1) Ayurveda is a science, not a traditional medicine, as it is based on permanent theorems proven through repeated experimentation over centuries. 2) While WHO defines traditional medicine broadly, Ayurveda does not involve spiritual therapies, spontaneous healing, or rituals, but rather scientific techniques for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention based on its internal logic. 3) Ayurveda should not be evaluated based on modern research methodologies alone, as it has its own established research methods grounded in its scientific principles. It is a standalone science, not a form of traditional medicine.

1. Ayurveda is NOT Traditional Medicine
Dr.Remya Krishnan MD PhD ( Ayurveda)

2. • WHO defines traditional medicine as including
diverse health practices, approaches,
knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant,
animal, and/or mineral based medicines,
spiritual therapies, manual techniques and
exercises which can be used to maintain well-
being, as well as to treat, diagnose or prevent
illness.

3. Ayurveda is shastra
• Ayurveda is not mere practices, approaches, knowledge or
belief .Ayurveda is shastra ( science in original sense) which
guides pertinently all practices , approaches , diagnostic,
therapeutic and non therapeutic interventions intended
for cure by health as well as prevention by health in man.
• Shastra is the specific knowledge which is acquired by
repeated experimentation of different rationale in human
beings of various centuries and their cause- mechanism-
effect undoubtedly verified and established in every time .
• The evidence that Ayurveda is shastra is that it is based on
siddhanthas ( permanantly proven and established
solidbasement theorems) and not uncertainity based
theories

4. Traditional Medicine -WHO
1. Plant prescriptions for symptom tx;
2. Trance-induced advice from spirits;
3. Shaman – soul return;
4. Magical protection/ counteracting black
magic (evil eye, voodoo, hexes);
5. Fortune tellers;
6. Massage practitioners (acupuncture,
reflexology, reiki, etc).

5. Ayurveda
• Not a therapeutic formulary which incorporate
different medicinal plants and formulations.
• The scientific techniques and tools for estimation
of health, disease (named& unnamed) along
with its variable state and stages , diagnosis,
differential diagnosis, prognosis , treatment in
accordance to variable state and stages and cure
are explained within the science of Ayurveda .

6. Traditional Medicine – WHO
1. Exorcisms with trance components;
2. Cleansing/rebirth ceremonies;
3. Offering to the gods on behalf of the person
suffering;
4. Prayer circles and spontaneous healing;
5. Elder council;
6. “Magic” ceremonies;
7. Council with deceased ancestors or spirits
8. Herbal remedies, monetary or other exchange,
animal sacrifice, etc.

7. Ayurveda
• Ayurveda has no connection with any of these !!
• Ayurveda strongly opposes spontaneous healing
“ vinaa tarkena yaa siddhir yadrichhaa siddhireva
cha “ ( Charaka)- any cure without knowing and
applying science is unscientific .
“Shastra sahitha tarka saadhanaanam”- The best
tool for medical decision making is science based
reasoning ( Charaka)

8. Routes of Traditional Medicine- WHO
• 1Inheritance within a family kinship;
• 2. Ancestor-spirits (midzimu) contacted
through dreams;
• 3. The experience of having an illness cured .
• 4. A personal decision, followed by a period of
apprenticeship.

9. THE TRUTH ON AYURVEDA
• Ayurveda has been recognised and practised as Traditional
Medicine exactly in the same form as mentioned by WHO
, though originally , it is Scientific Medicine .
• The true culprit here is the incorrect way of recognition
and practice adopted by the practitioners and not the
science .
• The standardised Science Based Medicine of Ayurveda is
being practised as non standardised Medicine Based
Science .
• The limitations of practitioners are counted as limitation
of science.
• The original scope and limitations of science are never
attempted to be known and practised !!

10. Examine your own biases .Will it be difficult
for you to collaborate with tradition healing ?
Eg. Karkkitaka therapies in Kerala
Keraleeya panchakarma

11. Categories of TM by WHO
Categorised based on nature of Medication
Medicinal plants
Mineral materials
Animal materials

12. Categories of Ayurveda
Categorised based on scientific rationale for medication
!!
• Shamana
• Sodhana
• Anthah parimarjana
• Bahiparimarjana
• Shatra pranidhana
• Langhana
• Brumhana
• Dravya
• Adravya

13. General considerations of TM(WHO)
• The safety and efficacy data on traditional
medicine are far from sufficient.
• Lack of research data are mostly due to a lack
of adequate or accepted research
methodology for evaluating traditional
medicine.

14. Specific considerations in Ayuveda
• The safety and efficacy of scientific medicine is to be
primarily examined based on Science and not mere
statistical data .
• Research Data does not always ensure the scientificity
and safety of any medicine unless the Research
methodologies and data is astutely led by science in
accordance to the nature and circumstances of every
research participant .
• Research methodology for Traditional Medicine is no
way comparable to Ayurveda as the latter is an
independent science with its own inbuilt research
methodology and tools

15. WHO on Traditional medicine
• Strong reservations and often frank disbelief
about the benefits of TM.
• demand has grown for evidence on the safety,
efficacy and quality of TM products and
practices.
• Increased use of TM/CAM has not been
accompanied by an increase in the quantity,
quality and accessibility of clinical evidence
to support claims of TM/CAM.

16. WHO – approach to Ayurveda
• Strong reservations and total ignorance about the
science of Ayurveda , its independent scientific
substratum, inbuilt tools, methodologies and
techniques.
• WHO is unaware of the very crucial fact that the real
valid clinical evidence is Science led inbuilt evidence
rationale) which explains why this treatment is solely
intended in any particular clinical situation in any
specific patient and how .
• What is counted as clinical evidence today is neither
scientific nor clinical !!!!

17. Traditional Medicine
• Philosophy based
• Holistic
• Spirituality based
• A common plant/ herb/ formulation for a self
limiting disorder .
• Remedy for life threatening/ chronic diseases
based on plants which are said to psosess
super natural powers .

18. Ayurveda
• Science Based .
• Holism (not with respect to body , mind and Atma
alone , but with respect to intertangled nature of cells,
tissues, organs and systems in the body ).
• Science based, not spirituality based .The intention of
Ayurveda is long healthy life and not moksha.
• How to practice the steps of reversal of pathogenesis
in accordance to its state and stage and many other
intrinsic and extrinsic factors and circumstances and
not what to choose for any illness

19. AYURVEDA IS NOT TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
HIGH TIME TO STOP CALLING AYURVEDA AS
TRADITIONAL MEDICINE !!!!
AYURVEDA IS UTMOST SCIENTIFIC MEDICINE !
WE ARE READY TO PROVE THIS BY EXPOSURE
OF INBUILT SCIENCE AND SCIENCE LED
RESEARCH (CLINICAL) DATA !

20. Thankyou !!