Yes, Ayurveda is methodologically scientific. However, research is underway to determine its scientific importance. And if one thinks Ayurveda is a recent medical science, then it is not the case. Ayurveda originated in India more than 5,000 years ago, making it the world’s oldest medical system. The word “Ayurveda” means:
“Ayu” means life, and “Veda” means study. This “study of life” came from the Vedic traditions. All the earlier sages studied nature and the human body. It didn’t limit the observation; it extended to study the effects of food, herbs, and lifestyle on the body. But how can you call Ayurveda “scientific?”
Ayurveda depends on scientific foundations like observation, cause & effect, classification, and practicality. Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas are two important medical books in Ayurveda. Charaka Samhita is about diagnosis, internal medicine, and treatment. The Sushruta Samhita includes anatomy, surgery, surgical instruments, and aftercare.
Neither of these Ayurvedic books includes faith and hearsay. They provide information on ailments and their treatments, with enough logic and reasoning.
Ayurvedic treatments offer a sustainable cure for chronic health issues. These ailments are arthritis, asthma, diabetes, and more. This long-term and in-depth healing is lacking in the modern medical system. According to “Awareness, preference, and utilisation of Ayush in India: Evidence from National Sample Survey, 2022-23,” Indians have a growing belief in Ayush systems.
The key findings of this article include:
- 95% of Indians have awareness of all Ayush systems. It includes Ayurveda, naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, yoga, and homoeopathy.
- 60% of Indians prefer Ayush as their treatment option. Also, 53% use Ayush medical treatments for their health care.
This indicates that 95% of people in India are aware of Ayush medical systems, and 58.1% have faith in them.
Is Ayurveda Still Relevant Today?
Yes, very much. These classical texts are the foundation of the Ayurvedic educational and medical system. Modern researchers study many Ayurvedic concepts, including metabolism, digestive fire, the elements of nature, the tridoshas, preventive care, and more. So, this structured and testable body of medical knowledge makes Ayurveda scientific. It stands the test of time, too.
However, this claim doesn’t come without problems. Some of the issues that surround Ayurveda include scientific validation, global acceptance, and others. That said, there are many studies on several Ayurvedic foundations, such as the elements of nature, the tridoshas, and others. Further research on the effects of Ayurvedic therapies on health will gain greater acceptance worldwide.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 70% to 80% of people rely on alternative medicine. The primary cause of shifting their interest in herbal medical sources is due to the harmful side effects of pills. Additionally, medication offers symptomatic relief but is not effective in the long term.
Although in comparison to allopathy, Ayurveda lacks evidence and has no cure to treat emergency conditions. Ayurveda dates back over 5000 years, but requires more evidence to support its scientific status. The Ayurvedic medical system is in its growing stages of global reach.
What’s to understand here? The foundations of allopathic and Ayurvedic medicine are different. So, there should not be any comparison. Health seekers’ recognition of classical Panchakarma for treatment of their ailments and its prevention is already a “win-win.” Ayurveda has a long way to go before it can become the “first choice” of people.
How to Research in Ayurveda?
To discuss Ayurvedic research methodologies, it is important to know the research method.” According to science, the research method is a systematic and objective set of techniques for the following –
- Examine a cause
- Test a hypothesis
- Collecting and evaluating qualitative or quantitative data
- Interpret the effects of the causes
- Alter and update existing theories or find new ones
Ayurveda also employs several research approaches. They prove the effects of Panchakarma treatments on the human body. Research is not a recent invention in Ayurveda. Sushruta, the father of surgery, gave Ayurveda structure through systematic surgical science. Charaka organised medical wisdom, making Ayurveda logical, practical, and closer to modern science.
If you don’t know! Sushruta Samhita remains the basis of modern surgical practice.
Examination Tools Used in Ayurveda
Keep in mind that conducting research is different in Ayurveda and allopathy. So, Ayurveda has its own method of research and uses tools for evidence-based results. The three tools of examination study health and ailments through Pramana (Evidence).
The three main methods in Ayurveda are:
- Pratyaksha means Direct Observation: Everything we can view, listen to, touch, or assess. Observation that uses our five senses.
- Anumana (Logical Deduction or Inference): The results of any research should have logic. Based on scientific and logical observation, theories flow. For example, a poor digestive fire (Agni) leads to diseases.
What are the 5 Steps of Anumana? A possible argument must go through 5 steps to become a valid source of knowledge. They are:
- Pratijna (proposition)
- Hetu (reason for the claim)
- Udaharana (clarification)
- Upanaya (its application to the present context), and Nigamana (conclusion)
- Aptopadesha Pramana (Authoritative or Reliable Knowledge): Spread of Ayurvedic wisdom through word-of-mouth. Travels from generation to generation.
What Should be Different in Ayurvedic Research?
Ayurveda has a history, knowledge, principles, and a system of medical study. Research should be in a certain way because modern medicine is different.
Ayurvedic researchers should follow classical Ayurvedic principles and stay on core concepts like:
- Prakriti (Nature)
- Agni (Digestive Fire)
- Dhatu (Body tissues)
- Srotas (Body channels)
- Rasayana (Rejuvenation)
- Ojas, Bala, and Mental Strength
Also, researchers in Ayurveda should study body, mind, and soul together. Studying them together can enable a proper diagnosis, correct dosage, and accurate treatment. Also, note that no health seeker is the same, nor is Panchakarma therapy for their treatment.
What are the Important Areas of Ayurvedic Research?
