Ayurvedic Medicine (AM) or Traditional Indian Medicine (TIM) was invented by Lord Dhanwantri, approximately 3000 years ago. Ayurvedic Medicine, remained as the first line of healthcare system during medieval India and as per records, medicine and surgery, were fully developed subjects.

 Sushsruta is considered to be the father of surgery and modern procedures like tympanoplasty and rhinoplasty were integral part of ayurvedic surgical processes. The onset of Mughal and British empires in India were largely responsible for downfall of Ayurvedic medicine.

Ayurveda has been addressed as mother of all systems of healing. It may be true apparently, but other side of the story is even after three thousand years, it has not been able to win confidence of masses. Ayurveda, no doubt, is a complete healthcare system, but majority of the procedures described in Ayurvedic texts are of historical importance only. However some of the western experts consider alternative and complementary system of medicines including Ayurveda and Homoeopathy as quack medicines. At the same time , World Health Organization, has developed a white paper for regulation of traditional medicines in various countries.

In India, Ayurveda has always received step motherly treatment from government in terms of funds generation for research and development. In recent past, Ayurveda has gone global due to revival of western interest in the subject. Majority of the people have propagated Ayurveda on commercial grounds in the US or UK. Recently, Rasa Shasta (Indian alchemy), came under scanner after publication of article in Journal of American Medical Association. The article highlighted the permissible amount of heavy metals in finished Ayurvedic formulations being prompted in western countries.

Rasa Shasta medicines have been used in India since centuries without side effects, and in fact they are purified by processes mentioned in Ayurvedic texts. Although, it is difficult to prove scientifically, that the processes mentioned in Ayurvedic texts do render Rasa Shasta medicines non-toxic.

 Publication of article in Journal of American Medical Association has killed the practical value of Rasa Shasta. The scenario in India is that people are reluctant to buy bhasmas, as they often do internet search for recent happening in Ayurveda. It is difficult to say either; antidotal approach of the conventional pharmaceutical industry, or lack of research and development has done harm to the cause of Ayurveda.

Western counties do have identified the importance of Ayurveda but as per recent trends , future of Ayurveda in India seems to be bleak. Ayurvedic colleges across the country are not getting sufficient admissions even at graduate levels. Not fulfilling criteria of minimum admissions, the colleges are facing de-recognition  from Central Council of Indian Medicine. Even, recently passed out graduates, find it difficult to perish in terms of pure Ayurvedic clinical practice.

The all important question is where does the future of Ayurveda lie ? Several articles have highlighted the ever-increasing career prospects of Ayurveda, but it is difficult to interpret in terms of statistics. Despite the publicity given to Ayurveda, it has not been able to win the much needed attention of  common man. Several colleges and universities across the country have initiated diplomas, degrees and postgraduate programmes in Ayurvedic pharmacy. But is it is difficult to assess the future of the courses. Central Council of Indian Medicine should fix criteria for admissions in diploma or degree level Ayurvedic pharmacy courses otherwise it will impact the image of Ayurveda again as has happened several times in the past.

Career in clinical practice in Ayurveda might be of limited value but requirement of trained Ayurvedic pharmacists for industry is need of the hour. Career in Ayurvedic pharmacy is of definite advantage for students pursuing diploma or degree level courses. Medicinal plants have been given modern medicine several life-saving drugs and pharmacologists and oncologists have respect for plant derived drugs.

The all purpose of the article is not to denigrate  or promote any system of medicine. All systems of medicine have merits and demerits but Ayurveda as a medical system is less popular as compared to Allopathic, apparently due to lack of emergency medicine. Primarily, majority of Ayurvedic practitioners prescribe Allopathic medicines in clinical practice in order to meet daily requirements. Secondarily, due to deliberate mixing of steroids and painkillers with Ayurvedic prescriptions, majority of the people in urban belt have lost faith in Ayurveda. Adulteration  has definitely harmed the image of genuine Ayurvedic practitioners. Some of the medicinal plants, used in Ayurveda, are reported to contain steroids. This case though  different from the ‘adulteration factor’ again needs exploration.

The list of medicinal plants used in Ayurveda is endless. However, it is true that we have not studied the complete potential of plants used in Ayurveda. Research conducted at Homi Bhabha Research Center has unravelled the anticancer potential of Triphala, the popular Ayurvedic laxative. Trikatu, an Ayurvedic formulation for digestive aliments, has earned the fame of naturally existing bioavailability enhancer. However, clinical studies are warranted for validation of the claims made by scientists on Ayurvedic formulations.

Articles published in journals related to Ayurveda, phytomedicine or alternative and complementary medicines points to the  efficacy of the Ayurvedic formulations or extracts derived from them. If the results of the published studies are accurate, then why, Ayurvedic Medicines are not widely prescribed in clinical practice. Internet search demonstrates that majority of the students pursuing MD (Pharmacology) or M. Pharmacy (Pharmacology) has done thesis work on medicinal plants derived formulations or extracts.

Government of India should ensure that Ayurveda  gets its due in terms of research and development, as in case of Allopathy. We need to separate ‘emotions’ from ‘facts’ if Ayurveda has to flourish as a healthcare system. Presently, scope of pure Ayurvedic clinical practice is limited but time is definitely ripe for research and development. Market research suggests that students are more inclined towards Ayurvedic pharmacy education rather than conventional Ayurvedic degree programmes.