|
Ethnobotanical
Leaflets 12: 1252-53. 2008. Traditional
Indian Medicine-the Curtain Raiser Dr. Amritpal
Singh Senior lecturer, Lovely
School of Applied Medical Sciences, Dept of pharmacy, Lovely professional university Phagwara (Pb) Issued Ayurveda
or traditional Indian medicine (TIM) is making dramatic,
or Indian system of medicine(ISM), come back. Market studies and papers
published in peer-reviewed journals back the revival of TIM in Traditional systems of medicine,
irrespective of the country of origin, have faced stiff resistance from the
conventional pharmaceutical industry. Recently in, attempt was made to
introduce curriculum of TIM in medical colleges but the proposal was strongly
declined by the medical fraternity. Medicinal plants are screened for
investigational drugs and several therapeutically important drugs have been
extracted. Results of studies published in indexed journals like journal of
Ethno pharmacology, Journal of Natural Products, Planta
Medica and Fitoterapia
favor used of plant based remedies in clinical practice. Traditional Indian medicine is
not popular in medical colleges and some medical experts refer it as ‘quack medicine’.
Whatever may be the prevailing condition, maximum work is being done on
medicinal plants in departments of pharmacology medical colleges. The
pharmacologists are interested in leads from medicinal plants, but not in
drug as a whole. This is major point of conflict between modern medical
sciences and traditional Indian medicine. A drug, tested in animal models, if
found promising is approved for clinical trials. This tested drug is isolated
active principle and in post experimental work researchers omit the name of
medicinal plants, source of active constituents. On one side pharmacologists
are comparing TIM with reverse pharmacology and on the other side TIM is
being addressed as junk or roadside medicine. The purpose of this write up is
not to promote or rebuke modern medical science or TIM but to address
critical issue related to future of TIM. Antidotal approach of the Allopathic
alone can’t be blamed for prevailing circumstances in TIM. Apathy on the part
of AYUSH, CCIM, Ayurvedic colleges and even
practitioners of Ayurveda is the major factor for
non-popularity of TIM.90% of Ayurvedic
practitioners practice Allopathic in clinical practice and have least
interest in research finding with Ayurvedic drug.
Recently AYUSH has taken the initiative of reviving research and development
in TIM, a welcome step for enhancing scientific validation of TIM. Medicinal plants are being
explored foe investigational drugs in premier Indian institutes like NIPER,
CDRI, PGIMER, CIMAP, There is need for imparting knowledge
of subject like pharmacognosy, natural product
chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology for Ayurvedic
students. BAMS is not included as eligibility criteria in entrance test of
major institutes engaged in medicinal plant research. Further lack of awareness
of recent finding in TIM among Ayurvedic students
and practitioners has led to decline in advances in TIM. Present scenario is
that majority of Ayurvedic colleges in The cold war between modern
medical system and traditional medicine must cease. Statutory bodies dealing
with Ayurveda should adopt a flexible approach and
join hands with modern researchers for enhancing of reputation of Ayurveda or TIM.
Modern medical science should stop unnecessary criticism of TIM and
investigate drugs used in Ayurveda with open mind.
Propaganda like heavy metal limits, and lack of standardization of Ayurvedic products should be given required but not all
importance.
|