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Traditional Medicine and Homoeopathy
The
come back made by the traditional methods of treatment and Homeopathy, has
been another recent development in the area of medicine. Though Allopathic
treatment retains its primacy, more and more people are going for Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathy especially for treating chronic diseases.
Today, these traditional healing systems are a part of multi-million
dollar industry embracing their practice, research and development and
manufacture. Our country has over 1.5 million registered practitioners of
traditional medicine, while some 200 colleges turn out 9,000 graduates in
Traditional Systems of medicine every year. The Indian Board of
Alternative Medicine set up in Calcutta works for the propagation,
promotion and advancement of traditional medicine. The Board is affiliated
to the Open International University of Complementary Medicine,
established under the aegis of World Health Organization (WHO).
The
Indian (Traditional) System of Medicine
The
Central Council of Indian Medicine is a statutory body constituted by the
Government of India that is responsible for prescribing minimum standards
of education for courses in Indian System of Medicine viz. Ayurveda,
Siddha and Unani. The Board also regulates practice on Indian System of
Medicine and prescribes standards of professional conduct, etiquette and
code of ethics to be observed by the practitioners.
Ayurveda
(Ayur-Life; Veda-Knowledge)
This
system of traditional medicine lays emphasis on the preventive rather than
the curative aspect of ailments and employs the properties of medicinal
plants/ herbs in its practice. This ancient science is indigenous to
India, and dates back some 3000 years.
The
National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur under Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare, is regarded as an apex institute of Ayurveda. It imparts training
in all the specialties of Ayurveda like, Kaya-Chikitsa, Maulik Siddhant,
Dravyaguna, Shalya Tantra, Shareer Kriya, Kumar Bhritya etc., with a
scientific approach. The institute offers both graduate (BAMS) and post
graduate (MD [Ayur.]) courses as well as research facilities for doing
PhD. There are 60 seats available for the graduation and 54 seats for post
graduation every year. A candidate with Physics, Chemistry and Biology at
10+2 level can seek admission in the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and
Surgery (BAMS) or Ayurvedacharya Course. The Course is of five and
a half years of duration including six months Internship. Knowledge of Sanskrit
is essential. Postgraduate Degree and PhD can also be pursued
thereafter.
Institute
of Postgraduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurveda
University, Jamnagar is another institute that is totally funded by
Government of India. The institute is only of its kind and offers
postgraduate courses, research facilities and training facilities for
teachers.
Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has also set up
‘National Academy of Ayurveda’ at New Delhi with the objective
of promoting the knowledge of Ayurveda through Guru Shishya Parampara.
Eminent experts and practitioners of Ayurveda are selected as fellows of
the Academy and they act as a Guru or Teacher to a particular student.
Students or Shishya are postgraduates in Ayurveda, who are required to
spent two years in close interaction with the Guru and study a particular
subject of Ayurveda.
Unani
Hippocrates
laid the foundation of Unani System of medicine in the 5th century BC. It
was later adapted by the Arabs and developed into an elaborate therapeutic
system. Unani system of medicine was introduced in India via- the Central
Asian trade routes sometimes around 10th century AD. Unani theory is based
on the Hippocratic philosophy of good health being equivalent to a perfect
balance of the arkan or elements, akhlat or humor and mijaz
or temperament. Unlike the allopathic viewpoint of the patient as a
biological organism under attack by foreign bodies, Unani treats patients
in relation to their environment. Treatment given includes diet control,
administration of herbal and sometimes animal- based drugs, physiotherapy
and surgery.
There
are a number of Unani-Tibb Colleges, which offer courses in Unani System
of Medicine. For the Pre-Tib Course or the Intermediate Course any
Matriculate can apply for admission. Graduate Level Course in Unani
Medicine & Surgery is open to students who have passed 10+2 with
Science or Arts. At all levels candidates who are proficient in Arabic or
Persian are given preference. National Institute of Unani Medicine,
Bangalore is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare, which imparts training as well, provides facilities for research
in Unani.
Siddha
It
is also a form of traditional medicine is confined to a very small
southern part of India, Tamil Nadu. In many respects, its principles are
somewhat akin to Ayurveda although its origins are probably much
older than Ayurveda. Its reference points are the ancient medical
treatises, which are a compendium of valuable information on herbs, drugs,
alchemy, disease syndromes and diagnosis.
Presently
only two Colleges in Tamil Nadu offer facilities for studies in the Siddha
System of Medicine. Admission to the course is open after 10+2 with
Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Knowledge of Tamil is compulsory during
and the Entrance Exam one has to clear the Tamil paper also.
Tibetan
Medicine
Tibetan
Medicine is
an ancient Himalayan Therapeutic Practice; dating back some 3000 years it
is a synthesis of Tibetan, Chinese and Persian traditional
system of Medicine. After the Chinese invasion of Tibet the system found
its way into India, where it was able to germinate and flourish a new. In
1963,The Dalai Lama founded the first Tibetan Medicine and Astro Institute
(TMAI), and today the institute has 32 branches spread all over the
country. Diagnostic methods of this system include mucus, phlegm,
saliva and urine tests and the unique six-finger pulse
readings. Remedies include oral tablets prepared from herbs, fruits,
flowers mineral and metallic powders as well as acupuncture, massage and
fomentation.
Candidates
with 80 per cent marks at the School Leaving Certificate Examination in
either Arts or Science are eligible to seek admission in any of the three
TMAI Centres that impart Trainings in Tibetan Medicine. Changpori Tibetan
Medical Institute at Darjeeling and Benaras Tholop at Varanasi also
conduct courses in Tibetan Medicine.
Homeopathy
The
concept of Homeopathic medicine came in to existence in Germany originally
in the late 18th century; today it is the most widely practiced
of all traditional medical systems in India. Homeopathy takes a holistic
approach to therapy, and gives as much weightage to the patient's physical
constitution as to their symptoms. The practice claims to be unique in its
facility to strengthen the immune system and eradicate all traces of
disease from the body. The science is based on the principle of Similar
Similibus Crentur, which means let likes be cured by likes.
The
Central Council of Homoeopathy, a statutory body under Government of
India, is the apex body taking care of education, training and other
matters relating Homoeopathy. At present there are around 150 institutions
in the country offering degree and diploma courses in Homoeopathy, which
meet the regulations prescribed by the Council. Annual intake by these
institutions is around 7000. The training period for Homeopathic Studies
varies with the course undertaken. Diploma in Homeopathic Medicine
& Surgery (DHMS) is of 4 years' duration, including 1-year of
Internship. Bachelor’s in Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery
(BHMS) is a 5 years six months Degree Course including 1-year of
Internship.
National
Institute of Homoeopathy, Calcutta, an autonomous organization under the
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is a model academic institute of
Homoeopathy in the country. Students possessing Higher Secondary or
equivalent qualification (10 + 2) with English, Physics, Chemistry and
Biology are eligible for admission in the BHMS course offered by the
institute. Fifty seats are available every year among which 18 seats are
allotted to candidates who are nominated from different states and Union
Territories where no Homoeopathic College exists. Thirty candidates get
admission on the basis of All-India Entrance Examination and the rest two
seats are reserved for foreign national who are nominated by the Ministry
of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India. The Entrance Examination
for BHMS course is usually held in June every year.
Post
Graduate Education in Homoeopathy was introduced in 1989 and M.D. (Hom.)
is possible in the seven different subjects namely Materia Medica,
Homoeopathic Philosophy & Repertory, Pediatrics, Medicine, Psychiatry
and Pharmacy. 15 institutions have been permitted by the Central Council
to start Post Graduate Course in Homoeopathy. PG qualification has been
made an essential requirement for teachers.