It is not adequately well understood that Ayurveda has been traditionally strict about >medical therapies being evidence-based (April 26). The classic of Charaka, in fact, marks the switch from faith-based therapeutics to its evidence-based variant. Medical anecdotes graduating into evidence after careful deliberations by experts is the cornerstone of clinical medicine in Ayurveda. At least half-a-dozen such conferences of experts have been recorded in the Charaka Samhita. For reasons that are obvious, this evidence cannot be called “hard” by contemporary standards. But, to dismiss it as being untested altogether would be utterly unscientific. What policymakers need to look at is to harden this evidence-base through carefully conducted trials. That Ayurvedic therapies cannot be subjected to scientific trials is an argument that betrays a clear lack of understanding of the way this ancient science has been constructed.
Dr. G.L. Krishna,Bengaluru
