Time to end distancing of traditional and modern medicine

The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on the entire country. As the number of cases is ever increasing, the flattened curve feels like a distant dream. The hospitals, emergency professionals and healthcare services have been burdened and have exhausted their services. Many patients have been left absolutely helpless as we hear stories of lack of proper infrastructure and management to cater to the needs of such a huge population. Is there a better way to manage this crisis? Is there a solution in our own backyard that we are ignoring?

- Vallari Mathure

While we struggle with this crisis using modern medicines, we must remember the basic principle in medicine that ‘‘prevention is better than cure.’’ India has the unique distinction of having six recognized systems of traditional medicine-Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Yoga, Naturopathy and Homoeopathy. Ayurveda is one of the oldest systems mentioned in history. The recent developments of nutraceuticals and functional foods have shown the entire world that many plants and local herbs have active components which can be used in prevention of diseases or for healthier lifestyle. These traditional practices too relied mainly on the availability of these components in nature and their application.

India has a rich history of ancient medicinal knowledge described in various Vedas. We have a vast repository of medicinal plants that are used in traditional medical treatments. The alternative medicines in the traditional systems are derived from herbs, minerals, and organic matter.About 70 per cent of the rural population of India still believe in the traditional medicine for primary healthcare.

Modern medicine