Major centers, including the All India Institute of Ayurveda and the National Institute of Ayurveda, lead research and clinical application, supported by efforts to include Ayurveda in international diagnostic frameworks such as ICD-11 .

Modern research explores Ayurveda’s efficacy in treating diabetes, arthritis, allergic rhinitis, and neurological and mental health disorders.

Clinical studies highlight the use of herbs like Turmeric for blood sugar management in diabetes , and Ashwagandha for stress, fatigue, and recovery from long Covid in an ongoing UK trial involving 2,000 participants .

Ayurvedic clinics have reported successful case outcomes in diabetes and arthritis, although high-quality evidence is sometimes lacking due to methodological challenges .

Integrative efforts combine traditional and Western frameworks, emphasizing scientific validation and safety.

Regulatory challenges persist, including quality standards and reports of adverse events, such as liver toxicity from certain herbal preparations .

Nevertheless, partnerships and ongoing research continue to bolster evidence-based application of Indian herbal medicine in global healthcare .

Traditional Indian medicine, primarily Ayurveda, emphasizes holistic health through a balance of mind and body, using herbal formulations, diet, and lifestyle interventions.

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Content: India ’ s medical facilities speed up the development of intelligent system to help rural remote consultation
Author ： 01 Source of Medical Clinic
Published: Updated:
For many Hong Kong people, India may look like a relatively backward and populous country, with a population of 1.4 billion, and it is hard to imagine how the local medical system can accommodate such a large population.
The author went to the local area to participate in the large-scale international engineering alliance conference, found that the local medical facilities are developing rapidly, the number of hospital beds in the country has increased by 40% in the past 10 years, and some large hospitals have added intelligent equipment to assist in the diagnosis and daily operation of the hospital.
If you have the ability to increase investment in the future, coupled with the development of local information technology, and gradually trend towards intelligent development, I believe that it is not difficult to see the emergence of comprehensive intelligent hospitals, so that patient services are more efficient and no longer subject to geographical restrictions.
Author: Yuan Pak Leung, Former President of the Institution of Senior Engineers and Engineers
I am the Vice-Chairman of the International Engineering Technologists Agreement and the Chairman of the British delegation chaired a review meeting of the agreement in New Delhi, India.
As the Vice President of the International Engineering Technologists Agreement (IETTA), I went to New Delhi, India, to attend this year ’ s IETTA conference hosted by my host, and also chaired the annual meeting held in India in the same capacity as the chairman of the Seoul Accord.
Over the course of more than 10 days, I have met many people in the engineering industry from all over India, some from the medical industry, so I have the opportunity to learn more about the development of local hospital facilities.
According to the local industry, the number of hospitals and beds in India has increased rapidly over the past decade. For example, from 2010 to 2020, the total number of beds in the country has increased from about 1.2 million to more than 1.7 million, an increase of more than 40%.
As of 2023, the market share of hospital spending across India, including public and private hospitals, is in the hundreds of billions of dollars. However, the number of beds per 1,000 people is still relatively low globally.
On both sides of a highway in New Delhi, I saw 20 medical statues placed by Yatharth Hospital to thank and honor the work of “anti-virus warriors ” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, unlike in Hong Kong, Indian hospitals are dominated by private hospitals, accounting for 70% of the total number of beds.
Some people in the local industry admit that this reflects that the investment in public health care is not enough at present, but it is understood that the local public sector is trying to catch up with the demand, but the demand is too large and it is difficult to meet 100%.
Therefore, ensuring equitable access to quality health care is a challenge for local authorities, especially in remote areas such as mountains or rural areas.
It is said that there is a medical culture in India with a long history in Asia that can alleviate some of the medical needs of the general population.
It is a system of traditional medicine called Ayurveda, which is called Ayurveda. It is composed of two Sanskrit words, ayur refers to life and veda means knowledge.
Together, they mean “knowledge of life ” and are considered to be one of the most ancient forms of holistic natural medicine in the world, originating from ancient India, for thousands of years. Ayurveda and Chinese medicine have many things in common, especially the focus of both is on the patient, not on the disease.
Its core concept is to maintain their own spiritual balance and harmony, will make people physically healthy, the theory that life should avoid excessive hyperactivity, because it will lead to too much stomach acid, so that people become irritable, anxiety and other problems.
Excessive hyperactivity can also affect the joints, mucous membranes, and fats that protect our body structure, leading to obesity and depression, and people ’ s physical and mental activities, including breathing, blood circulation, and nervous system if over-regulation, can bring anxiety, constipation, joint pain and so on.
Ayurveda emphasizes the uniqueness of the individual and regulates and prevents diseases according to the physical and psychological characteristics of the individual.
In general, Ayurveda believes that a variety of herbs, spices, minerals, etc. can be used to treat diseases, and diet therapy is used to adjust the diet according to the body, while lifestyle adjustments include yoga, meditation and massage.
In addition to its unique medical concept, India ’ s relatively advanced information technology development, I believe it can also be an opportunity to make up for the lack of medical services.
In fact, many local hospitals have begun to add intelligent systems, such as electronic medical record system, remote medical system and the application of digital technology, which improve the ability of doctors to treat patients, and increase the ability of remote consultation, so that patients in remote rural areas can benefit.
In order to increase the efficiency of consultation and make more accurate diagnosis, local doctors will also use wearable devices to understand the patient ’ s physical condition, and even use intelligent systems to help make clinical decisions.
The conference hotel I stayed at offers authentic Indian Ayurveda healing massages, including the Ayurveda oil drip, which is said to be effective in helping to relieve stress.
The author believes that Hong Kong and India have very different cultural backgrounds, but they are also working hard to promote the development of intelligent hospitals.
However, some local technology industry people pointed out that, regardless of whether the two places or other regions should pay more attention to the convenience and efficiency of intelligent systems, there are opportunities for network security risks or personal data leakage, so there are challenges when using different smart technologies.
With the rapid development of the local medical system with advanced technology, I believe that if the world can introduce more intelligent elements in its medical system, and continue to invest in it, coupled with the policy support of government departments, we can cite each other, exchange learning and practice verification, I believe that it is not difficult to build a fully intelligent hospital in the future, and hope that this efficient service model can meet the increasing medical demand of society.
"01 Medical Clinic" cooperates with senior engineer Yuan Pak Leung to launch a column "Source Road Has You" every Monday to share the big and small things of engineering and medical care.
Yuan Pak Leung has always been committed to promoting the professional development of the engineering profession and is the former President of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers.
The decades of professional journey are worth remembering, and I am convinced that the latter may understand the key points of the engineering profession.
If you have the source, let everyone experience it together.