As with any scientific research, Ayurveda uses different approaches. Additionally, these studies contributed to various aspects of Ayurveda and to the advancement of the field. The research areas include:
- Literary Research (Study based on classical Ayurvedic texts)
- Fundamental Research (Core concepts of tridoshas, agni, prakriti & more)
- Drug Research (Effectiveness, action, safety, & precaution of Ayurvedic medicines)
- Pharmaceutical Research (Preparation, dosage, and formulation of herbal kashayas)
- Clinical Research (Clinical testing treatments on health seekers)
What are the Core Areas of Fundamental Research in Ayurveda?
Fundamental Ayurveda research is important because it connects ancient wisdom with modern science. Also, it helps advance Ayurveda without compromising its core principles.
| Research Area | What it Means |
| Purusha (Human Body) | Understanding how the body works, its connection with the mind and soul. |
| Vyadhi (Disease) | Studying how imbalances occur and how illnesses develop. |
| Aushadha/ Aushadhi (Medicine) | Composition of herbal medicines and their effect on the ailment. |
| Kriyakala (Right Time) | Knowing the right time to treat, restore, reverse, or prevent the disease. |
Other important fundamentals in Ayurvedic research include:
- Research in Ayurveda should be circular. It means that it should focus on how the body works, how diseases develop, and how treatments work. Ayurveda doesn’t view the human body only as blood, bones, and muscle. It sees the body as a network of channels, called Srotas. Also, these channels help in the movement of nutrients, energy, and waste within the body. In fact, clean and balanced Srotas develop health.
- Classical Panchakarma in Ayurveda clean the body and restores health.
- Modern research in Ayurveda replaced belief with logic and evidence. Ayurveda explains the body through philosophy, physics, and biology. It incorporates concepts like those of quantum theory.
For greater clarity, let us examine these critical concepts.
Strotas: Internal channels that help nutrients, energy, and waste in movement.
Samshodhana: Deep cleansing of the body.
Panchakarma: Five detox therapies to unblock the blocked channels.
Ayurvedic Biology: Concepts like balance, flow, and connection in the body.
Five Elements of Nature: Space, water, air, fire, & earth compose Prakriti.
Improvement in the Quality of Herbal Drugs
Herbs have a huge role to play in Ayurvedic treatment. The most potent Ayurvedic Rasayanas are Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Guduchi, Amalaki, Bhallataka, and others. These herbs boost immunity, develop strength, and improve quality of life. So, these herbs are immunomodulators.
Now, what are immunomodulators? It means that they aid the immune system’s function.
Researchers explore Ayurvedic Rasayanas as natural immunity boosters, vaccine adjuvants, and assistive care in severe ailments. Although modern medicines have an immediate effect, their use is not safe over the long term. But Ayurvedic herbal medicines offer sustainable solutions.
Why Herbal Research Matters Today
We, humans, cannot even understand the importance of plants and herbs in healing from a disease. Plants exhibit a vast chemical diversity that can save lives. From studying around 6% of known plants, we know over 120 life-saving compounds. (It is less and highlights the untapped power of the rest of the plants.)
Also, about 25% of global medicines come from plants. WHO-listed essential drugs are from natural sources.
Modern institutes like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and CSIR (India) research on turmeric, ginger, and boswellia. These herbs are useful in the treatment of inflammation, diabetes, hepatitis, and cancer. (only assistive) They result in the following –
- Improved blood sugar levels
- Reduced HbA1c levels
- Reduced the formation of harmful glycation components
Explaining the Diagram: Process from Traditional to Modern Medicine
The diagram shows how Ayurvedic wisdom combines with modern drug discovery. The simple process starts with ethnomedicine and real-world use. Afterwards, medicinal plants go through an identification and standardisation process. Then, plant extracts undergo screening and testing.
The next step includes isolation of all the active compounds. In summary, research moves the observation process to clinical trials. Together, these processes lead to the production of herbal remedies, natural drugs, and single-molecule medicines.
This approach, also known as “Reverse Pharmacology.” It means a healing experience comes first with a backing from science.
Challenges of Ayurvedic Medicines
Ayurvedic medicines are “Polyherbal.” It means that herbal medicines are a combination of several herbs. The problem? Difficult quality control of these medicines. Why? Because variations in plants, climate, and processing change the chemical composition of the medicine.
All of this makes the Ayurvedic products hard to gain mass acceptance. To fix this, Ayurveda should follow:
- Standardised plants extracts
- Chemical profiling
- Boiactivity testing
- Strength and safety protocols
Besides these challenges, multidisciplinary research from chemistry, pharmacology, and biotechnology can be beneficial. It develops safe herbal medicines and helps in the expansion of preventive options.
How the AYUSH Research Portal Supports Ayurveda Research?
The AYUSH Research Portal is an official national platform. It is evidence-based research data of Ayush systems at the global level. The Ministry of Ayush launched it to collect, organise, and share research data. All collected research data stick to traditional health systems. They are Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy, and Sowa Rigpa.
This portal allows practitioners, students, policymakers, and researchers to access and search for evidence-based research studies worldwide.
Further, the types of ayurvedic studies available on the portal are:
- Clinical Research: Studies involve humans and health outcomes
- Pre-Clinical Research: Research in the lab
- Drug Research: Studies on formulation, safety, and functional protocols of medicines
- Fundamental Research: Basic science studies on Ayurvedic core principles
NOTE: Total Ayurvedic Studies across all categories are 30,920+
This Ayush Research Portal helps the Ayurveda medical system. To gain scientific credibility and global recognition. This allows the traditional wisdom of Ayurveda stand along with modern medicine.
