Ayurveda gains momentum for acceptance with modern science

It is common in India to quote the West as gospel of truth for practices that are admired and advocated, but living on the other side of the globe, we see that Indians also get admired and copied by the Westerners. One such revealing story is that of Ayurveda in the US.

The thousand-year-old practice of medicine, Ayurveda is gaining momentum here. I say so only because of the visible and explicit growth in the numbers of practitioners setting up shops and, more importantly, having clients who trust them for their services.

Ayurveda as an ancient alternative medical practice has been thriving in the US for long. The scope, however, has been limited. Even with a degree in Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), vaidyas can neither get licences to practice as doctors nor can they prescribe medicines. 

Their practice is limited to that of being a wellness therapist. Not being covered under insurance, this system was not popular enough to be adapted even when it could deliver positive results.

“When my daughter was diagnosed with severe allergies, she was put on a heavy dose of steroids. As she needed the medicines repeatedly, we wanted to explore alternative systems of medicine. While the treatment seemed to be working for her, but the fact that it was not covered by the insurance was a major deterrent for us,” said Rajeswari.

“With a sedentary lifestyle and wrong working postures, many immigrants struggle with pain management issues from a young age. On several occasions, Ayurvedic massages work wonders to provide relief from these ailments as compared to allopathic treatments which usually begins with a recommendation of an invasive procedure. But, these massages have to be prescribed by my primary physician for me to use my insurance,” said Dhanapal, an IT consultant.

Over the last five years, though, things seem to have improved. The widespread knowledge and the stress on holistic wellbeing engineered the change. Efforts are on to create an environment for integrated practice where Ayurvedic applications could work along with modern science in treating ailments. This has set a new horizon for the Ayurvedic field in the country.

“Of late, research and documentation appear to have taken firm foot,” said Pari Mudiginty, an integrative pharmacist and ayurvedic practitioner in New Jersey. “Thanks to conference initiatives of Harvard university attended by the Ministry of Ayush, government of India, the avenues for integration with mainstream research institutes have opened up since 2016,” she added.

The greatest challenge has been the scattered presence with no accreditation or mandated license procedures for the practitioners. Organisations like National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA), headquartered in California, is gearing up to fill this gap. NAMA has established practising standards, conduct certification exams and organise conferences to give recognition to the practitioners. Over these years NAMA’s membership has grown over 1,300 and interestingly, the predominant numbers are Americans not of Indian origin.

Another prominent center doing great work in the field is the Pennsylvania based Association of Ayurvedic Professionals of North America (AAPNA). With over 1,650 members, AAPNA is strengthening the industry for licensing mandates.

Ayurveda’s impact is felt in areas where modern medicine cannot help, mainly in chronic conditions, and in many cases where managing the disease demands lifestyle changes.

Dr Pratibha Shah, Founder, Council for Ayurveda Research, based in Massachusetts, said, “According to Ayurveda treatises, disease is a manifestation of imbalance in elements and the goal is to re-establish balance. Ayurveda also focuses strongly on primary prevention. For integration in mainstream care, research and documentation is a must.” 

The possible treatment options for Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Autism in Ayurveda is an upcoming subject of interest in the West. 

Vaidya Priyaa Baala, a practitioner and founder of New Jersey-based Ayurvedashram has signed up with the Manipal University for research project on Autism and herbal medicine as prescribed by Ayurveda. She said that conducting clinical studies and trials in the US is extremely expensive.

National Institute of Health also provides grants for research in alternative medicine.

All these points well to an environment where Ayurveda is slowly entering the mainstream medical platform. But, with no state-sanctioned licences for the practitioners and exclusion from the insurance industry, Rajeswari and Dhanapal’s problems are likely to stay unresolved.

But for now, the practice of prescribing medicines after examining the naadi, without the aid of X-rays and blood tests, is no longer ridiculed as unscientific.