What does traditional Indian medicine generally treat?

It addresses the psychological aspects of health conditions.

What is the traditional Indian medical system called?

What mental health problems does traditional Indian medicine treat?

Support the management of symptoms related to mental health.

What treatment did Former Kenyan President's daughter Rosemary Odinga get that helped her regain eyesight?

Traditional Indian medicine Ayurvedic treatment.

Central to its philosophy is the concept of doshas (vata, pitta, kapha), which guide personalized preventive and therapeutic approaches.

Title:

Content: The Ayurveda
by Denise Millstine, MD, Mayo Clinic
It has been reviewed in 1445.
Ayurveda is the traditional medical system in India, which originated more than 4,000 years ago.
It is based on a theory that the disease is caused by an imbalance in the body's life force, or prana.
This life-force balance is determined by the balance between the three physical traits called doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha. Most people have a dominant doshas, and the specific balance between the three doshas is unique to each person. (See also Overview of Integrative, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine.)).
Practitioners evaluate people through
• Interrogate them about symptoms, behavior and lifestyle
• Monitor their overall appearance, including eyes, tongue, and skin
• Taking a heartbeat and checking urine and feces
After determining the balance between douches, practitioners design a treatment specific to each person.
Ayurveda uses diet, herbs, massage, meditation, yoga, and internal cleaning (therapeutic cleansing). Cleansing usually involves injecting fluid into the rectum to induce bowel movement or defecation (enema), or washing the nose with water (nasal washing) to restore balance within the body and with nature.
Medical Uses of Ayurveda
Ayurveda has been studied, including in allergic rhinitis, mental health disorders, neurological conditions, pain, arthritis, and diabetes.
As in other studies of entire medical systems, high-quality research is difficult.
Possible side effects of Ayurveda
Some of the plant combinations used in Ayurveda are contaminated with heavy metals (especially lead, mercury and arsenic) so that they can cause heavy metal poisoning.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The following source in English can be helpful.
Please note that the MSD Guide is not responsible for the content of this source.
1.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH): Ayurvedic Medicine
Test your KnowledgeTake a Quiz!

