On the Integration of Ayurveda and Biomedicine: Perspectives Generated from Interviews with Ashtavaidya Ayurveda Physicians of Kerala

Traditional medical systems have played important roles in the healthcare needs in all societies. In the recent past, due to a variety of reasons, there is an upsurge of interest in age-old medicines and therapeutic methods, especially in Ayurveda, and an important issue facing modern Ayurveda is integration with biomedicine. The present article summarizes our research on the history and culture of the few remaining classically trained Ashtavaidya Ayurveda scholar physicians of Kerala and their perspectives on the current status of Ayurveda education and practice. Based on the views expressed by these scholar physicians, with history of learning and practice of Ayurveda, and our own research into issues surrounding integration of traditional medical practices with biomedicine, this article explores steps towards modernization of traditional medical education and practice that could be important for rediscovering the full potential of therapies implied in classical Ayurveda.