Despite being an age-old science penned down by the great scholars more than 5000 years ago, there has been a remarkable global acceptance of Ayurveda in recent years. This points to the boundless potential of Ayurveda as a healthcare system. With its armory rich in both preventive as well as curative modalities Ayurveda is well equipped to cater to health-related needs of the people. As it is designated, Ayurveda is a guide to healthy living with its health promotive regimes and at the same time offers safe curative therapeutics also. Thus, Ayurveda has a pivotal role to play in Public Healthcare.
The concept of Public Health upholds that the health of the people is the responsibility of the State, i.e., the government. With the Alma Ata Declaration pledging to attain “Health for All by 2000 AD”, the government has taken various steps in meeting the concept of Public Health. Ayurveda has made remarkable contributions in providing healthcare to the common mass.
Public Health primarily focus of three areas:
Disease Control
Health Promotion
Social Engineering and Behavioral Approaches
Disease Control
This mainly aims at prevention and control of infectious diseases originating due to lack of personal hygiene and environmental sanitation. In Ayurveda classics, such diseases and their remedies have been discussed under the heading of Janapadodhwamsa/ Maraka. Various methods of attaining environmental sanitation have also been described including herbal fumigation, air spraying and sprinkling the water bodies with herbal ashes etc. The efficacy of one such formulation called Aparajitha Dhupam has been established through research. Purification/Detoxification has been advised to nullify the effects of environmental toxins from the body. Moreover, specific Rasayanas (rejuvenation drugs) have also been advised. The importance of personal hygiene has also been highlighted. “Na asamvruta mukham kuryath kshuthi hasya vijrumbhana” has been advised in Ayurveda, the present adaptation of which is the use of masks. The concept of Achamana, i.e., purifying oneself after coming in contact with any infectious material or after returning back from outside has also been mentioned which can be related to the practice of hand hygiene and sanitisation Further the regimes mentioned under the Dinacharya including Anjanam (herbal collyrium), Nasyam (errhine therapy), Dhumapanam (herbal smoke inhalation), Gandusham (oil pulling), Abhyangam (oil massage) etc. are the ways of improving the integrity of body’s first line of defense, i.e., the skin and mucosal surfaces to resist the invading microbes.
Health Promotion
This focuses on individual health needs including Mother and Child Health services, school health services, occupational health services, mental health services etc. Kaumarabhrutya or Ayurvedic Pediatrics deals with various health promotion measures for kids including postnatal care of baby, prescribing herbal drugs to promote the gut health and immune system for example the practice of uramarunnu (herbs given along with honey) to infants common in Southern parts of India and the famous Swarnaprashan for developing the immunity. Prasuti tantra and Stree roga is the branch of Ayurveda which deals with the female reproductive health right from the menarche to antenatal, natal and post-natal care. Safe formulations and therapies are available to treat the menstrual irregularities and other reproductive tract ailments. Pre-conceptional preparedness of the parents has also been described to ensure a healthy progeny. The indication of month-wise decoctions to address the various gestational needs of the mother and the post-natal regimes including uterine purificatory formulations and therapies to rejuvenate the mother is widely accepted these days. Another unique contribution of Ayurveda is Sadvrutta including the set of codes and conduct which enables the person to tackle day to day stresses and to yield socially and morally productive life. Application of specific Dinacharya procedures based on occupational exposures can ensure occupational health, for example, Nasya and Dhumapanam where risk of respiratory diseases is there, Abhyanga where hard physical labour is involved etc.
Social Engineering and Behavioral Approaches.
This is mainly concerned with the non-communicable or the “Lifestyle Disorders”. As previously mentioned, Ayurveda is a guide to healthy living. With advice on discipline related to diet, sleep, sexual practices, exercise, seasonal purification and Sadvrutta, Ayurveda can contribute effectively in minimizing the modifiable risk factors of such diseases including Malnutrition, obesity, sleep disorders, stress, addictions etc.
Thus, the role of Ayurveda in Public health is pivotal. Government has launched many schemes to mainstream Ayurveda and make it accessible and affordable to the public through the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Sidha & Homeopathy). Few of them are:
- Ayurswasthya: Sponsored by the Central Government, this scheme supports public health interventions. Till date almost 67 projects have been sanctioned in the field of type 2 DM, musculoskeletal disorders, anemia, hypertension, vector borne diseases, de-addiction etc.
- Ayush Oushadhi gunvatha evum authpadan: To support cultivation and procurement of genuine herbal drugs for making safe, affordable, and effective medicinal formulations.
- National Ayush Mission: To ensure better access to AYUSH services for the public by increasing the number of Ayush healthcare centers, upgrading the existing centers, and making AYUSH services available at PHC, CHC and District hospitals. Under NAM, different projects are in action in different states viz, Project Drishti for eye health of school children etc.
- AYUSH health & wellness centers: The initiative to establish a holistic wellness model based on AYUSH principle and practices to empower masses for affordable self-care including preventive and health promotive measures, educating about medicinal plants for self-care and management of common ailments, thereby reducing disease burden. Currently, a total of 4830 AYUSH wellness centers are functional in various states across the country.
Thus, Ayurveda is a potential healthcare system which with government support has been made accessible to the public through Primary Health Care. Ayurveda services are available at PHC, CHC and District hospitals as well. However, the bitter part of the story is that many quacks are existing practicing under the name of traditional medicine. While Public Health Care is the responsibility of the State, at the same time individual health care is the sole responsibility of every individual. Every citizen must be vigilant while opting for healthcare and must consult only qualified and authorized health care practitioners.
