COVID-19 has created a contagion across the globe and, in turn, has brought the medical fraternity on war-footing, serving humanity with utmost devotion, dedication, and sincerity. To manage a country with more than 1.38 billion people is a Herculean task. Thanks to the entire medical fraternity, the paramedical staff, government, administration, sanitation workers, police personnel, volunteers, and active support and cooperation of people of India displayed during this extraordinary circumstance of the second wave of COVID-19.
Health and hospital both are very much interconnected with the wellbeing of humankind. The present COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges in terms of healthcare delivery, control and management of pandemic, hospitalization, intensive care, recovery, and rehabilitation.
Imagine a hospital when a patient enters with a hope of accurate diagnosis, complete cure, and treatment. He is taken for diagnosis using the modern healthcare tools which elucidate all the parameters from man-to-molecule with the modern gadgets including MRI, PET, CT and even genomics and proteomics tools, looking for the genetic and epigenetic factors. Having got the right diagnosis using the modern equipment and diagnostic tools, patients may be given option whether he/she would like to undergo Allopathy, Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga & Naturopathy, Homeopathy or any other treatment modality which the individual wishes to undertake or to be subjected to with the advice and guidance of the doctor.
It may appear to be a utopian situation but that is how a hospital perhaps will be there a few decades from now integrating both the modern medicine and traditional systems of medicine. The modern medicine has got tremendous strength in terms of diagnosis of the complete human body, which can look right from the physical body to the molecules, micro molecules inside the body and identify the severe/critical health issues including occult infection. When a patient is having a heart attack, he needs to be put in ICU and given the care to tide over the crisis of the acute myocardial infarction. He may undergo angioplasty or bypass surgery which will save the individual.
However, with multiple and tremendous benefits, modern medicine has some limitations when it comes to the treatment. Most of the treatments are either symptomatic, palliative, and help to control and manage the disease rather than uproot the etiological factor of a disease. Just take an example of diabetes. All the anti-diabetic drugs or insulin therapy used for type-2 and type-1 diabetes, actually help to control the blood sugar level keeping it within the physiological limit so that the secondary and tertiary complications can be avoided, and the same thing may apply to hypertension and other chronic ailments.
But, when one looks at the traditional systems of medicine, it treats the human as a whole, taking care of its existence at physical, mental and spiritual level. The treatment through the traditional system may take longer but certainly help to uproot the caustic factor or etiological factor thereby ensuring the treatment of the disease particularly chronic ailment, psychosomatic manifestation, and stress related disorders.
Why not combine these two systems, keeping its own identity of the system which has got both the strength and shortcomings. Ayurveda works well when combined with western medicine to rejuvenate an individual, so that they are less affected by sickness and to rebalance the body after receiving long treatment of drugs or surgery. Everyone knows that the synthetic molecule which we use in treatment may have side effects or adverse drug reaction, which is a well-known fact. But the traditional system relies more on the natural products and natural method of therapy. It also includes a healing system, a philosophy, and a way of life towards health and wellness. The side effect if at all, could be bare minimum or not at all there. But even whether it is Ayurveda, Siddha or Unnani, one is worried about the heavy metals like arsenic, mercury, and so on; but if the processing is done properly through traditional methods those heavy metals are converted into the other forms which may not be toxic. Traditional systems of medicine lay emphasis not only on treatment and cure but to promote wellness through its prophylactic and promotive potentials.
The need of the hour is actually yoking and bridging both the systems which have shown inherent strength which is time tested. The traditional systems which may be thousands of years old or the modern medicine, which may be a few hundred years old, both need to be integrated to meet the noble goal of WHO, that is, “Health for All” at least by 2030.
The process of integration may not be difficult if everyone desires, aspires, and puts their mind, heart, and soul to explore both the systems with an open mind.
The MBBS doctors need to be oriented towards traditional systems of medicine in their curriculum & education, so that they know there is a remedy for hypertension or diabetes in the Ayurveda system of medicine. They may not be a specialist to practice Ayurveda, but certainly have an idea that there is an alternate remedy in Ayurveda system for a particular ailment. They should not hesitate to refer a patient to alternate systems of therapy if they wish to undertake traditional systems, having been diagnosed with the modern medical tools. Similarly, health practitioners in the traditional system need to be oriented to modern physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology etc.
