ARMARC

Newsletter of Vol 30 Series 2 2 FEBRUARY - 2024 ISSN: 2455-1384

Ayurveda, As A Science Needs Integrated Approach of Study Based on
Scientific Evidences
* Dr. Prashant Kumar Jha, Professor, ALNRMAMC, Koppa
*Corresponding Author: drprashantkumarjha19@gmail.com
Received on: 20-11-2023 Accepted: 09-12-2023 Corrected: 31-12-2023
Abstract: Background: Science always invites questions and answers based on logics and rationality. It is
verifiable based on evidences. Ayurveda as a Science should be ready for further screening based on evidences.
It should not vary from individual to individual. Generalizations of Ayurvedic treatments, medicines and
procedures should be done after repeated experiments. It should be testable.
2.1: K.N. Udupa Committee recommendations for Ayurveda and APJ Kalam’s aspiration for Medicinal
Plants: Both K.N. Udupa committee and ex-President APJ Kalam emphasized the integrated study of Ayurveda
with basis of concerned science. Experts from other sciences were emphasized to be included in the teachings
of Ayurveda to bring it global level.
2.2: Reasons for better recognition of Chinese Traditional Herbs than Indian Traditional Herbs in world
market: The business of Chinese herbal medicines is booming up in comparison to herbs used in Indian
traditional system of medicines. The global traditional Chinese medicine market size was 216457.63 million
USD in 2022 with CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 6.87% in comparison to global ayurvedic
medicine market size of 7273.3 million USD in 2021 with CAGR of 12.0%. The differences in market share
lies with reliance of world population on scientific approaches.
3.1: Ayurveda has its own basic principles: Detailed scientific enquiries are needed to redefine the basic
principles of Ayurveda based on scientific approaches at molecular level.
3.2: Holistic approach of treatment: Procedures and effects of Panchkarma and other techniques used in
Ayurveda is required to be explored based on scientific proofs.
3.3: Compounds actions of Medicinal Plants: Interactions of herbal compounds within a herb and with
other herbs are need to be critically screened based on scientific proofs.
4. Conclusion: Integrated teaching of Ayurveda with inclusion of experts from modern times is need of
time.
Keywords: Ayurveda, Science, Psedoscience ...................................
Adamancy word is not entertained in science. It invites new researches. It is ready to change with sound
proofs. Wikipedia considers Ayurveda as pseudoscientific due to lack of scientific basis for its premises1. An article

