Smart Skills
Go for alternative medicine
Usha Albuquerque

WITH increasing concern for natural healing practices, traditional medicine appears to be gaining in popularity. India being home to a variety of traditional healing plants and practices has and can benefit greatly from the expanding use of natural and herbal medicines.

Although over the last century, the allopathic or western system of medicine has questioned the curative powers of common plant and mineral extracts, the increasing awareness on the subject has triggered a global revival of popular interest in these non-conventional techniques. Today, these traditional healing systems are part of an international multi-million dollar industry embracing their practice, research and development, and the manufacture of traditional medicine.

In India, we have thousands of species of medicinal plants, many of which originated here and some which were imported from other parts of the world. We also have around 220 colleges that turn out 9,000 qualified practitioners of traditional medicinal systems every year. Moreover, traditional medical practice is now recognised by the World Health Organisation.

Some of the traditional systems of alternative medicine currently being practised in India include:

The ayurvedic medical system lays emphasis on the preventive rather than curative aspect of ailments and employs the properties of medicinal plants in its practice. Closely related to naturopathy, ayurvedic theory which dates back some 3,000 years, revolves around the principle of the five natural elements of which all physical matter is believed to comprise. Freedom from disease is attained by maintaining a balance of these constituent elements within the human body.

Ayurvedic doctors follow non-invasive practices: there are no surgeries in ayurveda. Doctors examine patients by asking questions, feeling the pulse and by sight. Medicines are prescribed for the prevention of diseases and general improvement of health.

Homoeopathy, on the other hand, was first developed in Germany in the late 18th century. It then took a 100 years of intensive research and experimentation to evolve the complex and sophisticated form we know today. Today, homeopathy is the most widely practised of all traditional medical systems in India.

Homoeopathic practitioners trace the complete history of the disease in the patient, and understand the personality, temperament and food habits before making a diagnosis. Homoeopathic medicines are minute doses of natural mineral and plant substances which cure the patient by stimulating the natural defences of the body. It is believed that the smaller the dose the more effective it is. Homoeopathy often offers cures for chronic conditions which may require surgery under allopathic treatment.

The practice of the siddha system is confined to a very small part of Tamil Nadu. However, in many respects, its principles are somewhat similar to those of ayurveda. But unlike some of the other traditional medicinal systems, siddha is equipped to treat medical emergencies.

The foundations of unani medicine were laid in the 5th century BC by Hippocrates. These were later adapted and developed by the Arabs into an elaborate therapeutic system. And introduced into India via Central Asian trade routes, sometime around the 10th century A.D. The unani system of traditional medicine is based on the philosophy of good health being equivalent to a perfect balance of the elements, humour and temperament, and diagnostic methods use a combination of modern pathology and traditional pulse readings.

The Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine (BAMS) is a five-and a-half year undergraduate programme for students of Class XII with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. It is useful if you have taken Sanskrit in Class X since the ayurvedic texts, particularly the ‘Charaka Samhita’ is written in Sanskrit.

Homeopathy is offered as a diploma and a degree programme. The DHMS is a 4-year course while the graduate degree Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery is 5-1/2 years. Admission to the BHMS is based on merit in the Class XII exam for students of Physics, Chemistry and Biology. In some states there is a joint entrance exam for BHMS along with the MBBS and BDS tests.

Each state has its own colleges offering courses in the various traditional systems of medicine. More than 150 colleges offer the BAMS course, while the Bachelor’s in Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS) is offered in about 25 colleges in India. Admission to the ayurvedic and unani courses in institutions within a state, is based on merit for students domiciled in the state.

Homeopathic medical colleges are recognised by the Central Council of Homeopathy and affiliated to different universities or boards for conducting the DHMS and BHMS.

All systems also provide for study and research at the postgraduate level.

Most qualified practitioners join government service where special departments have been set up for the Indian systems, or relevant charitable or private clinics, hospitals and dispensaries, or even teaching institutions that conduct such courses. With several pharmaceutical companies setting up facilities for research and development of herbal medicine, there is scope for employment in this area too. There are four autonomous institutions set up by the government to initiate, aid, guide, develop and coordinate scientific research in different aspects of Indian systems of medicine. These are the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani medicine, Homeopathy, Yoga and Naturopathy.

While remuneration for government doctors are on a par with those in allopathic medicine, it may be considerably less in private practice, where much would depend on the locality and place of work, as also the practitioner’s ability and reputation. One would face competition from other systems of medicine, and there are the problems of lack of adequate funding and research required to develop and further the system.

Of course, a personality that inspires trust, has an ability to be a good listener, to think logically and an ability to gauge a person’s illness through questions is necessary for those looking for a career in this field.

The writer is a noted career expert