Herbal medicine remains at the core, focusing on disease prevention, wellness, and tailored treatment plans for individuals .

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Homeopathy drives home care amid rush for health and wellbeing

Homeopathy gained the royal patronage and followers in India in 1839 when John Honigberger, a Romanian homeopath and disciple of Samuel Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy, successfully treated Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the then ruler of Punjab, suffering from paralysis of the vocal cords with swelling of the feet through homeopathy.

by Karan Bhargava

The coronavirus pandemic has been one of humanity’s biggest crises. But it has brought ‘marginal’ topics like health to the mainstream – people and policymakers are discussing it more than ever. At this juncture, it is important for India to probe into the nature of health and care that Indians, susceptible to a host of chronic diseases, need before restructuring the healthcare system, now heavily inclined towards curing a disease. It is time to consider non-allopathic treatment modalities such as homeopathy to prove their mettle again and establish its reputation as a scientific pursuit aimed at holistic care so as to complement curative properties of modern medicine.

Homeopathy in India is a few centuries old and was first brought by German missionaries more than 200 years ago. However, it gained the royal patronage and followers in India in 1839 when John Honigberger, a Romanian homeopath and disciple of Samuel Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy, successfully treated Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the then ruler of Punjab, suffering from paralysis of the vocal cords with swelling of the feet through homeopathy. Mahendra Lal Sircar, the first Indian homeopathic physician, brought it under spotlight, leading to allopathic doctors adding homeopathic practice and establishment of the 'Calcutta Homeopathic Medical College', the first homeopathic medical college, in 1881.

Homeopathy effective against epidemics and outbreaks
Not only during COVID-19, homeopathic treatment has ensured substantially low mortality during many other deadly outbreaks in the past. In 1813, after Napoleon’s army moved through Germany to attack Russia, and retreated through Germany, they spread lice-born typhus in Leipzig. Against the conventional mortality rate for typhus around that time of approximately 20% (e.g., 536 deaths in 2,742 cases in Vienna between 1850 and 1852), Dr. Hahnemann successfully treated 180 cases, causing only two deaths (1.1%). Diphtheria, a disease with over 50% mortality under conventional treatment in the 19th Century, recorded only about 16% deaths with homeopathic treatment. Data collected from Broome County, New York from 1862 to 1864 showed 84 deaths per 100 cases for allopathy while only 20 deaths per 125 cases for homeopathy (16.4%). Homeopathic medicines, used both for treatment and prophylaxis (prevention) during the Spanish Flu, had a mortality rate of 1% or fewer at a time when average mortality under standard treatment ranged from 2.5 to 10%.

Homeopathy as integrative medicine
The efficacy of homeopathic treatment has emerged as a potential complementing force to the allopathic medicine regime that is largely focused on curing a disease, and hence, is reactive in nature. Homeopathic treatment, on the other hand, is also proactive as it prevents illness as well as checks chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, depression, etc., promoting wellbeing. Having noted the benefits of homeopathy, the Western medical world has adopted an integrative medicine approach. India recognized homeopathy as one of the national systems of medicine in 1973 and established the Central Council of Homeopathy (CCH) to regulate education and practice, allowing only qualified registered homeopaths practice. Currently, homeopathy is the third most popular method of medical treatment in India after allopathy and Ayurveda. There are over 200,000 registered homeopathic doctors, with approximately 12,000 more being added annually. Yet, many Indians perceive homeopaths as a quack and struggle to accept homeopathy as a dependable alternative. Only a handful of insurers cover this discipline of treatment while limited observation of World Homeopathy Day on 10th April ensures it remains obscure.

Karan Bhargava, CEO, HomeoAmigo

(DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETHealthworld does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETHealthworld.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person / organisation directly or indirectly.)

