Debate – SHOULD AYUSH BE BRIDGED WITH ALLOPATHY?
AYUSH COULD BE BRIDGED WITH ALLOPATHY
Dr. Shraddha Murali
India has a rich ancient history of traditional medicine. We are, perhaps, the pioneers of medical treatment in the world, with ayurveda and siddha being in practice as early as 2nd century BC. Our proficiency in Ayurveda is well documented in texts such as the Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita which are revered by medical practioners even today.
There are six forms of traditional medical practices popular in India- viz. Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy, together known as the AYUSH system. For years, these schools of medicine have suffered from neglect and step-motherly treatment from both the public and modern medicine practitioners. This has lead to the Govt. Of India launching an initiative to overcome this divide. Apart from promoting AYUSH treatments, the Government also plans to pass the Bridge course bill, through with it aims to encourage AYUSH practitioners to train and practice modern medicine. Such integration of AYUSH systems into allopathy will surely be beneficial, for it’ll not only help develop a more holistic way of treating patients but also change our nation’s mindset towards traditional medicine. In a country with a population of a billion, where many rural communities still believe in traditional medicine, this will pave the way for improved diagnosis and treatment.
We are a world ravaged by a pandemic, with drug resistance is reaching its zenith. As such, it’s only fair to explore new avenues to combat these challenges . If our rich heritage is harnessed properly, by well trained practitioners, there’s no doubt that we can achieve unparalleled success in patient care by bridging AYUSH with modern medicine