Short notes on Indian systems of medicines

The Indian systems of medicine include all the non-allopathic systems of medicine excluding Homeopathy. For example, Aryurved, Sidha, Unani, Yoga and Naturopathy.

Ayurveda:

This system of medicine originated in Vedic period and medical knowledge in Atharveda generally developed into the science of Ayurveda. The celebrated authorities in Ayurveda are Atreya, Charaka, Sushrut and Vaghbhat. The diagnosis in Ayurveda involves questioning, examination of pulse, tongue, urine etc. This also involved inference treatment such as preventive measures and curative measures that include intake of drugs and »medicines. Ayurveda also makes use of the medicinal properties of the plants.

Sidha:

Sidha are the most ancient Indian System of medicine practiced in India. The basic principles and doctrines of Sidha system are similar to those of Ayurveda. Both Ayurveda and Sidha are holistic system of medicines dealing with preventive, primitive and curative concepts of health and are holistic systems of medicine covering, body, mind, soul and phenomena of nature. But Sidha was practiced in Southern part of India.

Unani:

This system of medicine originated in Greece, but was brought to India by Arabs and Persians. However this system of medicine has a long impressive record in India. It also adopts holistic approach. But main types of treatment are regimen therapy, diet therapy, pharmacy-therapy and surgery.

Homeopathy:

This system of medicine was discovered by German physician Dr. Samud Halineman. It is a system of medicine that cures natural disease by administering drugs which have been experimentally proved to possess the power of producing similar artificial symptoms on healthy human beings. It has also wide acceptability because of its holistic and intrinsic values, low cost medicines and absence of any side effects of the drug.

Yoga:

Yoga is a way of life propounded by Yajyavalkya and later systematized by Patanjali. The history of yoga is about 2500 years when Patanjali provided it a systematic form which consists of eight components. This yoga helps in improving physical, mental and social-well being and provides relief from stress and strain, increases resistance power of the body etc.

Naturopathy:

Naturopathy like yoga is a way of life and believes in the practice of applying the simple laws of nature to life. It is commonly known for drugless treatment of disease and an organized way of life is the key to health energy and happiness. It lays special emphasis on eating and living habits, adoption of purificatory measures, use of hydrotherapy, cold packs, mud packs, massage etc.

There are more than four lakhs registered practitioners under these systems particularly more in rural areas. There are many Ayurvedic, Unani and Sidha colleges are functioning in the country both in government and non government sectors for under-graduate education. Besides the National Institute of Ayurved, Jaipur, there is the two-full-fledged post-graduate institutions one at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and other Gujarat Ayyurveda University, Jamnagar.

Apart from these, Government has set up a National Institute of Unani Medicine at Bangalore in collaboration with government of Karnataka. The National Institute of Homeopathy at Kolkata offers the highest diploma level education.

The Central Research Institute for Yoga, an autonomous institute centrally assisted is engaged in fundamental research on various yogic practices and clinical research. Besides, there are a number of training centers for yoga in different parts of the country mostly run by voluntary organizations.