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What does traditional Indian medicine generally treat?

Institutional support for Ayurveda includes India’s Ministry of AYUSH, established to promote, regulate, and integrate traditional medicine systems, facilitating collaboration with global agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO).

Title:

Content: For self and society: International Yoga Day, 2024

This year marks an important milestone as we celebrate the 10th edition of International Yoga Day in Ghana and worldwide.

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Yoga has become a global movement promoting health and well-being.

In Ghana, a series of events were organised by the High Commission of India this month in collaboration with Yoga centres and local authorities in different parts of the country, including Ho, Kumasi and Tamale, besides Accra.

These events witnessed active involvement of diverse sections of society in public places, schools, universities and rehabilitation centres, aimed at spreading awareness of the multifaceted benefits of Yoga.

The High Commission of India celebrated the signature event in Accra on the lawns of Osu Castle on June 22, 2024, with the participation of political dignitaries, members of diplomatic corps, UN staff and Yoga enthusiasts from various walks of life.

Yoga, a timeless treasure from ancient Indian culture, is a unique practice that goes beyond physical exercise.

It offers a path to discovering the true essence of life. The term ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj,’ which means ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite.’ It symbolises the union of individual consciousness with universal consciousness, signifying a perfect balance between the mind and body, man and nature.

Practice

The practice of Yoga transcends geographical boundaries, making it a universal heritage of humanity.  Recognising Yoga’s global appeal, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution by consensus on December 11, 2014, at India’s initiative, declaring June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

The theme for International Day of Yoga celebration this year was ‘Yoga for Self and Society.’ For society at large, Yoga brings harmony among communities and nature, thereby creating an interconnected tapestry of well-being for individuals around the world.

It serves as a bridge between individuals and society. The practice of Yoga is not only limited to asanas (physical postures), which are the most popular - but also includes pranayama (breathing) and dhyana (meditation).

By integrating these three aspects, Yoga harmonises the body, mind, and spirit. Asanas are a preparatory process that helps the body sustain higher energy levels.

The process begins with the body, then the breath, the mind and the inner self. Yoga cultivates inner peace, clarity of thought and resilience, creating a solid foundation for well-being.

The therapeutic benefits of Yoga extend to reducing stress, improving cardiovascular health, boosting immunity and fostering mental well-being.

Ayurveda

Complementing Yoga is Ayurveda, the world’s oldest healing system. The emphasis of Ayurveda on holistic health, disease prevention, and individualised treatments resonates deeply with a global audience. Ayurveda’s personalised approach to wellness has gained international recognition.

Towards harnessing its full potential, a dedicated Ministry of AYUSH was set up in India in 2014 with a vision of reviving the profound knowledge of our ancient systems of medicine and ensuring their optimal development and holistic health care.

The Ministry of AYUSH has also entered into an Agreement with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to support the integration of evidence-based Traditional and Complementary Medicine in national health systems, biodiversity conservation, and the sustainability of medicinal plants.

There are good prospects for cooperation between India and Ghana in areas of complementary medicine, and we are exploring ways to strengthen this partnership.

Health

In today’s fast-paced world, where stress, sedentary lifestyles, and the relentless pursuit of quick fixes dominate our well-being, we must realise that our health is not a commodity.
Health is priceless, and there is a pressing need for comprehensive well-being. A growing trend is visible toward back-to-basics, mindfulness, and a sustainable way of life.

The Indian heritage of Yoga and Ayurveda hold the key to unlocking a healthier and more balanced world.

Prime Minister Modi has poignantly said, “India would contribute to this healthy trend with new ideas, some rooted in traditional knowledge, and others in 21st-century innovation, as a Vishwabandhu, a friend to the world, for greater global good”.

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It is heartening to see that people in Ghana are increasingly embracing Yoga.

The writer is High Commissioner of India to Ghana.

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What is the traditional Indian medical system called?

The WHO’s Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India aims to standardize and scientifically validate Ayurvedic practices globally .

Title:

Content: Traditional Indian medicine set to make a global debut, seeking inclusion in WHO’s ICD-11 list

The inclusion of Ayurveda and related systems on the WHO list will provide it with a common language that allows health professionals to share standardised information across the world

October 14, 2023 06:17 pm | Updated 06:17 pm IST - NEW DELHI

A view of the World Health Organisation headquarters.

