Ayurveda Research? What is the Need & Scope? Opportunities Ahead

Need:

I Bridging the gap in information

• Ayurveda is the holistic medical science promoted through oral tradition.
• It took a long time to bring the science into written form of manuscripts.
• This has led to loss of certain information from generation to generation.

II Foreign Invasion

• Many of the colonial rulers have destroyed valuable manuscripts of Ayurveda which may have had significant impact along with already available literature.

III Lack of preservation technics of Ayurveda Manuscripts

• Earlier developed manuscripts in palm leaf, etc. were susceptible to insects, weather change & would get perished in short durations.

IV Scribal Errors

• The transmitted texts of Ayurveda were not the original texts but were written by scribes under king’s rule.
• Many scribes not having Ayurveda background have made errors while copying the text.

V Emergence of new diseases

• Certain diseases as per the change in time are not matching exactly with the classical diseases.

VI Confusion in Source Plants

• Standardization work on each source plant is necessary for uniformity among practitioners.

VII Non-Availability of certain classical drugs

• Increase in population & deforestation has led to near extinction of important classical plants.
• Substitutes/Pratinidhi dravya is the need of the hour.

VIII New Drugs

• Any new drug not found in classical literature can be researched to fit in the parameters of Ayurveda.

IX Revalidation of Classical Principles

• To verify the facts in classical texts in present scenario.

X Incorporating Technology in Pharmaceutical Processes & Therapeutic Procedures

• This helps in reducing manpower & increasing the yield to meet the public demand.

XI Evidence Based Medicine

• Proper documentation is necessary to meet the criteria of evidence based medicine.

XII Globalization

• Research backed facts are globally accepted & helps in propagation of Ayurveda at international levels.

Scope of Research in Ayurveda

I Ayurveda Samhita & Siddhanta

• Major area: Basic Research.
• Translations & Interpretations of various commentaries.
• Comparison & Critical Analysis of multiple samhita & multiple commentators.
• Exploration of the moola siddhanta such as pancamahabhoota, dosha-dhatu-mala, shatkaarana.
• Ayurveda Manuscriptology.
• Deriving grammatical backgrounds for better understanding of siddhanta.

II  Shareera Rachana

Major area: Basic & Observational Studies

Fields of research work can be:

• Conceptual gap bridging in shareerasthana from anatomical considerations.
• Scientific backgrounds for traditional methods of dissection.
• Pramana – Anguli & Anjali.

III  Shareera Kriya

Major area: Basic & Observational Studies

Fields of research work can be:

·       
Conceptual gap bridging in shareerasthana
from physiological considerations.

·       
Dosha-Dhatu-Mala.

·     
AshtaSaara.

·   
Shatkriyakaala.

·
Prakriti.

·       
Ayurgenomics.

IV  Dravyaguna

Major area: Basic, Observational & Clinical Studies

Fields of research work can be:

• Standardization of source plants & varieties.
• Incorporaton of new drugs.
• Pratinidhi Dravya.
•  Rasapancaka
• Samanapratyayarabdha & Vicitrapratyayarabdha dravya.
• Annapana varga in today’s scenario.
• Manuscriptology in relation to Nighantu.

V  Rasashastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana

Major area: Basic, Observational & Clinical Studies

Fields of research work can be:

• Standardization of raw drugs & formulations.
• Innovation of methodology to prepare classical medicines.
• Saveeryata avadhi.
•  
• Efficacious Dose Fixation.
• Modification of forms of classical preparations for easy usage.
• Manuscriptology in relation to Rasavagmaya.

VI  Roganidana & Vikritivijnana

Major area: Observational & Clinical Studies

Fields of research work can be:

• Standardization of symptomatology terminologies.
• Practical demonstrations of concepts like ama.
• Pratyatma Lakshana.
• Vyadhi Nidana in today’s scenario.
• Incorporation of new diseases & framing nidanapancaka.
• Tools to assess patients from classical point of view.
• Laboratory inputs & Comparison with classical vikriti lakshana.
• Manuscriptology in relation to Nidana.

VII  Prasutitantra & Streeroga

Major area: Observational & Clinical Studies

Fields of research work can be:

• Garbhini Paricarya.
• Sootika Paricarya.
• Apana vata & Labour.
• Yonivyapat in today’s scenario.
• Artavavyapat in today’s scenario.
• Genetic Disorders.
• Sthanika cikitsa
• Natural Birth Control Methods.

VIII  Kaumarabhritya

Major area: Observational & Clinical Studies

Fields of research work can be:

• Pediatric Dose fixation.
• Modified formulations for palatability.
• Genetic disorders.
• Delayed Milestones.
• Immunity boosters.
• Infectious diseases & Graharoga.
• Chronic neuro-muscular disorders.
• Bala Pancakarma.

IX  Svasthavritta

Major area: Observational & Clinical Studies

Fields of research work can be:

• Ayurveda diet in today’s scenario.
• Disease wise pathya-apathya.
• Disease wise recommendation of body postures.
• Local cuisine & Ayurveda principles.
• Ritucarya as per different geographical zones.
• Effect of yogasana in comparison to alternates like gym.
• Breathing technics in respiratory disorders.
• Meditation technics in psycho-somatic disorders.

X Agadatantra & Vyavahara Ayurveda

Major area: Observational & Clinical Studies

Fields of research work can be:

• Toxic dosage fixation.
• Identification of new upavisha & visha dravya.
• Antidotes
• Alcohol tolerance & adverse effects.
• Clinical studies on local venomous animal bites.
• Folklore practices in toxicology.

XI  Kayacikitsa

Major area: Observational & Clinical Studies

Fields of research work can be:

• Revalidation of cikitsa sutra in various diseases.
• New drug trials in various diseases.
• Identification of susceptible individuals based on nidana.
• Development of external treatment technics for joint related disorders.

XII  Pancakarma

Major area: Observational & Clinical Studies

Fields of research work can be:

• Tools to standardize the process of snehana.
• Instrument development for various sagnisvedana.
• Instrument development for basti dravya mishrana & administration.
• Tools to assess samyak, heena & atiyoga lakshana.
• Standard operating procedures for collection of jalauka & raktamokshana
• Easy to use methods to promote pratimarsha nasya
• Ritushodhana.

XIII  Shalyatantra

Major area: Observational & Clinical Studies

Fields of research work can be:

• Ksharasutra Preparation & Administration.
• Paaneya kshara & Pratisaraneeya kshaara.
• Instrument development for administration of agnikarma.
• Comparitive & Critical Analysis of yantra-shastra used in shalayatantra.
• Anesthetics in Ayurveda.

XIV  Shalakyatantra

Major area: Observational & Clinical Studies

Fields of research work can be:

• Local Procedures Drugs Preparation & Administration.
• Instrument development for administration of kriyakalpa.
• Comparitive & Critical Analysis of yantra-shastra used in shalakyatantra.

 

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