published in Indian Journal of Medical Ethics in January 2023 under title, “Confessions of an Ayurvedic professor”,
author emphasizes the re-interpretation of ancient literature using the recent technological and research-based
advancements in medical science2. Laborious approaches are required based on scientific rationality to understand
the concepts of Ayurveda to avoid the dissonance with scientific criteria of medical science.
Knowledge, based on individuals’ beliefs presenting itself as science is regarded as ‘pseudoscience’. Online
Oxford dictionary defines pseudoscience as, “a set of theories, beliefs or methods that some people claim are based
on scientific fact even though in reality they are not3”. It is contradictory. It is based on unprovable claims that change
from individual to individual. It is more based on beliefs than facts and reality. It cannot be generalized. It is based on
exaggerated claims4.
The online Cambridge dictionary defines science as, “the careful study of the structure and behavior of the
physical world, especially to watching, measuring, and doing experiments, and the development of theories to de-
scribe the results of these activities5”. It is verifiable study based on evidences6. It doesn’t rely upon the preconceived
Newsletter of ARMARC Vol 30 Series 2 3 FEBRUARY - 2024 ISSN: 2455-1384
or post-conceived notions, but on facts. It excludes any justifications other than facts and causality. Generalization is
essential component of any scientific process. It is based on reasoning from widely-acknowledged observations7. It
is reproducible and replicable in defined conditions; it means based on defined sets of parameters8. It is based on
proofs, not on individuals’ beliefs. It is testable (falsifiable).
Life of an individual is most important for any medical system and no-one has ethical or legal right to play
with individual’s life due to negligence or lack of understanding of principles in appropriate manner. Preparation and
understanding of standard protocols based on scientific evidences are need of time. Only standard teaching based
on scientific evidences can provide ayurvedic medical students to make professional decision correctly9.
Scientific theories are based on objectivity framed from repeated experimentations. They are open to be
tested for rejection best on strong proofs. In present age of science and technology, ayurvedic concepts should be
re-established using the technology as constitutional type of an individual or prakriti is revealed according to specific
genetic frameworks10,11. At molecular level all medical sciences are same as detailed classification of biological things
approaches to molecular levels. Even in silico models encode the function of cells, pathogenesis and pathophysiology
at molecular level only12. So, use of current scientific trends for representation concepts would nurture the Ayurveda
only13. Coordination with basic science and modern medical science is not a new idea, but it was first presented by
Udupa Committee.
2.1: K.N. Udupa Committee recommendations14
The committee highlighted the themes of RN Chopra report that suggested the harmonic relation between
Ayurveda and modern medical science. Both committees talked on integrated teaching of Ayurveda in coordination
with modern sciences. Ayurveda with experts from modern medicine, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and
pharmaceutical science for complete development of Ayurevdic education. Udupa Committee had given four options.
One of these options is still very much relevant as modern diagnosis and Ayurvedic treatment. If the treatment based
on quality and efficacy of medicines gives result and those results can be evaluated using modern diagnostic tools,
world has no options but to believe. Further, it can be generalized if in specified cases, medicines are not changing
according to individual physicians’ perspectives.
Former President of India, Dr. APJ Kalam as chief scientific advisor of then Prime-minister, Late respected
Vajpeyiji has greater aspirations for business-potentials of medicinal plants for India like Chinese herbal medicines.
He along with Dr. PNV Kurup, then Vice-chancellor of Gujarat Ayurved University (GAU) became instrumental to
start few courses in GAU to link the Ayurveda with modern medical science keeping Globalization in view. The
curriculum of courses was designed accordingly. Students are taught from research points of view to do researches
except clinical research. But, still after so many years, pace of the development of this idea is still slow. Reasons
might be not giving importance to these courses. However, these courses specifically M.Sc. (Medicinal Plants),
Ph.D. (Medicinal Plants) and M.Pharma, Ph.D. have curriculum and other criteria to coordinate with Ayurvedic
researches as per Udupa committee. For clinical research, professors of modern medicines are experts.
Newsletter of ARMARC Vol 30 Series 2 4 FEBRUARY - 2024 ISSN: 2455-1384
2.2: Reasons in Chinese Traditional Medicines
The global traditional Chinese medicine market size was 216457.63 million USD in 2022 with CAGR
(compound annual growth rate) of 6.87% in comparison to global ayurvedic medicine market size of 7273.3 million
USD in 2021 with CAGR of 12.0%15,16. The differences in market share lies with reliance of world population on
scientific approaches. China has promoted its therapies with researches based on scientific approaches involving
people from all backgrounds while Ayurveda still has to adopt that approach completely17. The reasons are apparent
for many times more patents with China than India in contexts of medicinal herbs.
In China, scientific drug discovery methodologies are utilized to find in details about the single herbs. All
concerned department including life sciences, biotechnology, pharmacology and others work separately and in
coordination for exhaustive screening for a single herb. Interdisciplinary and scientific approach have helped them to
publish a good number of scientific papers in world class journals too. In these regards, India has still not come with
interdisciplinary approach in real way. China has taken business approach understanding the nerves of world’s
consumers, but in Indian case, we talk more and work less in these regards except in few organizations.
In both, Indian and Chinese traditional medicines, same time scientific approaches were started, but China
kept continuing with scientific interrogation of claims made in traditional medicines, while in India, concerned people
kept talking without going with scientific approaches. Later from starting of 21st century government realized the
situation and started changing the policies to give more importance to scientific approaches of Indian traditional
medicines in real works than the paper works. Recently, many of projects of Ayurveda are diverted to modern
medicinal sciences and life sciences as the people involved there are bringing out the promising revelations.
For 240, frequently used Chinese herbs, approximately 7000 compounds are listed. 2597 compounds are
also screened for positively against 78 molecular targets18. In case of India, 1742 medicinal herbs, 9596 compounds
are listed19. Details of molecular targets are still not available on database19. The number of compounds per herb for
Indian medicinal herbs are listed lesser in number.
The website of John Hopkins Medicine talks the reputation of Ayurveda in USA as dietary supplements.
The website clearly mentions the probable interactions of Ayruvedic medicines with allopathic medicines, so to
check the training and background of practitioners prescribing these medicines20. Even many countries of Europe
and Canada ban Ayurvedic medicines on the issues of safety and quality issues and, they find Chinese herbal
medicines are far better21,22,23.
3: Claims by Ayurvedic Physicians to Avoid Scientific Approaches and Options of Research
3.1: Ayurveda has its own basic principles: Scholars from Ayurveda usually claim that Ayurveda has its own
basic principles and it cannot be correlated with modern sciences. Limiting oneself itself is restriction from further
learning. The clear understanding of principles of Ayurveda with basic science at molecular level may develop a new
paradigm of scientific understanding of Ayurveda. Tridosha theory can be further elaborated at molecular level by d-

.
Newsletter of ARMARC Vol 30 Series 2 5 FEBRUARY - 2024 ISSN: 2455-1384
-eep understanding of modern medical science and other basic sciences. It needs the comprehensive understanding
of Ayurveda and modern sciences to correlate. The origin of Ayurveda dates back to thousands years. The science
has changed a lots from that time. The idea of those years cannot be carried without rechecking at present competitive
world. Five divisions of each of Vata, Pitta and Kapha are suggested. Further sub-divisions are possible in correlation
to each other by discernment of the signs and symptoms and utilizing various modern diagnostic tools. Many options
are there for further exploration.
3.2: Holistic approach of treatment: Many physicians can claim the holistic approach of treatment of Ayurveda
with inclusion of Panchkarma procedures and Yoga. Need of purification techniques in individual cases must be
understood scientifically. The detailed changes in terms of treatment with and without purification should be studied.
The guidelines also should be presented the cases to undergo through such purification or Panchkarma procedures.
What about the cases, if complete instructions of classical texts are not followed? Whether side-effects are observed?
Detailed researches from every aspect are needed. There is further necessity to understand the mode of action of
each procedure.
3.3: Compounds actions of Medicinal Plants: Many scientists usually talk that Ayurveda uses whole plant or its
extracts as medicines and these many medicines have number of compounds working together, so action of one
compound cannot be stated. The fruit of Semecarpus anacardium causes contact dermatitis. The researches prove
this effect due to anacardic acid. It means out of many compounds present, anacardic acid is actively working.
Other compounds may have synergistic or inhibitory effects. These effects should be studied in detailed. Even the
interactions of any prescribed drug with food and other drugs should also be studied in detailed. These all are
scientific approaches.
4. Conclusion
Ayurveda is a scientific alternative medical science that needs critical scientific evaluation to place itself as
reputed medical system across the globe. Escaping nature of people involved with practice of Ayurveda must be
replaced with scientific approaches. Right from the beginning after independence, government opted the scientific
approaches in teaching and research of Ayurveda. Now, it is needed to increase the pace of researches in coordination
with experts of modern sciences.
Conflict of Interests: Authors declare no conflict of interests.
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