In a move meant to put the Indian system of medicine on the world map and provide it with a common standardised language, the Union government has sought for Ayurveda and related systems to be included in the 11th revision of the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD), as the second module of a supplementary chapter on traditional medicine conditions.

The ICD provides a common language that allows health professionals to share standardised information across the world. The traditional medicine module of the 11th revision provides a list of diagnostics categories to collect and report on traditional medicine conditions in a standardised and internationally comparable manner.

Speaking exclusively to The Hindu about the development, Ministry of Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha said: “We are hopeful that the addition of Module-2 for Ayurveda could happen as early as by next January.”

To aid regulation, research

“Ayurveda and related Indian traditional health care systems are formally recognised and widely practised health care systems in India, which is making a strong and valid point for its inclusion,” said Mr. Kotecha, adding that efforts to effectively regulate traditional medicine as an integral part of the health system require standardised and evidence-based information.

Mr. Kotecha further explained that the traditional medicine chapter under ICD-11 is a formative step for the integration of such forms of medicine into a classification standard used in conventional medicine. “It also provides the means for doing research and evaluation to establish its efficacy,” he said.

The Ministry added that this chapter would also help to respond to growing demands for more and better regulation of traditional medicine, and its integration in mainstream health care and health information systems.

ICD-11 covers Chinese medicine

After a decade of repeated consultations, ICD-11 had facilitated the inclusion of Module-1, which covers traditional medicine conditions originating in ancient China, which are now commonly used in China, Japan, Korea, and elsewhere around the world.

The eleventh revision contains around 17,000 unique codes and more than 1,20,000 codable terms, which are now entirely digital. ICD-11 came into effect from January 2022.

The joint use of ICD-11’s chapter on traditional medicine along with other chapters on neoplasm, patient safety, and injuries, can enhance the reporting of adverse events. It will enable the integration of traditional medicine into insurance coverage and reimbursement systems, in line with larger WHO objectives relating to universal health coverage. It will also link traditional medicine practices with global conventional medicine’s norms and standard development.

The development of Module-2 for Ayurveda-related diagnostic systems is being actively supported by the Ministry of Ayush. It extensively banks on the implementation experience gained on the ground by the National Ayush Morbidity and Standardised Terminologies Electronic portal, and the Ayush Health Information Management System, the Ministry said.

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Is traditional Indian medicine Ayurveda certified by the World Health Organization?

What is the World Health Organization doing to promote traditional medicine, including Ayurveda?

Establishing rules for the safe, fair, and effective use of traditional medicine

Major centers, including the All India Institute of Ayurveda and the National Institute of Ayurveda, lead research and clinical application, supported by efforts to include Ayurveda in international diagnostic frameworks such as ICD-11 .

What is the traditional Indian medical system called?

Modern research explores Ayurveda’s efficacy in treating diabetes, arthritis, allergic rhinitis, and neurological and mental health disorders.

In what areas have the medical uses of traditional Indian medicine been studied?

Treatment on mental health disorders
Treatment on neurological conditions
Treatment on diabetes
Treatment on allergic rhinitis
Treatment on arthritis

What mental health problems does traditional Indian medicine treat?

Support the management of symptoms related to mental health.

Clinical studies highlight the use of herbs like Turmeric for blood sugar management in diabetes , and Ashwagandha for stress, fatigue, and recovery from long Covid in an ongoing UK trial involving 2,000 participants .

Title:

Content: Tuesday 10 August 2021 1:10 pm

Long Covid cure? Researchers to trial traditional Indian herb treatment

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine will work with the All India Institute of Ayurveda to determine whether a traditional Indian herb can help people recover from long Covid.

Ashwagandha, commonly known as Indian winter cherry, is traditionally used in the Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine to boost energy, reduce stress and strengthen the immune system.

Experts said recent trials had proven the herb’s efficacy in reducing anxiety, stress, improving muscle strength and reducing fatigue symptoms in patients with chronic diseases.

Long Covid patients can suffer from cognitive dysfunction, poor mental health, extreme fatigue and muscle weakness.

