Ayurveda is an indigenous branch of medicine inherently discovered on the Indian subcontinent. Early references to Ayurveda can be found in texts and scriptures that date back around three millenniums. However, according to Indian mythology, Ayurveda has existed long before that. Ayurveda as a medical science stands for naturally curing human diseases. Most ayurvedic medicines are derived from natural resources like plants and herbs. This is in contrast to modern or ‘western’ science where medicines are formulated in a lab by combining different chemicals.
Ayurveda, which is a Sanskrit word, can be loosely translated to ‘the science of life’. Ayurveda and its concepts revolve around the capability of the human body to heal itself by using naturally sourced medications. An example of Ayurveda being used in treating a human can be found directly in Ramayana. When Laxman, the younger brother of Rama, gets injured by a bow fired by Ravana’s son Indrajit, he falls unconscious. It is then that Vaidya (a doctor) Sushen requests Hanuman to bring the miraculous Sanjeevani root from the Himalayas to save a dying Laxman. This is one of the earliest references to Ayurveda. Traditionally, Ayurveda was a field that was only followed by ‘Vaidyas’ or sages who had mastered the art of human treatment over the years. However, Ayurveda has come a long way since then. With India as the flag-bearer of this miraculous natural medical science, Ayurveda is getting established as an alternate science of treatment and prevention of diseases all around the world.
What is it about Ayurveda that attracts the modern world to it? For starters, the concepts of Ayurveda are pretty clear: any ailment can be cured by the elements of nature. Being born, living, and eventually death are all-natural processes. Therefore, problems caused while going through all these phases of life should have an organic solution to them too. Coupling them with results backed by history, Ayurveda establishes a realistic point of view in the medical field. And that is, the cure of one disease does not have to result in another disease. To get the basic essence of Ayurveda, one can start by studying the concepts of Doshas. Doshas and their alignment with each other is the center of Ayurveda. These Doshas also align with the characteristics of a person. The three Doshas defined in Ayurveda are:
Pitta Dosha- Related to the digestive system. A problem in the Pitta dosha leads to digestive tract issues.
Vata Dosha- Related to the movement of humans. A problem in the Vata dosha leads to immobility.
Kapha Dosha- Related to the immune system of the human body. A flaw in the Kapha dosha leads to a weaker immune system, making a person more prone to diseases.
Further, Ayurveda defines the type of food one should eat to keep all the Doshas in place. A set of exercises in the form of Yoga also contributes to the health and wellness of a person. The combination of Yoga and Ayurveda claims to offer long and healthy life, free from any kind of disease. These doctrines have been adopted by many people and they have presented positive reviews about the same.
One of the biggest claims of Ayurveda is that its treatments don’t have any side effects. This remark can be attributed to the use of plants and herbs as a means to prevent or treat an ailment. On the contrary, allopathy or modern science, which uses chemicals to treat diseases, has been shown to exhibit ramifications. Modern science does provide almost immediate relief from a problem but can cause discomfort at later stages. That is why more and more aspiring youngsters are getting enlisted in institutes that provide education on the basics of Ayurveda. In India, a candidate can enroll in a bachelor’s program called the B.A.M.S. or the Bachelors of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery. This course teaches the basics of Ayurveda and how it has evolved over the years. There are a lot of colleges that offer a bachelor’s course in Ayurvedic medicine. The most interesting part of opting for this course is the relatively low fee. Institutes offering B.A.M.S. in Bhopal, for example, have aggressively priced the fee structure in order to lure more talent into the field of Ayurvedic medicine. In addition to the lower fees, there are a lot of scholarships that are offered to meritorious students.
One of the most prominent colleges offering bachelor’s in Ayurvedic medicine and surgery is Mansarovar Ayurvedic Medical College or M.A.M.C. Situated in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, M.A.M.C. is one of the most sought-after institutes for pursuing a degree in Ayurvedic science. The Mansarovar Ayurvedic Medical College has been approved by the Central Council of Indian Medicine and AYUSH (Ayurvedic, Yoga, and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy). It is also affiliated with the Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University, Jabalpur. Keeping in mind the advancements that the medical field has achieved in the past century, M.A.M.C. tries to amalgamate the wisdom of the past with the needs of the present and future.
It is a matter of pride for India and its rich cultural heritage that Ayurveda is winning accolades all over the world. The widespread acceptance of this ancient science in western civilization is a reminder that India has a lot to offer in the field of medicine. At the same time, it is our duty as ambassadors of Ayurveda, to provide qualified professionals in this field. The government’s efforts in opening a number of institutes offering B.A.M.S. and related courses is a positive step in filling the gap in demand for qualified Ayurvedic scientists. With just the right push, we can introduce the science of Ayurveda as a viable option in developing strong resistance to common diseases. This will help in increasing the spectrum of acceptance for Ayurveda across the globe. The government of India can assist in this venture by subsidizing existing courses and opening more colleges that offer similar courses. Because Ayurveda has come a long way, and it still has a long way to go.
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