Review Article International Ayurvedic Medical Journal ISSN:2320 5091

AYURVEDA RESEARCH – TODAY AND TOMORROW Varghese Jibi Thankachan1, Aboli Patil2, Kalpesh Chaudhari3, Dnyanesh Joshi4 1Lecturer, Dept of kayachikitsa, 2Lecturer, Dept of Kaumarbhritya, 3Lecturer, Dept of Panchakarma, 4Lecturer, Dept of . Dr. D.Y. Patil College of and Research centre, pimpri,Pune, Maharashtra, India

ABSTRACT Ayurveda has been sustaining since its evolution from thousands of years. Eversince its principles have never changed and it has been practiced with full confidence and faith. Ayurveda is an observational and research oriented science, even though at present era with the evolving world, every field of science requires justification, and for it Research becomes mandatory. Ayurveda has also not been untouched. New diseases have evolved which are proving fatal and so it becomes the need of the hour to establish and validate our system of medicine and its effi- cacy which can be useful to humankind as a whole. Also, to make Ayurved a popular way of treatment modality worldwide, research efforts should be done. Keywords: Research, humankind, worldwide.

INTRODUCTION Ayurveda has been sustaining since vasansiddhilakshana and bhavaswabhava its evolution from thousands of years. Ever- nityatva1. Even today its principle stand since its principles have never changed and firm as it was thousand years ago. As the it has been practiced with full confidence famous Scientist Darwins theory states – and faith. Ayurveda is an observational and Survival of the Fittest; Ayurveda has sur- research oriented science, even though at vived till date and proves to be fittest and present era with the evolving world, every attains the adjective of Trikaalabadhita. field of science requires justification, and for Thousands of years back our Ancient seers it Research becomes mandatory. Ayurveda have understood the geographical changes in has also not been untouched. New diseases atmosphere, climate and its effect on our have evolved which are proving fatal and so body and introduced Ayurveda for us. Now it becomes the need of the hour to establish in this era where technology has advanced and validate our system of medicine and its even in the field of medicine we need to efficacy which can be useful to humankind prove our science to be true and for that evi- as a whole. Also, to make Ayurved a popu- dence based research is necessary. lar way of treatment modality worldwide, Research and Ayurveda research efforts should be done. Truth and Science is one, they both go hand Keywords – Research, humankind, world- in hand. There can be no competition be- wide. tween truth and truth, but only between truth Ayurveda has been said that it is and error2. Anadi and Shasvata because of its swabha- Varghese Jibi Thankachan et al: Ayurveda Research – Today And Tomorrow Research – Research is an endeavor to dis- drugs like madhusnuhi, ahiphena, copcini cover new facts or co-relate old facts, by etc. scientific study of a subject, or a course of Need for Research critical investigation. – Oxford dict. Our attempt should be to enhance the Research in Ayurved – it can be stated to utility and widen the areas of Ayurved establish and validate old principles with treatment, we should first of all survey the fresh proof or evidences. areas in which we are deficient and we Finally the main goal of a researcher should should be in apposition to accept our defi- be the quest for truth and happiness. ciencies and fill the lacuna. The deficiency Medicine, being related to the living system may be due to non prevalence of the disease needs a firm scientific footing, so as to dis- in ancient times or due to lack of facilities to pel the prevailing misbelieves and doubts study them in detail, for example heart dis- among different sections of people. ease and neurological diseases. Charaka has very specifically stated that Ayurveda has a Health oriented ap- those physicians are only wise who treat the proach where as Modern medicine is largely patients after proper clinical and physical limited to materialistic and quick relief from examination and investigations. diseases. In present time there are more We get many references in our samhita ex- number of deaths and disabilities occurring plaining research eg.anveshana, parishodha- from diseases of cardiovascular systems, na, anusandhan, manthan, vimarsha, parik- cancer, psychosomatic disorders, diabetes, shya etc3 . Aids etc. There is no specific cure for cer- According to Indian code of life, a person is tain diseaseand more over the palliative born to achieve the chaturvidhapurushar- treatment has also become costly. thaie , , kaam and for Proper research should be done to which life span is of 100 yrs. During these understand the concept of disease formation days many people used to die without ie Samprapti. For this we should know, as achieving purusharthas rendering their life well as be in a position to explain the forma- worthless. So Maharshi Bharadwaj orga- tion of doshas, dhatus in its uttarotar form, nized a conference on the Himalayas where concept of aama, and ojasby using all Maharshis like , as- some parameters. Interpretation of concepts sembled to eradicate the diseases and restore like pitta to be termed as bile, or kapha to be health iedeerghayu to attain purushartha. termed as mucous will be misleading and This great quest for longevity began in the unjustifiable. Himalayas which could be described as Research is needed even in treating a Worlds first Health convention. disease and to prove its efficacy for example In past centuries work which indicates re- the Role of panchakarma for maintaining search are Inclusion of Rasa aushadhi, adop- proper homeostasis of the body with respect tion of Nadipariksha from Sharangdhara for to climatic variations of dinacarya and rutu- diagnosis of diseases ,inclusion of new dis- carya. How snehana and swedana act, how eases like phiranga, aamavata and new the vitiated doshas are expelled out, these all require evidences which can be attained by

