In the recent years there is much activities and enthusiasm seen for the research in Ayurveda. Not only practitioners and followers of Ayurveda but Governments and lay public show interest in and expect wonderful results from these efforts. It has become challenges for Ayurveda Practitioners in general and academic people-teachers, students, and research workers in particular to rise to the occasion and prove real worth of Ayurveda. Future of Ayurveda, its prestige and even its existence are all depending on the achievements of these efforts.
The endeavor of research in human civilization particularly Ayurveda is very complex and specific too. The quest of longevity, measures of preventing diseases, and curing of diseases is in one hand and finding herbs drugs and describing their effects on human and collection of findings we can find several texts. Innovations, experiential findings, and systematization of findings we can find in several texts.
But Ayurveda should be made up to date. The principle and theories should be explained and supported with new comments and fresh examples of present day contexts. Experiments and criticism should be made afresh, so that it can answer the doubts arising in modern mind and thus can take its rightful place in the family of sister-sciences. For this purpose, the gap in the present knowledge should be filled up by inventing new ideas and principles and supplementing discoveries and approved facts.
Whatever facts are handed down traditionally in the form of theories, applied methods and experiences regarding prevention of diseases, preservation of health and regarding curing of diseases and administration of drugs, should be re-examined and re-evaluated and their validity should be re-establish.
History of research goes back to its origin. Vedas, Upanishads, Darshanas, Ayurveda and others classical sciences are the products of an intensive research. In those cases, the qualities of researchers were to attain highest state of consciousness, tranquil state of mind and understanding the law of nature. Even though there are several examples of innovation learned through nature, animal, plants, ethnic tribes and other ways.
Traditional medicine is the sum total of knowledge, skills and practices handed down by generations. Based on theories, beliefs and experiences influenced by culture, religion, personal attitude, history and geographical locations, traditional medicine vary greatly from country to country. Traditional medicine, use in the maintenance of health, as well as in the prevention of diseases, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illnesses. The terms complementary/alternative/non-conventional medicine are used interchangeably with traditional medicine in some countries.
Scientific research assures safety and efficacy of traditional medicine. However, a scientific research without respecting knowledge and experiences obtained through the long history of established practices is worthless. The methodologies should guarantee the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines and traditional procedure- based therapies. Due to lack of adequate and well accepted research methodology for evaluating traditional medicine, data and information on traditional medicine to provide evidence safety and efficacy is far from sufficient to meet the criteria to support its use worldwide (WHO).
At present, medical world is keener on doing clinical research in Ayurveda. This amounts to applied research in Ayurveda. There is a big scope for fundamental research in Ayurveda for which different methodology requires to be developed by Ayurveda experts in consultation with people from scientific side. Ayurveda has its research methodology and different parameters are given. There were vigorous evidence based researches and types, subtypes, classification of herbs, diets and several specialties were developed and codified.
Ayurveda has long historical use of many practices of traditional medicine, including experience passed on from generation to generation, has demonstrated the safety and efficacy of traditional medicine. However, scientific research is needed to provide additional evidence of its safety and efficacy. In conducting research and evaluating Ayurveda -traditional medicine, knowledge and experience obtained through the long history of established practices should be respected.
Ayurveda is not a stream of reductionist model of science it is a culture base sum total holistic science but also a part of Hindu and Buddhist religions so most of the ancient texts are written in Sanskrit. Excellent knowledge in Sanskrit language is important. Sanskrit terms require be properly understanding and defining for a good practice because the same terms indicate a concept, a technique or a practice, effect of the technique/practice and a resulting state of consciousness.
(From the page “introduction” of Research Methodology in Ayurveda Science – a training manual drafted by Nepal Health Research Council for which I have contributed significantly. It is based on various publications of WHO, articles and books by Ayurveda practitioners/researchers of Nepal and India and others)
