'Ayurveda is a whole system in itself'

By Our Staff Correspondent

UDUPI, OCT. 14. The Western countries should know that Ayurveda is a whole system of medicine in itself, and not a food supplement as they thought it to be, Dr. B.Guruswamy, Director of Indian Systems of Medicines and Homeopathy, has said.

He was inaugurating the postgraduate courses in "Rasashastra", "Bahishajakalpa", "Dravyaguna" and "Prasuti" at the SDM College of Ayurveda here on Friday.

Dr. Guruswamy said the popularity of Ayurveda was increasing, and even the foreign countries had recognised the importance of Ayurveda. He lauded the college for starting the postgraduate courses. He called upon the students to practice Ayurveda scrupulously.

Dr. Guruswamy recalled that in the 50s, there were only diploma courses in Ayurveda. But due to the agitation by the students, the Union and the State governments were forced to introduce degree courses in Ayurveda in the universities. Later, postgraduate courses were started by them. The demand of these postgraduate subjects had risen and this was testified by the increasing number of students, who were taking to specialisation in Ayurvedic subjects.

Presiding over the function, Prof. S.Prabhakar, Secretary of SDM Educational Society, said that earlier 80 per cent of students who passed the BAMS examinations were practising Allopathic system of medicine, but sustained efforts by the SDM institutions had seen them shifting back to Ayurveda.

The college was conducting research in the fields of male infertility and asthama, he said. He regretted that there was no proper publicity for the Ayurveda system of medicine.

Mr. P.Rabindra Nayak, Managing Director of the Hanuman Transport Company, said the mindset of the people that Allopathy was the only system of medicine should be changed.

Earlier, Dr. M.Rayabagi, Principal of the college, welcomed the gathering. Dr. K.R.Ramachandra proposed a vote of thanks.

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Section  : Southern States
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