DR. REMYA KRISHNAN MD (AYU), PHDDR. REMYA KRISHNAN MD (AYU), PHD

Why Ayurveda doctors should Care about Why Ayurveda doctors should Care about practising practising Science Based Medicine Science Based Medicine

What is Science?What is Science?

Science is tested ,verified and Science is tested ,verified and permanently proven and established permanently proven and established knowledge (set of rationale) based on knowledge (set of rationale) based on reasoning by cause- mechanism – effect.reasoning by cause- mechanism – effect.

““Science" also refers to a body of Science" also refers to a body of knowledge itself, of the type that can be knowledge itself, of the type that can be rationally explained and reliably applied in rationally explained and reliably applied in every period .every period .

Ayurveda is Science Based Medicine Ayurveda is Science Based Medicine

Ayurveda incorporates permanently proven and Ayurveda incorporates permanently proven and established theorems and principles for practice .established theorems and principles for practice .

In Ayurveda, Medicine is led by Science and not In Ayurveda, Medicine is led by Science and not the reverse . the reverse .

So Ayurveda is So Ayurveda is Science Based Medicine Science Based Medicine

Science Based Ayurveda Science Based Ayurveda

Ayurveda advocates conscientious use of Basic science Ayurveda advocates conscientious use of Basic science in making health care decisions .in making health care decisions .

Ayurveda emphasises upon “Shasthrartha karma” Ayurveda emphasises upon “Shasthrartha karma” ( Science Based practice )and not “ Karmartha shasthra” ( Science Based practice )and not “ Karmartha shasthra” (Practice based Science)(Practice based Science)

The rationale for diagnosis, pathophysiologic principles The rationale for diagnosis, pathophysiologic principles and treatment principles in Ayurveda are fundamentally and treatment principles in Ayurveda are fundamentally correct and thus capable of accurate predictions .correct and thus capable of accurate predictions .

Thus Ayurveda is “Science Based Evidence Based” Thus Ayurveda is “Science Based Evidence Based”

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Science Based thinking is deterministic way of viewing Science Based thinking is deterministic way of viewing

Ayurveda advocates the scientific steps for Ayurveda advocates the scientific steps for deterministic way of exploring a human subject deterministic way of exploring a human subject in his unique circumstances and the impact of in his unique circumstances and the impact of external environment upon him . external environment upon him .

Ayurveda thus deserves to be instigated in Ayurveda thus deserves to be instigated in schools to inculcate the fundamental schools to inculcate the fundamental knowledge of human being and his response to knowledge of human being and his response to external environment in childrenexternal environment in children

Evidence Based Medicine Evidence Based Medicine

Evidence Based Medicine is Medicine based on Evidence Based Medicine is Medicine based on evidence .evidence .

Evidence is required for intended action of the Evidence is required for intended action of the medicine in a situation and not mere “efficacy” .medicine in a situation and not mere “efficacy” .

Evidence must not mere lead the medicine “do more Evidence must not mere lead the medicine “do more good and less harm” in a probabilistic way .good and less harm” in a probabilistic way .

Instead, evidence must enable the medicine “do Instead, evidence must enable the medicine “do the intended and thus protect from harm based on the intended and thus protect from harm based on certainity. certainity.

Do the intended &protect from all Do the intended &protect from all harm harm

- This is the motto of Ayurveda This is the motto of Ayurveda - Evidence in Ayurveda is not information to Evidence in Ayurveda is not information to

support benefits of medicine .support benefits of medicine .- Evidence in Ayurveda is “the systematic Evidence in Ayurveda is “the systematic

knowledge to do the intended and protect from knowledge to do the intended and protect from harm “.harm “.

- The systematic knowledge for the same is The systematic knowledge for the same is explained in the science of Ayurveda .explained in the science of Ayurveda .

- Ayurveda gives prime importnce to Ayurveda gives prime importnce to Science Science Based Evidence ,Based Evidence , not “Evidence based Science “ not “Evidence based Science “

..

Evidence is not Evidence is not Information supporting use of medicine .Information supporting use of medicine . Information supporting the benefits of Medicine outweighing the Information supporting the benefits of Medicine outweighing the

risks .risks . Information showing 80% chance of certainity Information showing 80% chance of certainity Credibility of opinions offered by experts in the field Credibility of opinions offered by experts in the field Evidence is :Evidence is : Knowledge refined to guide the use of medicine .Knowledge refined to guide the use of medicine . Knowledge refined to guide the use in specific individual.Knowledge refined to guide the use in specific individual. Knowledge refined to guide the use in specific internal Knowledge refined to guide the use in specific internal

circumstances .circumstances . Knowledge refined to guide the use for attainment of health of Knowledge refined to guide the use for attainment of health of

subject subject

Ayurveda applies MATHEMATICAL THINKING Ayurveda applies MATHEMATICAL THINKING

Mathematical thinking is deductive: the Mathematical thinking is deductive: the inference of particular instances by inference of particular instances by reference to a general law or principle. reference to a general law or principle.

““General to specific”.General to specific”.

Statistical Thinking vs. Mathematical Statistical Thinking vs. Mathematical ThinkingThinking

Statistical thinking is inductive: the Statistical thinking is inductive: the inference of general laws from particular inference of general laws from particular instances. instances.

““Specific to general”Specific to general” Application of statistical thinking is Application of statistical thinking is

unscientific in Ayurveda unscientific in Ayurveda

Why Should We Care About Why Should We Care About Teaching “Shasthraarthas” and not Teaching “Shasthraarthas” and not

shasthra ?shasthra ?

The teaching of shaasthararthas would equip The teaching of shaasthararthas would equip Ayurvedic medical graduates toAyurvedic medical graduates to Understand algorithms of decision making in diagnosis Understand algorithms of decision making in diagnosis

and treatment explained in shasthra and treatment explained in shasthra Understand and apply science based evidences Understand and apply science based evidences Translate shasthraarthas into everyday clinical Translate shasthraarthas into everyday clinical

situations which they encounter withsituations which they encounter with Estimate and confirm the accuracy of their calculations Estimate and confirm the accuracy of their calculations

in decision making .in decision making . Effective communiction of shasthraarthas with Effective communiction of shasthraarthas with

colleagues and patients colleagues and patients

NOT AYURVEDA NOT AYURVEDA Without the pertinent application of shathraarthas, Without the pertinent application of shathraarthas,

there is no shatshra .there is no shatshra . So today, though there is a community to learn, So today, though there is a community to learn,

practice and propagate Ayurveda, as they are not practice and propagate Ayurveda, as they are not even getting to know about and practice even getting to know about and practice shasthraarthas, what they practice is not shasthraarthas, what they practice is not Ayurveda !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Ayurveda !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is no solution other than learning There is no solution other than learning shaasthraarthas and their pertinent application rather shaasthraarthas and their pertinent application rather than read shaasthra !!!!than read shaasthra !!!!

THANKYOU THANKYOU