Is Ayurveda an evidence-based science?
The ancient wisdom of Ayurveda is based on time-tested theories proven by observation, trial and error and experimentation. Research done at reputed Ayurvedic institutes is registered in the clinical trial registry which is the single platform for all fields of medicine. Clinical research is being published in recognised medical journals all over the world. Ayurveda has taken the help of modern research methodology to prove its efficacy. Pharmacognosy, pharmaceutical and pharmacological studies are also being conducted along with clinical trials. The Ayurvedic pharmacological companies in India are scrutinized closely to maintain the standards of their medicines and are awarded ‘good manufacturing practices’- certificates. They are also encouraged to conduct and register clinical trials.
Can Ayurvedic doctors be called doctors? What training do they undergo? Do they have equivalent western medical knowledge?
The graduation degree of Ayurveda is called Bachelor of Ayurvedic medicine and Surgery B.A.M.S. It consists of five and a half years of intense study of Ayurvedic and western medical principles, including anatomy, physiology, pathology, clinical methodology, diagnostic methods etc. A Bachelor’s degree holder of Ayurveda is called Doctor as he/she has to learn western medicine and Ayurvedic medicine.
Post graduation in Ayurveda is a three years’ course, the degree awarded is MD. With a wide range of more than 16 subjects like general medicine, surgery, ophthalmology, ENT, pediatrics, Panchakarma etc. in which to specialize. The government of India also offers PhD courses in Ayurveda for Ayurvedic post graduates.
How does an Ayurvedic doctor diagnose?
Ayurveda is a very logical science based on basic scientific principles. The science of Ayurveda does not only depend upon the symptoms as related by the patient, but believes in a thorough examination to discover the root cause of the ailment in the patient. According to Ayurveda, suppression of the disease is not the way to cure an ailment. A patient can only be said to have recovered from the disease if the root cause of the ailment is eliminated and the body of the patient starts functioning normally. Thus, instead of finding methods to suppress the symptoms, Ayurveda focuses on finding the reasons for the underlying symptoms.
To discover the root cause of a disease in Ayurveda, there are certain mandatory examinations that must be conducted. The examination of a patient is is referred to as rogi pariksha, the observation of the patient. During this threefold procedure, every possible causative aspect of the ailment in the patient is examined in the following stages:
Darsanam
Stage of inspection and observation. In this stage various factors such as age and other physical characteristics of the patient are thoroughly examined.
Sparsanam
Stage where the observation is done through touch method. Palpation, Percussion and Auscultation are three different techniques used.
Prasnam
Stage of questioning during which the patient is asked about his/her ailments and the symptoms that he/she is observing on a daily basis. It is done in order to synchronize the observation of the doctor with those of the patient.
Dasavidha & Ashtasthana Pareeksha
Apart from this threefold examination the patient is also subjected to further detailed examination in order to discover all the possible causative elements behind the ailment. The three steps are then elaborated in two ways Dasavidha Pareeksha (tenfold examination) and Ashtasthana Pareeksha (eightfold examination).
Tenfold Examination
- Structural and functional abnormalities of the body
- Geographical location
- Physical strength
- The season and climatic conditions
- The patient’s digestion
- The natural Tridoshic constitution of the body
- Age
- Psychological strength
- General and personal habits, e.g. smoking, work habits, daytime sleep etc.
- Nature of food patient prefers and resorts to
Apart from this, a doctor may resort to Eightfold Examination
- Pulse
- Urine
- Faecal matter
- Tongue/taste
- Voice and speech of the patient
- Touch, skin and tactile sense
- Eyes and vision
- General build
An Ayurvedic doctor can also resort to modern diagnostic methods as he/she is formally trained in them.
How can an Ayurvedic doctor claim to cure a disease such as diabetes?
Ayurveda is very helpful in treating and managing many lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension etc. even though in western medicine there is no definite cure for them. Ayurveda advocates lifestyle changes and specific medications and treatments coupled with yoga to help reset the body’s biological rhythm.
Is the detox procedure a scienctific technique? Are there any articles published about the efficacy of Ayurvedic techniques in peer review journals?
Panchakarma/Detox procedure is very much a scientific technique. Lots of research is carried out on the mode of action and effects of Panchakarma on various diseases and is published in reputed indexed journals. Below are some links: