Herbal Medicine: Open Access

Abstract

No system of medicine is perfect or could claim to cure all diseases. They have their respective advantages and disadvantages. The integration of eastern and western systems of health will help focus on ‘Health & Healing’ along with ‘Disease & Treatment’. For making Ayurveda one of the mainstream options in the medical field, it is important to understand the subject rather than to just believe in it. This is because any belief system may give confidence but it lacks clarity, and there is no substitute to clarity. Clarity comes with understanding. To create a relationship with the subject, it is essential to begin with a step wise journey of decoding Ayurveda which includes questions that come to mind when people deal with any new subject. The presentation will take the listeners on an introductory tour – from Ayurveda’s brief history over different eras to an overview of eastern and western ideologies. It gives an insight into what makes people accept or reject a particular system of medicine. The need of merging the ‘Healthcare System’ with the ‘Education System’, to bring people closer to accepting multiple systems of healthcare, is discussed. People who are capable, educated and knowledgeable need to become active partners in this vision. In this age of awakening and awareness, it is important for people to be assertive in their choice of treatment by discussing the various pros and cons, instead of having to surrender all authority to their physician.