It is estimated these symptoms affect 10 to 20 per cent of Covid survivors and can last for one to three months or longer in many cases.

The study, funded by the Ministry of Ayush of the Government of India, will include a double-blind clinical trial involving 2,000 people living in the UK with long Covid.

Half of the trial participants will take 500mg Ashwagandha tablets twice a day for three months, while the other half will be given a placebo.

Researchers will randomly select participants to have a monthly follow-up of self-reported quality of life, impairment to activities of daily living, mental and physical health symptoms, supplement use and adverse events.

The study is expected to last for over a year.

“Ashwagandha has been shown to reduce symptoms of other conditions that are similar to those of long Covid, so we are hopeful that it will be an effective way to combat the condition,” said Sanjay Kinra, professor in clinical epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

The research is also supported by the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Indian Traditional Sciences and the Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine Unit at the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Research is the only way to ensure appropriate integration of traditional medicine knowledge into mainstream medical practice,” said technical officer at WHO Geneva, Geetha Krishnan, who helped to facilitate the research project.

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In what areas have the medical uses of traditional Indian medicine been studied?

What mental health problems does traditional Indian medicine treat?

Support the management of symptoms related to mental health.

Ayurvedic clinics have reported successful case outcomes in diabetes and arthritis, although high-quality evidence is sometimes lacking due to methodological challenges .

In what areas have the medical uses of traditional Indian medicine been studied?

Treatment on diabetes
Treatment on arthritis

What does traditional Indian medicine generally treat?

It addresses the physical aspects of health conditions.

Integrative efforts combine traditional and Western frameworks, emphasizing scientific validation and safety.

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G20 science advisors to discuss pre-competitive collaboration, traditional knowledge

Once it reaches a certain level of maturity, of course different countries will have their take. But pre-competitive R&D (research and development) space is what we think should be something where we should work:

New Delhi: In a bid to bolster the fight against future pandemics, India's top scientific advisor Prof Ajay Kumar Sood has urged G20 countries to collaborate in developing vaccine platforms by cooperating with each other in the pre-competitive research and development phase.

In a video interview Sood, who will chair the Chief Scientific Advisors' Roundtable (CSAR) of G20 countries next week, said India will also present its traditional systems of medicine and seek to harness the knowledge of indigenous communities of different countries.

Making a strong pitch for collaboration among G20 nations in drug development, Sood, the principal scientific advisor to the government, said there is enormous scope for cooperation in the pre-competitive research and development space.

"Once it reaches a certain level of maturity, of course different countries will have their take. But pre-competitive R&D (research and development) space is what we think should be something where we should work," he said.

Sood identified emerging technologies for environmental surveillance as another area for cooperation.

"This is something which has to be done by all countries. A lot of it is happening but there are many other countries which will need a helping hand. So, we should be ready to take everyone along," he said.

Pre-competitive collaboration involves two or more companies operating within the same industry coming together to address a shared problem or pain point that doesn't impact direct business competition or contribute to unfair advantage.

"When there is a pandemic, you cannot live in isolation. We have seen it in COVID, all countries will have to fight it together and it has to be eradicated or controlled at all places. If it does not, then it will linger on and that is what you are seeing for COVID," Sood said.

He said the CSAR meeting in Uttarakhand's Ramnagar from March 28-30 will also focus on harnessing the benefits of traditional knowledge in healthcare.

"Traditional medicine has a very important role to play but it should be put in scientific context. All that work has to be done. When you have traditional medicines, how can we put it on a platform where it meets the acceptance of science," he said.

Sood said India has a very rich tradition of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani and all of them have a role to play. It could be to build up immunity or strength or to address the symptoms of a disease, adding " whatever you think, it is possible".

"We should not try to limit ourselves to only what we call modern medicine," he said, making a strong pitch for diversity in various systems of medicine.

Sood also talked about harnessing the knowledge repositories of indigenous communities in G20 countries for the benefit of humankind.

"These are very, very old traditions. The goal should be, what we call traditional knowledge, it is really tested over centuries. It is very important that we take this traditional knowledge along with the other streams," Sood said.

