The Indian System of Medicine

The Indian System of Medicine is of great antiquity. It is the culmination of Indian thought of medicine which represents a way of healthy living valued with a long and unique cultural history, as also amalgamating the best of influences that came in from contact with other civilizations be it Greece (resulting in Unani Medicine) or Germany (Homeopathy) or our scriptures/sages which gave us the science of Ayurveda, Siddha as also Yoga & Naturopathy. Like the multifaceted culture in our country, traditional medicines have evolved over centuries blessed with a plethora of traditional medicines and practices.

A separate Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H) was set up in 1995 to ensure the optimal development and propagation of AYUSH systems of health care. The Department of ISM&H was re-named as the Department of AYUSH (an acronym for - Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy) in November 2003. With an increase in lifestylerelated disorders there is a world wide resurgence of interest in holistic systems of health care, particularly with respect to the prevention and management of chronic, noncommunicable and systemic diseases. It is increasingly understood that no single health care system can provide satisfactory answers to all the health needs of modern society. Evidently there is a need for a new inclusive and integrated health care regime that should guide health policies and programmes in future. India has an advantage in this global resurgence of interest in holistic therapies as it has a rich heritage of indigenous medical knowledge coupled with strong infrastructure and skilled manpower in modern medicine. Medical pluralism is here to stay and the AYUSH sector has a critical role to play in the new and emerging situation.