Annexure 1: Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy

Ayurveda System

Ayurveda meaning the science of life is the main indigenous classical medical system in India. It developed from the various Vedic hymns describing fundamentals about the world and life, disease and medicine. Most scholars put the origins of Ayurveda to be much before that of Siddha and Unani. Around 1000 BC, the knowledge of Ayurveda was comprehensively documented by Charaka and Sushruta. Ayurveda takes an integrated view of the physical and spiritual aspects of man, each impinging on the other. Diagnosis is done by questioning and eight examinations viz., pulse, urine, faeces, tongue, eyes, visual and sensual examinations and inference. Treatment has two components: (a) preventive measures, (b) curative measures. Preventive aspects include personal hygiene; appropriate social behaviour and the use of rejuvenate materials and drugs. The curative aspects consist of three major procedures – drugs, diets, and exercises.

Siddha System

Siddha system is one of the oldest systems of medicine in India. The term “siddha” means achievements. Siddha system evolved in Tamil Nadu, and the entire literature is in Tamil. It is therefore, practiced exclusively in Tamil speaking areas of India. The system is also called Agasthyar system after its most famous exponent sage named Agasthyar to whom a number of medical works of this system are attributed. The Siddha system is largely therapeutic in nature. The diagnosis of diseases involves identifying their causes through the examination of pulse, urine, eyes, study of voice, colour of body, tongue and the status of the digestive system. The treatment is oriented not merely to the disease but takes into account various personal, physical and physiological factors. The principles and doctrines of this system, both fundamental and applied, are similar to that of Ayurveda, the difference between the two being linguistic than doctrinal.

Unani System

Unani system of medicine (also known as Unani-Tibb system) with its origin in Greece, has a long and impressive record in India, Unani in Arabic means Greece which denoted the origin of the system. From Greece, it was first propagated wherever it was accepted and practiced using the experience gained from the traditional systems in places like Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Persia, Middle-East, China, Far-East and European countries. It was introduced in India by Arabs and Persians around the eleventh century. It has received mass acceptance in India which has now the largest number of unani educational, research and health care institutions. In India, the Unani system closely interacted with the Ayurvedic and other local medical systems. Special attention was paid to medicinal herbs found in India and several books on their therapeutic qualities are written by Arab physicians. The diagnosis is through the pulse and other methods of examination. The treatment consists of preventive, promotive and curative components.

Homoeopathy

Homoeopathy is a specialised method of treating disease by drugs administered in minute doses that would produce in healthy person’s symptoms similar to those of the disease. This is just the opposite of allopathy, which treats disease by the use of agents that produce effects different from those of the disease treated. Physicians from the time of Hippocrates have observed that some substances produce a few of the same symptoms that they were used to treat. However, it was not until the late eighteenth century that a German physician Dr. Christian Friederich Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) examined this phenomenon more thoroughly, thereby discovering the fundamental principles of what was to become Homoeopathy. In treatment, primary emphasis is given to increasing the defensive mechanism of the individual. It is claimed that Homoeopathy is a definite and effective treatment for chronic disease such as diabetes, arthritis, bronchial asthma, skin and allergic disorders and several other disease for which there is less or no treatment in other systems.

Yoga

Yoga is a way of life propounded by Patanjali in a systematic form. It consists of eight components, viz., restraint, observance of austerity, physical postures, breathing exercises, restraining of some organs, contemplation, meditation and Samadhi. They have potential for the improvement of social and personal behaviour and improvement of physical health by ensuring better circulation of oxygenated blood, restraining the sense organs and in inducing tranquillity and serenity of mind. A number of postures are described in Yogic works to improve bodily health, to prevent disease and to cure illness. The physical postures should, however, be chosen judicially and have to be practiced in the right way for the prevention of diseases, promotion of health, and for deriving therapeutic benefits.

Naturopathy

It is considered not only a system of treatment but also a way of life. It is often referred to as a drugless treatment of diseases. The system is based mainly on the ancient practice of the application of the simple laws of nature. It is closely allied to Ayurveda as far as its fundamental principles are concerned. There are two schools of thought regarding the approach to naturopathy. While one group believes in the ancient Indian method, the other mainly adopts western methods which are more akin to modern physiotherapy. The advocates of naturopathy pay particular attention to eating and living habits, adoption of purificatory measures, use of hydrotherapy, cold-packs, mud-packs baths and massage.