The next generation hospital may have two wings, one wing having modern medicine facilities and the other having traditional systems practice. A basket of healthcare methods is offered to the patients and the patient has the freedom to choose treatment, whichever he/she has confidence and likes to undertake.
Even the western world is looking for alternate therapy as Pharmacopoeia is not having many new molecules which are emerging. Developing a new drug takes a minimum of 15-20 years to analyze the efficacy and safety of the new molecule. On the other hand, a natural product, herbal medicine, and other methods used in traditional systems of medicine are time tested and can be brought to application in a short period.
Even the traditional system needs to be evaluated using modern scientific tools and methods to place these traditional knowledge on the scientific pedestal so that the confidence and trust in these systems will be much higher.
A decade ago, Government of India had deputed a high-power delegation to present before the Special Committee set up by the House of Lords, UK, under the Chairmanship of Nobel Laureate Dr John Walton to elucidate that Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) are evidence based. At that time the UK had placed Indian Systems of Medicine on Tier-3 (having less scientific evidence). After the series of discussions with this Committee, ISM was placed as a Complementary System of Medicine on Tier-1 and Tier-2. Similarly, the scientific perspective of Yoga was presented to the World Health Assembly by the Indian delegation propagating the Science of Yoga.
The International Day of Yoga is yet another important initiative from the Government of India to place Yoga at the Global Map and during the last several years it has been practiced by more than 180 countries across the globe. Traditional Systems of Medicine look not only at the curative aspect of the disease but also at prophylactic and promotive aspects and perhaps it emphasizes more on ensuring a positive health rather than focusing only on the treatment aspect of the disease.
While modern medicine’s main focus is on treatment, the word ‘Ayurveda’ means ‘science of life’. The modern medicine as a system is focusing on the body, different systems, organs, tissues, cells, molecules including gene whereas the traditional system looks at the ‘sthula sharira’ (gross body), ‘sukshma sharira’ (subtle body) and ‘karana sharira’ (casual body) of the existence and looks at the establishment of harmony at these three levels of existence of human being. So, there is complementarity and also strength in both the systems, and now it is the time for all of us to seriously consider how we can integrate our mind, heart, and soul for developing an Integrative Medicine to ensure ‘Health for All’ by 2030. Many countries have already started considering this approach in their health care system.
The present COVID-19 challenge has brought a refocus on traditional systems of medicines. The Ministry of AYUSH has done yeoman service to the society across the globe for the prevention, treatment, control, and management of this pandemic in a significant way. This pandemic has turned the whole world's attention to the immune system, the body defence force against disease, viruses, and other organisms that we touch, ingest, and inhale every day. But, now an objective assessment of collecting the data through survey, and also randomized control studies need to be carried out on how the systems have contributed in the control and management of the present pandemic, which will give a direction and open up new avenues.
A country which is blessed with history of medicines through its sacred writing of Vedas, Sushruta-samhita, Charaka-samhita and Ayurveda, along with Unani and Siddha medicinal systems has provided clarity, depth of reasoning, and profound philosophical basis that have characterized & revolutionized the globe and gives a valid reason to integrate both western and traditional medicine together for a better and holistic treatment.
Yoga, Ayurveda, and other traditional systems can improve inherent immunity and thereby also take care of the prophylactic aspects of disease giving a ‘kavach’ (protection) for any infection like Coronavirus.
The controversy and also conflict between the two systems need to melt away in the present scenario and there should be union, convergence and cohesive attitude to look with open mind both the systems and then look at the processes by which this integration can be made possible.
The power of the human mind is so immense, that we can manifest what one desires with pure intent and bring this transformation as soon as possible.
Are we ready to look at that challenge of integration? There is a need for global debate and to create a movement of integration rather than disintegration due to conflict and controversy. Through this integration, India may contribute to create a new world order, where ‘Health for All’ may perhaps be ensured in another decade or so.
Dr Selvamurthy is president, Amity Science Technology and Innovation Foundation (ASTIF). Dr Bhatnagar is assistant director at ASTIF
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
