AYUSH : Important Topics for UPSC Exams

What?

It stands for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, abbreviated as AYUSH, is a governmental ministerial body in India. Its Sanskrit meaning is “life”.

Why?

To cultivate education and research in ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine), yoga, naturopathy, unani, siddha, homoeopathy, Sowa-rigpa(Traditional Tibetan medicine), and other Indigenous Medicine systems.

Timeline

1995: Department of Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM&H) formulated.
2003: Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) under Ministry of family and health welfare.
2014: Ministry of AYUSH created, to ensure the optimal development and propagation of AYUSH systems of health care.

Objectives

For upgrading the educational standards of Indian Systems of Medicines and Homoeopathy colleges in the country.
For strengthening existing research institutions and to ensure a time-bound research programme on identified diseases for which these systems have an effective treatment.
Formulate schemes for promotion, cultivation and regeneration of medicinal plants used in these systems.
For the evolution of Pharmacopoeial standards for Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy drugs.

What Impact it may have on Society?

Will provide growth opportunity to the indigenous medical research and further employment opportunities in the upstream and the downstream of the AYUSH supply chain.
In the Era of “Superbugs” where even the best antibiotic is becoming futile, Ayush may open the doors of future technologies for healthy life.
Natural cure may be possible for many severe diseases such as Depression .
Lesser carbon footprint while developing as well as using the Ayush medicines.
Promotion of sustainable lifestyle which is one of the goals under the INDCs(Intended Nationally Determined Contribution).
However, some researcher are still skeptical about the Ayush impact since there is not much concrete research published in the Lancet Journal upon this very subject.
Some experts suggest that Ayush may be useful as preventive drugs than prescriptive ones.