Modernization of Ayurveda: a brief overview of Indian initiatives

Ayurveda has been the main guiding force in drug discovery from traditional medicine. In concept, this system is rooted in folk or ethnomedicine and in practice it shows further refinement and development in accordance with local traditions. Isolation of active principles from crude drugs, their pharmacological evaluation, therapeutic proving and clinical application resulted in the genesis of modem or so called allopathic medicine. To keep the opportunity alive for further development in traditional as well as modem medicines, it is necessary to have an uninterrupted connection with ethnomedicine. Since the practice of ethnomedicine is based on the age-long indigenous knowledge which has been orally transmitted through generations and sustained in traditions there is an urgent need to document such knowledge. The ongoing strategies adopted in India to document the precious traditional knowledge and conserve medicinal plants are discussed in this communication. India with her rich plant wealth and traditional knowledge about the medicinal use of plants has tremendous scope to provide leadership in ensuring human health and longevity.