Healing Minds and Bodies: Sixth World Ayurveda Congress Held In India
Healing Minds and Bodies: Sixth World Ayurveda Congress Held In India
Allopathic medication has always been seen as a superlative therapy. But Ayurveda is also a viable option. Much needs to be accomplished for this indigenous system of medicine, according to the proceedings of the 6th World Ayurveda Congress held in New Delhi from the 6th to the 9th of November, 2014. The biggest challenge faced by the Ayurveda system of medicine is the lack of confidence and commitment among the practitioners, according to India’s PM Narendra Modi who spoke during the Congress.
The PM also said that while Ayurveda has a lot of potential to bring about healthy lives and cure maladies, the ancient and traditional Indian system of medicine is not being adopted by many because its practitioners itself are not dedicated or committed to it. The PM was quoted by the Hindu as saying“It is difficult to find doctors who are 100 per cent dedicated to Ayurveda. You must have the confidence in yourself. Only then will you instil confidence in the patients.”
The PM also indicated that allopathic and Ayurveda should not be seen as enemies. The emphasis should not be to see the two systems as antithetical. Allopathic should be seen as “curative” and Ayurveda should be viewed as “a way of life.”“There is a need for larger awareness of Ayurveda. It can’t be limited to a doctor alone. Our ancestors made good health a part of life. Unfortunately, we have outsourced health. We should start a movement for global acceptance of Ayurveda. Just as yoga has been accepted, this too will be,” the PM also said during the Congress, according to the Hindu.
Ayurveda practitioners, researchers and students were also asked by the PM to conduct more research and publish more papers in international medical journals. Another massive challenge was translating Ayurveda into language the world readily understands. “We need a movement to be initiated by physicians, students and teachers to gain global acceptance for Ayurveda. If we can procure at least 10-20 per cent of space in international medical journals for research in Ayurveda, it will attract the attention of the global science community,” the PM remarked.
The theme of the 6th WAC or World Ayurveda Congress was “Health Challenges and Ayurveda.” The aim of the WAC is the development of the vision and strategy for public action for the realisation of Ayurveda’s immense potential and as a model for health care in the field of public health not only on the national, but also on the international level.
The events held during the 6th WAC included a Seminar on Medicinal Plants and an Editor’s Conclave. There was also a Guru-Shishya(Master-Disciple) meet and business meets coordinated by Pharmexil and the international Delegates Assembly. The Congress demonstrated how Ayurveda can be a safe and cost effective health care for everyone.
This includes important areas such as mother and child care, primary health care self reliance, ethics and moral values, ageing, veterinary and plant medicine, management of chronic lifestyle diseases as well as food and nutrition. Numerous dignitaries attended the event including delegates and visitors such as heads of nation, Nobel Laureates and well known spiritual leaders as well as policy makers and heads of manufacturing firms. Well known academicians and experts in the field also attended the event.
