Research in Ayurveda

1. Ayurvedic Research – need of paradigm shift
Prof. M. S. Baghel
Ex Ayurveda Chair, Debrecen, Hungary
Ex Director, Institute for P G T & Research in Ayurveda
Gujarat Ayurved University , Jamnagar, India
E mail : baghelayu@rediffmail.com

2. 2
RESEARCH
 Research should be a process that converts data into
information, information into knowledge and
knowledge into wisdom. This is like transforming milk
into ghee.
 It should be more balanced and comprehensive.
There should be equal emphasis on literary, field,
experimental and clinical research.
 It should be able to impact the fields of education,
pharmacy and practice in a profound way.
Present day Ayurvedic Researches are failing in this
respect as they are unable to disseminate the
knowledge gained from the researches.

3. RESEARCH & PUBLICATION
 Any research work becomes valid and widely
accepted when it is published in peer
reviewed journals.
 Documentation and publication of research
findings is the main issue faced by Ayurveda
in the global arena.
 There are many scattered evidences for the
safety and efficacy of Ayurveda drugs lying
with many practitioners and researchers and
non governmental bodies.
3

4. INDIAN INDIGENOUS DRUGS - RETROSPECT -PROSPECT
RANITA AIMAN
Ind. J. Pharmac., 11 (1) I-12 (1979) CHOPRA MEMORIAL ORATION 1978,
delivered at AIIMS
 The subject of Indigenous Drugs, ----- therefore, like “Sleeping
Beauty” after a long hibernation of centuries during which it was
frequently proded by hakims and vaidyas, was quickened into
life by several sparks.
 It is probable that no ‘Magic Drug’ as penicillin was called, will
be discovered in the Materia Medica of the ancients, as their
system of medicine was based on the Tridosha theory
 Future Prospects -Is it bleak or bright? Will the “Beauty” go to
sleep again, this time perhaps forever? If I am permitted to dip
into the future, I foresee a ‘come-back’ of some of the older
native remedies in perhaps a new garb, either as single active
principles, or a derivative, or even as relined preparations of the
crude drugs,

5. Progress of modern herbal research
 National Institute for Tropical medicine
 ICMR
 CDRI – Screening of medicinal plants for
their biological activity 1963 -1975, more
than 2000 plants screened

6. Why Research in Ayurveda?
 Globalization of Ayurveda
 Increasing demand of ‘evidence-based Ayurveda
 Industrialization of Ayurvedic drug sector
 Classical formulations loosing ground
 Convince the users regarding safety of drugs
 Drug standardization & quality assurance
 To develop new drugs & formulations
 To develop new indications
 Need to explain & increase the understanding of
fundamental principles
 To develop and understand Ayurveda further

7. 7
WHY DO WE NEED CLINICAL TRIALS
 Revalidation of facts enumerated in Ayurvedic
classics
 To establish Dose, Duration, Indication & Side-effect
profile of any given Drug
 To find out new better treatment modalities for the
diseases
 To find out newer source material for scarce/
endangered medicinal plants
 To find out pharmacological basis of mode of action
 To standardize the treatment procedures scientifically
 For Regulatory approval, Registration purposes & for
proof of efficacy

8. 8
Organizations conducting research
in the fields related to Ayurveda
 Ayurvedic PG institutions
 CCRAS
 ICMR, CDRI, AIIMS, NIMHANS SOME
OTHER MEDICAL UNIVERSITIES
 DST, CSIR – IGBI,
 Some Universities and Institutions
conducting biomedical researches
 NGOs

9. 9
STATUS OF AYURVEDIC RESEARCH
 2000 PG theses per year at various Institutes and hardly
200 research papers pertaining to these researches are
published per year in Ayurvedic journals .
 100 Ph.D. Theses in faculties of Ayurveda and data of less
than 50% is being published
 Nearly only 50 PhD scholarships are available for
Ayurveda, IPGT and NIA other than newly sanctioned
AYUSH scholarships
Whether to accept these researches as reference material or
not ?

10. Present Status of outcomes of researches
 The out come of Ayurvedic researches has not
yet tickled to the use and benefit of students and
practitioners of Ayurveda
 Sectarian knowledge promotion and boost is not
taking place
 Sectarian interest are not preserved properly
 All research activities are done by blindly
following the modern trends
 No set guideline available in Ayurveda to
strengthen the knowledge of the science.

11. Suggestions of Dr. SR Narahari, IAD, Kasargod
The occasion was the 22nd Cochrane Collaboration colloquium.
1. What are the methods needed to create evidence in Ayurveda?
which study designs should be adopted?
2. should
Cochrane
RCT lead
recognizes nothing
ayurveda';s
less than
evidence?
RCT
would it be possible to develop a core methods group?
3. How to structure the clinical studies in ayurveda? how to determine
the sample size?
4. How this methods group should be empowered to achieve the
capacity building of tens and hundreds of ayurveda doctors interested
in evidence based ayurveda movement? Is it possible to initiate
systematic reviews programs on the side lines of many CMEs and
conferences held across the country so that the voluntary
collaboration swells over the time
5. If ayurveda is effective then we will have to show case its ability to
alter the natural course of the disease. If so what kind of
documentation we must begin?

