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Govt should extend grants to encourage research in Ayurveda during graduation programmes: Dr Bilgi
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Nandita Vijay, Bengaluru
August 21 , 2020
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Government must provide grants to encourage research in Ayurveda during graduation programmes. This is the only way innovation can be accelerated as students get exposure to pure chemistry, physics, biology and biochemistry, getting access to interdisciplinary research. Another way to speed up research in Ayurveda and make a mark globally is by involving industry and academia, said Dr Onkar Rajiv Bilgi, co-founder, We R Wellness.
Ayurveda should be given considerable research opportunities as this science of traditional medicine influences human health in varied dimensions. Hence, a single approach is not possible to explain its detailed health benefits, he said and added, “Research on herbs will help assess which of these medicinal varieties will help fight the virus according to the body type through Ayurveda. For instance, some herbs are to be given during the cytokine surge and rasyanas as a restorative measure”.
Ayurveda herbs are already in use to enhance immunity. Further, herbs which have immunomodulation activity are also identified to be effectively used for COVID-19 as Ayurveda has been effective against many such epidemics and pandemics in past effectively, Dr Bilgi told Pharmabiz in an email.
Moreover in Ayurveda, immunity comes from total health perspective which is the right nourishment of the seven building blocks, both quantitative and qualitative. So, each building block has an aspect to good health. For instance, to fortify skin it is Sariva, for blood tissue it is Guduchi, respiratory it is Sudharshan, for overall immunity it is ashwagandha etc. The science of Ayurveda can be general and at the same time specific too. So, even in everyday life, common herbs like turmeric, pepper, piper longum, amla, aloe vera and Harda are to be consumed in different seasons, according to body types to enhance immunity.
Therefore, during the current pandemic too, Ayurveda can play a very important role in building immunity and fighting most infections. There should be acceptance of this science among the masses and then from the medical industry at large. Ayurveda needs a fair chance to prove itself not just as a preventive and restorative therapy but as a new way to fight this or any virus or pathogen in the future, said Dr Bilgi. In 2019, China requested the WHO to accept Chinese medicine into the mainstream, backed by the certainty of this native science of healing. India is taking baby steps and there is a need for a social change to get back to the roots to explore its benefits. Ayurveda has a global market and has a huge potential to boost our economy. Government is working to empower Ayurveda through the Ministry of Ayush. While there are challenges, we see only research to empower Ayush doctors, said Dr Bilgi.
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