637 www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 3; Issue 3; March 2015 Varghese Jibi Thankachan et al: Ayurveda Research – Today And Tomorrow proper biomedical engineers and biophysic- and soul – aatma. Equilibrium of this is re- ists. Also the role of our medicine – herbal lated to health and vice versa to death. or herb mineral, role of Rasayanaand Vaji- Fundamentals on which the science is based karan drugs in various diseases. Many of cannot be changed as they are based on eter- our Rasayana drugs do show good results in nal varieties like panchamahabhutas. diseases like cancer, aids, tuberculosis, sars, For and intelligent person , the entire world H1N1 etc. This needs proper documentation is a teacher and an enemy to a fool. So we and research. should shed our inhibition and get the know- Pharmaceutical companies also play ledge from all side and absorb and assimi- an important role in the development of late it as our own. Ayurveda. Our Classic’ shave mentioned a number of medicine in different diseases. REFERENCES Medicines which they prepare should be au- 1. Agnivesha , Charakasamhita, revised by thentic and should follow the indications as Charaka and Dridabala, with Ayurveda said by the shastraeg. bhavanas and sams- Dipika commentary of Chakrapanidatta kara and proper studies and assessment edited by YadavjiTrikamjiAcharya, edi- should be done accordingly. New species of tion 2007, Choukhambhaorientalia, Pg plants should be studied for their medicinal 187. properties. 2. Agnivesha , Charakasamhita, revised by There is going to be a great demand Charaka and Dridabala, with Ayurveda for Ayurveda once the world recognizes its Dipika commentary of Chakrapanidatta Power of Healing and Healthy living. Lan- edited by YadavjiTrikamjiAcharya, edi- guage had been a barrier for keeping the tion 2007, Choukhambhaorientalia, Pg knowledge hidden but now it has been try- 70. ing to overcome it. Moreover the Ayurvedic 3. Agnivesha , Charakasamhita, revised by physicians need to give adequate thought Charaka and Dridabala, with Ayurveda over the conceptual part of Ayurveda than Dipika commentary of Chakrapanidatta being a drug oriental medicine practice.Now edited by YadavjiTrikamjiAcharya, edi- time has come to recall these techniques and tion 2007, Choukhambhaorientalia, Pg adopt them to the present day condition. 65. Sufficient unbiased objectives scien- tific documentations thus generated will al- CORRESPONDING AUTHOR low Ayurveda to be practiced in its truly Dr. Varghese Jibi T pristine form,safely and effectively in this Lecturer, century and years to come. Dr. D.Y. Patil Ayurveda College & Re- search Centre. CONCLUSION Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India Ayurveda is not a system of medicine but a Email: [email protected] science of life and longivity. The concept of Ayurveda is based on the study of body- Source of support: Nil sharira, sense organs – indriya, mind- satva Conflict of interest: None Declared

638 www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 3; Issue 3; March 2015