AMRITA LIFE ----- A RESPONSE TO A GLOBAL CHALLENGE.
AMRITA LIFE is a response to the challenges faced by Ayurveda in the wake of globalization. With renewed interest in alternative approaches to healthcare, Ayurveda is gaining prominence globally. But if it is to rise to the occasion and contribute towards human welfare as a globally recognized approach to health care, Ayurveda needs first to be strengthened and brought into the mainstream in the country of its origin. Only inter--disciplinary approach rooted in the ethos of Indian culture can revitalize this ancient healing tradition in the most complete manner. When we transpose the Ayurvedic pharmacy from the households of physicians and patients to machinery housed in big factories, extra care has to be taken to make sure that we do not compromise on the principles of Ayurveda; put commerce before service;burden Mother Nature through the unsustainable use of natural resources, and bring disrepute to Ayurveda by churning out inauthentic products.On the other hand, we have to explore ways and means to blend modern science and tradition in order to render the applications of Ayurveda suitable for contemporary society. Input from relevant branches of modern science can help us to enforce stringent quality control and standardization of Ayurvedic medicines. We will have to adopt an ecologically sound approach to harvest medicinal plants, and we must remember that Ayurveda emerged out of the laboratory of Mother Nature and not inside test tube and conical flasks. It would be a crime against Mother nature to attempt manufacturing of Ayurvedic medicines on a large scale without replenishing the herbs by growing medicinal plants. If humanity has a whole is to benefit from the industrialization of Ayurvedic pharmaceuticals, then commercialization will have to go hand in hand with public health programs that reach out to the poor. Emphasis on quality can escalate costs, but we need to look for means to subsidize the price of the end products.At the core of AMRITA LIFE will be the essence of the knowledge of Ayurveda and the commitment to serve humanity through Ayurveda.
AMRITA LIFE is a response to the challenges faced by Ayurveda in the wake of globalization. With renewed interest in alternative approaches to healthcare, Ayurveda is gaining prominence globally. But if it is to rise to the occasion and contribute towards human welfare as a globally recognized approach to health care, Ayurveda needs first to be strengthened and brought into the mainstream in the country of its origin. Only inter--disciplinary approach rooted in the ethos of Indian culture can revitalize this ancient healing tradition in the most complete manner. When we transpose the Ayurvedic pharmacy from the households of physicians and patients to machinery housed in big factories, extra care has to be taken to make sure that we do not compromise on the principles of Ayurveda; put commerce before service;burden Mother Nature through the unsustainable use of natural resources, and bring disrepute to Ayurveda by churning out inauthentic products.On the other hand, we have to explore ways and means to blend modern science and tradition in order to render the applications of Ayurveda suitable for contemporary society. Input from relevant branches of modern science can help us to enforce stringent quality control and standardization of Ayurvedic medicines. We will have to adopt an ecologically sound approach to harvest medicinal plants, and we must remember that Ayurveda emerged out of the laboratory of Mother Nature and not inside test tube and conical flasks. It would be a crime against Mother nature to attempt manufacturing of Ayurvedic medicines on a large scale without replenishing the herbs by growing medicinal plants. If humanity has a whole is to benefit from the industrialization of Ayurvedic pharmaceuticals, then commercialization will have to go hand in hand with public health programs that reach out to the poor. Emphasis on quality can escalate costs, but we need to look for means to subsidize the price of the end products.At the core of AMRITA LIFE will be the essence of the knowledge of Ayurveda and the commitment to serve humanity through Ayurveda.