Sood said the Ayush ministry is working on scientific validation of traditional systems of medicine.

"The Ayush ministry is doing that. This word was coined a few years back ayurvedic biology to address the issue of scientific validity. I am sure that in other countries there are parallel efforts. Because these tribal, traditional things are also very important and we need to learn from them," Sood said.

The three-day meeting in Ramnagar will focus on four broad themes Opportunities in One Health for better disease control and pandemic preparedness; Synergising global efforts to expand the access to scholarly scientific knowledge; Diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in science and technology (S&T); and an Institutional mechanism for inclusive, continuous and action-oriented global S&T policy dialogue.

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What is the World Health Organization doing to promote traditional medicine, including Ayurveda?

Establishing rules for the safe, fair, and effective use of traditional medicine

Gathering evidence and data to guide policies

Regulatory challenges persist, including quality standards and reports of adverse events, such as liver toxicity from certain herbal preparations .

Title:

Content: Archive / Lifestyle
The World Health Organization is interested in alternative medicine.
Mohamed Ismail - Cairo - DPA -
Many people use traditional medicine – but what do these methods really do?
A new WHO centre intends to explore this.
The center is based in India, a country where alternative medicine is so important that it even has its own ministry – which specializes in Ayurveda, Yoga, Physiotherapy, Greek Medicine, Master and Homeopathy.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the opening of the centre in Jamnagar in mid-April, saying: “India ’ s traditional medicine system is not just a cure.
It ’ s a comprehensive science of life. ”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Indian government is supporting the centre with US $250 million (230 million euros).
WHO President Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “The center aims to be an engine of innovation, moving towards an agenda of evidence, data and sustainability in traditional medicine, ” adding that the center would connect traditional medicine practitioners around the world and help set standards for research.
Traditional medicine is a broad field.
According to the World Health Organization ’ s statement for the center, 80% of the world ’ s population uses traditional medicine, which includes among other things acupuncture, Ayurvedic medicine and herbal blends.
Traditional medicine is also represented in modern science.
According to the World Health Organization, about 40% of all drugs approved today are derived from natural substances.
The discovery of aspirin, for example, is based on ancient recipes made from the bark of the willow tree.
The research for artemisinin for use in the fight against malaria, for which the Nobel Prize was awarded in 2015, began with the study of ancient texts of Chinese medicine.
George Rochmeyer of Cochrane, an international network that provides the scientific basis for decisions in the health field, said it makes sense at least to take a closer look at treatment methods that have been developed over centuries, to verify the reasonableness of these methods, and to conduct clinical studies on them in case of doubt.
Cochrane reviews are systematic reviews that collect all scientific evidence on a specific issue from medicine or other health sciences.
However, Rochmeyer also stressed that besides the examples of traditional methods cited by the WHO, which form the basis of currently developed treatments, there are likely many other examples where traditional methods of careful review have proven ineffective or even dangerous, such as phlebotomy, noting that spending too much money on studies to review a therapeutic practice is always a matter of discretion.
Rochmeyer stated that there are many Cochrane reviews about the use of traditional methods such as acupuncture in certain cases, but: “From my personal experience at Cochrane, I would say that I have not come across many reviews that have shown really compelling evidence for traditional therapeutic practice. ”
This is often due to the fact that when searching for these treatments we find only a few often-poorly conducted studies that cannot prove or disprove any benefit from them – which brings us back to the question of whether the already limited research funds should be invested in a scientifically unreasonable procedure – for example, homeopathy.
Professor Emeritus Edzard Ernst, a longtime professor of alternative medicine at the University of Exeter, noted that while it was necessary to wait and see who would lead the center and what it would do, the WHO press release was full of exaggerations.
The World Health Organization says it also wants to use new technologies at the new center for the study of traditional medicine — via artificial intelligence and big data, for example.
The center is expected to focus on providing a reliable evidence base for policy and standards of traditional medicine practices and products.
In addition, the center is supposed to help countries integrate these practices into their health systems.
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Nevertheless, partnerships and ongoing research continue to bolster evidence-based application of Indian herbal medicine in global healthcare .

What is the World Health Organization doing to promote traditional medicine, including Ayurveda?

Gathering evidence and data to guide policies