AYUSH Full Form
What is the full form of AYUSH?
The
full form of AYUSH is Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and
Homeopathy.
What is AYUSH?
AYUSH
stands for the Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy
that is the six Indian systems of medicine prevalent and practiced in ancient
India and some of the neighboring Asian countries with only a few exceptions in
a number of the developed countries.
Ayurveda
The
traditional Indian system of medicine (integrated into Atharva Veda, the last
of the four Vedas) often called as “the mother of all healing”, which is based
on the idea of balance in bodily systems and seeks to treat and integrate body,
mind, and spirit employing a comprehensive holistic approach especially by
emphasizing diet, herbal remedies, exercise, meditation, breathing, and
physical therapy.
Yoga & Naturopathy
Naturopathy
is a form of alternative medicine that is believed to function in aiding the
body to heal itself, using the force of Nature. It is based on the ancient
belief that using the 5 primordial agents of nature (i.e., the earth, water,
fire, air, and space) can treat any disease.
Naturopathy
doesn't believe the precise explanation for disease and its specific treatment
but takes into consideration the totality of things liable for a disease like
one's unnatural habits in living, thinking, working, sleeping, relaxing, sexual
indulgence, etc. It also considers the environmental factors involved which on
the entire disturb the traditional functioning of the body and cause a morbid,
weak, and toxic state.
Yoga
is based on the fundamentals of right living and, as such, is envisioned to be
incorporated in daily routine. The therapy is designed (as per prehistoric
texts) to work on all aspects of the person: the physical, vital, mental,
emotional, psychic, and spiritual.
The
word yoga means ‘unity’ or ‘oneness’ and is derived from the Sanskrit word Yuj
which means to ‘to join’. The unity or joining is pronounced in spiritual terms
as the union of the individual consciousness with the universal consciousness
(a concept of ancient Indian philosophy). Yoga is thought to be a means of
balancing and harmonizing the body, mind, and emotions. It is achieved through
the practice of asanas, pranayamas, mudras, bandha, shatkarma, and meditation.
Unani
Unani
medicine is a system of alternative medicine that originated in ancient Greece
and practiced in Mughal India and Muslim culture in South Asia and modern-day
Central Asia.
The
term Yūnānī means "Greek" because the Perso-Arabic system of drugs
was supported by the teachings of the Greek physicians Hippocrates and Galen.
According
to ancient literature, achieving a balance of the bodily fluids known as
"the four humors" (i.e., blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile)
is vital to health.
Another
fundamental principle of Unani medicine is that the disease originates from an
imbalance in air, earth, water, fire, and sky, the five elements thought to
encompass all that exist in nature, including the human body.
Furthermore,
Unani medicine is partially based on the principle that environmental
conditions, including the quality of water and air, can considerably influence
health.
Siddha
Siddha
medicine is a traditional form of healing invented in South India and is
considered to be one of the ancient Indian systems of medicine. The Siddha
system is grounded on a blend of ancient medicinal practices and spiritual
disciplines along with alchemy and mysticism.
Like
other traditional medicinal systems, Siddha, five elements exist in nature:
earth, water, fire, air, and ether, all of which form the original basis of all
corporeal things. In the physical body, the element of earth is present within
the bone, flesh, nerves, skin, and hair; the element of water is present in
bile, blood, semen, glandular secretions, and sweat; the element of fireside is
present in hunger, thirst, sleep, beauty, and indolence; the element of air is
present in contraction, expansion, and motion; and therefore the element of
ether is present within the interstices of the stomach, heart, neck, and head.
The
balance of humors is considered as health and its disturbance or imbalance
leads to a diseased state. There is an equivalent emphasis on the body, mind,
and spirit and strives to restore the innate harmony of the individual.
Treatment is aimed toward restoring balance to the mind-body system. Diet,
lifestyle, yoga, and meditation play a serious role not only in maintaining
health but also in curing diseases.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy,
or homeopathic medicine, is an alternative medical system developed in Germany
more than 200 years ago. Two unconventional theories serve as the fundamental
of homeopathy medicine.
“Like
cures like”— the concept is based on the idea that disease can be cured by a
substance that causes similar symptoms in healthy people.
“Law
of minimum dose”— the concept is based on the idea that the lower the dose of
the medication, the greater is its effectiveness. Many homeopathic medicines or
drugs are so diluted that no molecules of the first substance remain.
Homeopathic
products come from plants, minerals, or animals. Homeopathic products are often
made as sugar pellets to be placed under the tongue; they'll even be in other
forms, like ointments, gels, drops, creams, and tablets. Treatments are
“individualized” or tailored to every person—it’s common for various people
with an equivalent condition to receive different treatments.
 |
| Source: Canadian Academy of Homeopathy, Facebook Page |
Criticisms of AYUSH
The
scientists and medical practitioners often question the scientific basis and
effectiveness of AYUSH therapy.
As
a traditional system, the therapeutic procedures are being practiced for years.
Many critics question their efficacy as very few evidence-based systematic
studies are performed on the AYUSH system.
In
the US, a controversy irrupted whether the herbal medicines (a form of
Ayurveda) contain toxic heavy metals beyond the safety limits.
In
homeopathy the higher diluted doses do not contain molecules (as per the
knowledge of conventional physics), so, it is supposed that the observed
benefits actually arose from placebo, rather the beneficial effect of the drug.
Although
it is often hypothesized that plant-based medicines or herbal medicines have no
side effects, there is always a lack of systemic study on the toxicity of
herbal medicines.
It
is often said that the Ayurveda-industry is mostly non-standardized and proper
quality control and quality assurance measures are not taken into
consideration.
 |
| Source: Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India |
Ministry of AYUSH
The
Ministry of AYUSH was set up by Govt. of India to develop education, research,
and propagation of indigenous alternative medicine systems in India.
The
Ministry of AYUSH in the current shape was formed on 9th November 2014. Previously
it was known as the Department of Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy
(ISM&H) which was formed in 1995 and later renamed as Department of
Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in 2003,
with focused attention for the development of Education and Research in
Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy.
Objectives
As
per the vision document of the Ministry of AYUSH (https://main.ayush.gov.in/about-us/background),
the objectives of the department are as follows.
“To
upgrade the educational standards of Indian Systems of Medicines and
Homoeopathy colleges in the country.”
“To
strengthen existing research institutions and to ensure a time-bound research
program on identified diseases for which these systems have an effective
treatment.”
“To
draw up schemes for promotion, cultivation, and regeneration of medicinal
plants used in these systems.”
“To
evolve Pharmacopoeial standards for Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy
drugs.”
Institutes under the Ministry of AYUSH
- National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), Jaipur
- National Institute of Homeopathy (NIH), Kolkata
- National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), Bengaluru
- National Institute of Siddha (NIS), Chennai
- National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN), Pune
- Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), New Delhi
- Institute of Post Graduate Teaching & Research in Ayurveda (IPGTRA), Jamnagar, Gujarat
- Rashtriya Ayurved Vidyapeeth (RAV), New Delhi
- All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi
- North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy (NEIAH), Shillong
- North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine (NEIFM), Pasighat.
The bottom line
Despite
the criticisms and lack of scientific evidence, the popularity of AYUSH systems
in different regions of India and South East Asia is constant. Probably the distrust
or frustration with allopathic medicine among the poor common people, the cost-effectiveness
of traditional therapies compared to modern medicine, ease of access,
non-availability of other options, and fewer side effects of AYUSH medicines
play the major role behind the observed popularity. However, detailed
scientific studies following the standard protocol of modern drug testing and
exploration of the molecular mechanism of action are urgently required to
establish the AYUSH system in per with the modern therapeutics.
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