Potential for interdisciplinary research in ayurveda

Abstract

“Interdisciplinary,” is a twentieth-century word. Interdisciplinary or interdisciplinary studies involve the combining of two or more academic disciplines or research into one activity. Ayurveda is classified into eight main sections, namely Kaya-General medicine, Bala – pediatrics including obstetrics, Graha-psychological disorders due to possession by evil spirits, urdhwaga-diseases of the head (eyes, ears, nose, throat and teeth), Shalya-Surgery, Damshtra-Toxicology, Jara-Geriatrics and rejuvenation and Vrisha – aphrodisiacs and the treatment of sterility. These areas can be conveniently classified into basic biomedical, behavioral, and clinical. There are many disciplines within each of these areas and significant overlap in and between these three major groupings. These overlapping of the areas can be considered as interdisciplinary approach of the ancient Indian medicine system. Again, over the course of time, many new additions were done in this science. In Sushruta Samhita sutrasthana chapter 4 in shloka 7, it is clearly written that by the study of a single science a man can never understand the true knowledge; hence, a physician should study as many allied branches of science as possible. Moreover, the physician who studies and practices medicine with all aspects is the true physician. So here, it is clearly indicated in Ayurveda science that an interdisciplinary approach is must to acquire the holistic knowledge of the science. The present article is an effort to explore the scope of interdisciplinary research in Ayurveda.