AYUSH is the collective term for India’s recognised traditional and complementary systems of medicine. It covers distinct systems with their own educational, clinical, and regulatory traditions.

Basic Details

  • Administrative Ministry: Ministry of AYUSH.
  • Systems: Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homoeopathy.
  • Education Levels: Undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, diploma, and certificate programmes vary across systems.

Major Systems

  • Ayurveda: An Indian medical tradition that uses diet, lifestyle, medicines, and therapeutic procedures.
  • Yoga and Naturopathy: Yoga uses physical and mental disciplines, while naturopathy emphasises non-drug approaches and natural therapies.
  • Unani: A medical tradition with Graeco-Arab roots that developed extensively in South Asia.
  • Siddha: A traditional medical system associated mainly with Tamil culture and southern India.
  • Sowa-Rigpa: A Himalayan medical tradition practised across regions including Ladakh and parts of the northeast.
  • Homoeopathy: A system based on highly diluted preparations selected through the principle of similarity.

Education Regulation

  • Indian Systems: The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine regulates Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Sowa-Rigpa education.
  • Homoeopathy: The National Commission for Homoeopathy regulates Homoeopathy education and professional standards.
  • Institutional Approval: Colleges require permission and must meet standards for faculty, hospitals, laboratories, libraries, and clinical training.
  • State Role: State governments and universities also participate in establishing, affiliating, and supervising institutions.

Significance

  • Health Workforce: AYUSH colleges train practitioners for traditional and complementary healthcare services.
  • Quality Assurance: Rapid growth makes consistent faculty strength, teaching hospitals, and supervised clinical exposure essential.
  • Research Need: Standardised education and stronger research can improve evidence, safety monitoring, and integration with public health systems.