Factors Affecting on Status of Ayurveda
As we have already discussed that, many internal factors are mainly responsible for present secondary Status of Ayurveda. Two major institutes greatly decide fate of Ayurveda in Domestic as well as International Markets and these institutes are Herbal Drug Manufacturers and Central & State Governments in India. In independent India, it was highly expected and needed to have accurate policies and proper strategies for work-style and implementation of those policies. Some work was done but it is negligible to nil and it couldn’t stop/prevent devaluation of “Ayurveda” at both levels – Domestically and in International Markets. Majority of people preferring Herbal Medicines are victims of hazardous side effects of Allopathic drugs and hence, in the very interest of mankind, we as strong supporter and propagators of “Ayurveda”, we should work hard to convince medical fraternity and common man that Herbal Medicines are Standerdised, Result-Oriented and Research-Based.
We can make it out that, factors which are responsible for present secondary Status of Ayurveda are mainly Internal Factors and some External Factors are also there. External Factors are related to deliberate negative publicity by multinational allopathic pharmaceutical companies, more efforts taken by other countries for research, documentations and standerdisation of Herbal Drugs of their own countries. But we can also make it out that, these external factors are end result of our wrong policies and strategies and/or continuous ignorance which is a part of Internal Factors.
Scenario of Present Status of Research in Ayurveda
Documentation and “Addition/Updation” of Ayurvedic literature was and is a need of time. And this documentation is generated through Research only. In India, we see three types of Researches –
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Academic – Done by post-graduate and Ph.D. students as a part of fulfillment of their course curriculum. The literature generated through academic research is hardly of any use for any substantial Addition/Updation of Ayurvedic Literature.
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Industrial – Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturing Companies carry out some research and naturally it is always product-oriented and the data generated from such research is for exclusive use of marketing the products. Therefore, this type of research is also not of any use for Addition/Updation of Ayurvedic Literature.
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Research in Government Research Institutes – Many departments of AYUSH and laboratories working under CSIR, ICMR sometimes take research projects on Medicinal Plants. Some semi-government and reputed private Research Institutes also take upon Research Projects on Medicinal Plants which are sponsored and/or funded by Government. As we have seen that, above two types of Researches are of no any use to Add/Update Ayurvedic Literature, naturally whatever generation of data can be available to Add/Update Ayurvedic Literature, is only from the projects on Medicinal Plants that are taken up by Government Research Institutes. Government spends huge amounts on these Research Institutes but so far, no any significant work has been conducted and/or completed on Medicinal Plants which would really Add/Update Ayurvedic Literature and would improve Global Status of Ayurveda. And here arises need of formation of accurate policy and correct work-strategy to compel Government Research Institutes to design and complete such projects on Medicinal Plants which would add/update Ayurvedic Literature and which would really be termed as a good documentation and should be of further use as databases for standerdisation, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies on Medicinal Plants, Bioavailability Studies, pre-clinical, clinical and toxicity studies. This type of work will definitely improve Global Status of Ayurveda at highest levels.
Where and Why We Need Policy Reform for Research in Ayurveda?
Present range of Research Projects in various Government Research Institutes and Academic Research mostly works on a single point and that is “Isolation of active molecule” from the Medicinal Plant. Further, chemical structure of that isolated molecule is derived by Structural Elucidation and then a chemical process is invented to manufacture this active molecule on industrial scale to formulate a new drug. We just don’t need such type of Research Projects in India, when very basic research work and documentation in “Ayurveda” is still pending. This method is definitely against the basic principles and philosophy of “Ayurveda” for following reasons –
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The moment when single active molecule is isolated from medicinal plant, we leave far behind “Ayurveda” and enter in the world of “Pure Chemistry”. To call such a drug as “Herbal Drug” is not only misleading but criminal. Just by using some Medicinal Plant as a starting material of research, the end-product, which is purely a chemical, can’t be called “Herbal Drug”.
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Like many other examples and past experiences about the hazards that mankind faced due to this Isolation of active molecule from medicinal plant, one of them is classical example of ‘Reserpine’ derived from Sarpagandha (Rawolfia Surpentina). This molecule was introduced as antihypertensive drug. Ayurvedic practitioners are using Sarpagandha very effectively and safely to treat Rakta-chap (Blood Pressure) since very old days. But when isolated molecule ‘Reserpine’ was introduced, after some time it was banned and withdrawn from markets due to its hazardous side effects. With this history, why majority of Research Projects on Medicinal Plants are aiming at “Isolation of active molecule from plant”? By this way, we are just generating huge databases for allopathic companies by using funds allocated for Research in Ayurveda. These allopathic companies will use these databases to produce more hazardous chemical compounds synthetically to be used in the treatment.
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By employing the technique of Isolation of active molecule from medicinal plant, we loose all the goodness, beauty and wholistic approach of “Ayurveda”. Additionally, it is always against “Law of NATURE”. It can be explained in scientific terms also. Nature provides in-built mechanism by providing antidotes of active and potent molecules in plants, in that plant only. This is termed as Homeostatis (Internal Balance) of the Plant. By employing technique of Isolation of active molecule from medicinal plant, we disturb the Natural Arrangement – Homeostatis and in practice, we have to face hazardous side effects of isolated molecule due to this unnatural way of research.
Due to all the above factors, Government needs to adopt this as a policy that, no any Government funded/sponsored project will be aiming at Isolation of active molecule from medicinal plant. And all the funds allocated for Research in Ayurveda should essentially add/update Ayurvedic Literature. By this way only, we can generate important databases and documentation for Ayurveda. This documentation and database can further be used for Standerdisation and effectively & confidently promoting products prepared from Indian Medicinal Plants in World Herbal Drugs Markets.
This is all about much needed policy reform by Government for planning future Research in Ayurveda.
Role of Ayurvedic Industry
Another Institute which needs introspection is – Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturers. Every Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturer, without waiting for any regulatory compulsion, should develop their own In-house Quality Control and Quality Assurance techniques. The aim of developing such techniques should be uniformity in “Quality”, “Purity”, “Efficacy” and “Safety in Use” of their manufactured product. This can be achieved by Proper Standerdisation of Raw Materials, Excipients and Manufacturing Processes. With this small effort by Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturers, when people start experiencing this change towards standerdisation, it will automatically give answer to those who blame Ayurvedic drugs to be as good as Placeboes and something which is not only useless but harmful also. Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturers should always keep in mind that even a small mistake or even ignorance can bring bad name to such a beautiful medical science – “AYURVEDA”.
If these two Institutes viz. central & state governments in India and Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturers will act and deliver with total responsibility and commitment, we can foresee earliest No.1 position of India in Global Herbal Markets.