CHALLENGES AND SCOPE FOR ASSESSMENT OF HERBAL (AYURVEDIC) DRUG RESPONSE: AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE

It is arguable whether the evaluation of Ayurveda and its ‘scientific philosophy’ on the basis of modern parameters is really promoting Ayurveda with its soul intact. There are numerous research articles published in variety of journals. The authenticity of many is still not widely accepted as most of the research is not done at par with the requirement of controlled, multicentre and long term clinical trials. The Ayurvedic Pharma industry is flourishing and almost all the experiments on herbomineral drugs are carried out by analyzing the drug on the basis of modern parameters. The drugs are marketed using modern terms for disease indication, and ignoring the parallel or identical Ayurvedic vocabulary. The intention is to ‘prove’ the efficacy of ‘already proven’ drug, albeit using a different language. If the drug, like a very famous liver remedy is prescribed by practitioners of other mainstream pathies, it is a matter of pride for us! It is imperative that the herbal drugs and their therapeutic response must also be analyzed using the Ayurvedic physiological and pathological parameters. At the same time, the Ayurvedic Practitioners, who have great regards for classical texts and consider it as ‘last word’ should understand the scientific endorsement of modern medicine to overcome the challenges, if any