Importance of ayurvedic research stressed

Udupi, Oct 18 (UNI) Dr S K Bannigol, a member of the Central Council Committee of Indian Medicine, today emphasised that to make ayurveda more acceptable, there was an urgent need for multi-centre research activities in ayurveda along with other disciplines of medicine.

Inaugurating a two-day State-level workshop on Ayurvedic Teaching Methodology, jointly organised by the Dakshina Kannada Bharateeya Vaidya Sangha and Alumni Association of SDM College of Ayurveda here, he said ayurveda system had been left far behind in clinical research activities. Unless documentation and clinical researches were given priority in the system, whatever tall claims made by ayurvedic researchers over finding effective solutions to diseases like AIDS, dengue or Chikungunya would get no recognition, he added.

Stressing the need for reforms in the curriculum in any science branch, including ayurveda, Dr Bannigol said educational institutions should be converted into learning centres from teaching to become more knowledge-based. ''Ayurvedic scholars are still not clear as to whether ayurveda study is Charaka Shushruta-oriented or textbook-oriented. We could not add anything more to ayurveda through researches,'' he added.

Over 300 students of various ayurvedic colleges in Karnataka were participating in the workshop, in which Dr U K Krishna, Director of Institute of Traditional Medicine, Japan, was the resource person.

He gave a special lecture on the Relevance of Ayurveda in modern society, orthodox ayurvedic concepts, problem-oriented teaching and communication skills.

UNI MA GD RKN1614