12. 12
Clinical studies – selection of study
design
 Controlled studies
 Open trial
 Single Blind trial
 Double Blind trial
 Single – case design
 Black box design studies
 Observational studies

13. Questions… solutions….
There is a need of paradigm shift in strategy &
methodology of research in Ayurveda.
 Many fold research requirement in Ayurveda i.e.
 first one for the science of Ayurveda and
 the second one is for therapeutics in Ayurveda.
 Improve the under standing of Ayurveda in light of newer
basic sciences
 Convince the modern medical world regarding therapeutic
efficacy of Ayurveda
 Ayurveda has to be studied and investigated as it is, critically
adapting an Ayurvedic approach in tune with its basic
principles, however the technical tools can be borrowed from
modern basic and biosciences.

14. Some questions… solutions….
 Trust, Truth and Team are the basic requirements
for any research activity.
 There is a need of new strategy & methodology of
research in Ayurveda.
 The strategy of research which nourishes the
science of Ayurveda lagging since last 2500 years
 However proving it scientific in the eyes of so called
modern medical fraternity which is widely controlled
by pharmaceutical Industry
 Convincing biomedical scientists who want
Ayurveda without Ayurvedists

15. Problems Of Clinical Researches In
Ayurveda - Planning Of Research Works
• Understanding of fundamental principles of
Ayurveda
• Selection of subject
• Diagnostic approach
• Use of Quality of life parameters as assessment
criteria as mentioned by Charaka (Vi 8) – Rogabala,
Dehabala, Agnibala, Chetasabala
• Dependency of researches on symptomatology
• Understanding of Ayurvedic classical
terminologies and their grading

16. 16
Solutions for improvement
 Create a consensual Ayurvedic research
methodology suitable and useful to Ayurveda
 National grading system for Ayurvedic
terminologies
 Preparation of ICD -11 compliantAyurvedic
disease classification
 Incentive for doing regular in house Ph.D.
 Institution of yearly awards for publication of best
Ayurvedic data
 Updation of in house research journals of CCRAS,
NIA, AYUSH to create better data base

17. 17
Global research requirements
 Life style diseases ,their prevention and
management
 Pharmacological researches in the field of known
herbs
 Research in the field of Panchakarma and Yoga
 Study of local flora for Ayurvedic pharmacodynamics
 Research in the field of food technology to develop
new food products from herbs used in Ayurveda
 Research in the field of Agriculture technology to
grow the plants in their countries which are useful in
Ayurveda

18. 18
Consideration of fundamental principles
of Ayurveda while designing clinical trials
 Consideration of Doshik Prakriti
 Consideration of Manasik Prakriti
 Consideration of Doshik Variants of diseases, status of
Agni, Koshtha, Amapakva Avastha of diseases
 Dose – variation as per conditions, doshik status, Agni,
Koshtha, age, prakrit etc
 Administration timings – Aushadhi Kala
 Anupana, Sahapana
 Pathya-Pathya
 Dosages format
 Employment of proper medical statistician who can guide
the sample size

19. Areas from classical Ayurveda requires
further exploration/updation
 Updation of Nanatmaja disease list (Avishkritatamah)
 Development of diagnostic tools for 63 combination and
permutation of Doshas
 Study and finalization of Samprapti of newer diseases so
that Chikitsa sootra can be formulated
 Clinical trials should be organised on priority diseases
applying full classical Chikitsa sootra
 Inclusion of newer herbs in Ayurvedic materia medica by
studying there Rasa, Gunadi- pharmacodynamics
 Study of newer dosage pharmats like capsule, injections
etc in Ayurvedic pharmaco-dynamics

20. 20
Suggestions for the improvement
of research outcomes
 Consistent quality of products
 Proper description of SOP of the trial drugs
 Sincere efforts required from all the agencies to
improve the quality of Clinical Trials
 Compliance of GCP, GAP, GMP, GEP,
guidelines

21. 21

22. Newer science areas to be studied
and understood in field of Ayurveda
⚫ Genomics
⚫ Epigenetics
⚫ Proteomics
⚫ Metabolomics
⚫ Gut Brain syndrome
⚫ Psycho-neuro-immuno-endocrinology
⚫ System biology
⚫ Xenoharmesis

23. 23
Area of Clinical Research
Diseases of National Importance
 Malaria, Filaria, Goitre, Tuberculosis, AIDS
Life style disorders
 Hypertension, DM, Cardiac diseases, OA, Obesity
Allergic & Auto Immune disorders
 Bronchial Asthma, Bronchitis, Globinopathies
Metabolic and collagen disorders like – Rheumatoid
arthritis
Incurable & Chronic diseases of Global importance CAM
 RA, Cancer, Alzhiemers, Parkinson, Degenerative Neurological
diseases
Primary Health Care level managements
 Pregnancy Pre & Post natal care, Childcare, management of common
clinical conditions
 Better health achievement for general people

24. AVAILABILITY OF ELECTRONIC / PUBLISHED
DATA BASE :
• CCRAS Data base in Book format
• CSIR in electronic format and Book format not exhaustive
and does not includes researches done at Ayurvedic
Institutes due non publication of these in Scientific Journals
• ICMR – DATABASE
• AYATA NIDANA (Diagnostic soft ware) developed by Tilaka
Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune in collaboration with CSIR
• Ayusoft – data base of Pune university based CDAC
• AHEAD ( Wealth of Asia Not updated since 1998)
• RUDRA – software based data base of
• www.Researches-in-Ayurveda- A classified directory of PG
& PhD. thesis’s of Ayurveda (M S Baghel & Girish K J
contains titles only containing more than 20000 PG/PhD
theses titles
• Shodhaganga – UGC sponsored data base of PhD thes2e
4 s
containing titles and full theses

25. 25