We need evidence-based traditional medicine

Source: This post has been created based on the article “We need evidence-based traditional medicine” published in The Hindu on 11^th October 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 Social Justice — Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

News: This article discusses the difference between modern and traditional medicine. It presents a case for an evaluation of these traditional therapies based on modern science, and the incorporation of their useful parts in medicine instead of straight rejection.

What is Modern medicine?

Modern medicine became science-based from the late 19th century when advances in technology made the study of the human body more accurate. It led to safe anesthesia and surgery.

Self-correction is the strength of modern medicine. Therapies found to be ineffective are abandoned and are accepted if found effective.

What is the basis of Ayurveda?

Like many traditional medical systems, Ayurveda was limited in its understanding of how the human body works due to the lack of available technology.

However, its emphasis on reason-based diagnoses and therapies on a sound understanding of the human body.

How does Ayurvedic medicine differ from modern medicine?

In modern drug development, the isolation of the active principle is used. Thus, most modern medicines are a single ingredient and only a few are combinations.

On the other hand, Ayurvedic medicines are commonly combinations, and it is uncertain how these combinations interact with each other.

What should be done?

1) Ayurvedic medicines should be evaluated by methods of modern science to increase their acceptability. Therefore, new investigational methods and trial designs should be facilitated by the Ministry of AYUSH.

2) An evidence-based appraisal of all traditional medical systems, retaining what is useful, and then integrating them into one clear system should be carried out.

3) Denouncing traditional medical systems completely should be avoided. For instance, the Nobel-winning anti-malarial artemisinin was produced based on a 1,600-year-old text of Traditional Chinese Medicine.