What Does Ayurveda Teach?

The syllabus for Ayurveda and the effort to integrate it with modern medicine has generated much controversy. Here's a look at the debate.

- Sanjay

Smoking is good to reduce kapha (phglem); donkey's urine cures epilepsy, insanity and demonic seizures; sex between women produces foetus without bones through seed discharge and independent women (svatantra stree), are not to be trusted. These are some of what is being taught in Indian Ayurveda colleges and universities. A major chunk of the Ayurveda syllabus is drawn from three classical texts - the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridaya-written by physicians and surgeon sages in ancient India. Content in English and other translations of these are being taught in class as fact.

Ayurvedic texts assert that small amounts of alcohol must be consumed twice or thrice at night as it protects against tuberculosis (TB); but modern doctors see alcoholism as a risk factor for TB. For treatment, texts suggest applying pleasing perfumes and observing friendly and beautiful ladies.

"This is in fact complete nonsense as alcoholism is a risk factor for TB. Classical Ayurvedic texts also mention 'therapeutic uses of alcohol', aspects which no other sane medical textbook would have," Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, senior consultant at The Liver Institute, Center of Excellence in Gastrointestinal Sciences, Rajagiri Hospital, Kerala told Careers360.

To many doctors trained in modern medicine - those with MBBS, MD, MS degrees - Ayurveda is "pseudoscience" as its theories are not subjected to scientific testing and verification.

However, even within the Ayurveda community, a small section is concerned. While most argue that people finding relief using Ayurvedic remedies is validation enough, some feel that centuries-old concepts "legitimise superstitions". However, most agree an updated syllabus in line with global medical practices would help.