A NEET aspirant who didn’t clear MBBS might be tempted to view Ayurveda (BAMS) or Homeopathy (BHMS) as an easy backdoor to the “doctor” title. Beware: these are not equivalent to modern medicine. They are built on faith and tradition, not science, and can mislead both you and your patients. Decades of research show that Ayurveda and Homeopathy are essentially pseudoscience, with no reliable evidence of effectiveness. In fact, many of the practices taught in these courses have been openly ridiculed by scientists. An Ayurvedic curriculum that once even included “medical astrology” – complete with “remedies in the form of mantras [and] amulets” – drew criticism for its utter lack of scientific basis. And homeopathy’s central claim – that a chemical gets stronger the more you dilute it, has been “soundly refuted” by modern chemistry.
It’s understandable that many students, including those from India’s Northeast, feel desperate when NEET scores fall short. But choosing Ayurveda or Homeopathy just because you want to call yourself “Doctor” (with a capital D) is fooling yourself. You’re setting up your future patients for disappointment and risk. Instead, choose a career where evidence, not belief, drives practice. Remember: science doesn’t care how ancient or “Indian” an idea is – it requires proof. As one critical analysis bluntly put it, “Ayurveda simply doesn’t have the evidence to make such claims… none of that makes it remotely scientific”. In other words, historic roots in Vedas are nice, but that alone doesn’t meet today’s standards for medicine.
Ayurveda is often described as a “holistic” tradition, but much of its content is anti-scientific. Critics note that Ayurveda rests on concepts (like balancing three humors called doshas) that have no basis in biology or chemistry. According to Dr. C. Abby Philips (an Indian medical doctor), “Ayurveda has no basis in science” and is “based on pseudoscientific principles”. He explains that while some Ayurvedic herbs can have effects, Ayurveda as a system mixes them with unproven ideas – for example, recommending sex “positions” to please men, worship rituals, or astrology-based cures. In fact, even India’s own regulators embarrassed themselves: in 2022 a proposed elective on “medical astrology” in the BAMS curriculum – teaching mantras and lucky charms as treatments – sparked outrage from scientists.
Ayurvedic colleges also lack modern rigor. A 2014 report titled “Evidence Based Ayurvedic Practice” cited treatments for dozens of conditions yet contained not a single randomized clinical trial. Government-backed Ayurvedic journals often publish pilot or in vitro studies and call them “proof,” but they ignore the gold standard of science (large clinical trials). Unsurprisingly, mainstream doctors consider Ayurveda more folklore than medicine. In fact, the Indian government once launched a “bridge course” to let BAMS doctors prescribe Western medicine—even though they’d never studied it—due to rural doctor shortages. This hasty “permission slip” was denounced by medical associations as dangerous, since a true MBBS education covers a decade of anatomy, pathology, and clinical science that BAMS does not.
Ayurveda does include some useful herbal knowledge, and indeed modern medicine has often borrowed from traditional remedies. (For example, many important drugs like morphine, aspirin, or quinine originated from plant compounds.) One study found about 70% of new modern drugs came from natural products. But there’s a big difference between isolating a useful molecule and endorsing an entire tradition as equivalent to medicine. If a herb truly works, pharmacologists will extract and test it. Otherwise, students in a supposedly scientific course should not be learning outdated myths. Anything genuinely beneficial can be integrated into MBBS research or pharmacy, just as it has been. But an entire separate degree based on mysticism? That’s a shortcut to nowhere.
Homeopathy takes pseudoscience to another level. Its core idea – “like cures like” and ultra-dilution – defies basic chemistry. Government health agencies are blunt: the U.S. NCCIH (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health) states “there’s little evidence to support homeopathy as an effective treatment for any specific health condition”. Many homeopathic remedies are so diluted that no molecules of the original substance remain. In plain English, a 200C homeopathic “medicine” is simply water or sugar pills. It’s like claiming your toilet “remembers” something after you flush it a dozen times – absurd. Chemists explain that water molecules move and re-form countless times; any fleeting “memory” would be erased by your saliva or stomach acids. As one expert put it, “there’s no structure in liquid water permanent enough to account for any long-term memory,” and a messy biological system would wipe out any supposed imprint.
Unsurprisingly, rigorous reviews trash homeopathy’s claims. A 2019 article in EMBO Reports concluded that homeopathy’s basic postulates are “either refuted or implausible” by modern science, and “by the criteria of modern, evidence‐based medicine” it “should not be practiced”. The same review notes the “almost unanimous view” of scientists: homeopathy is not effective at all. In other words, beyond the placebo effect, homeopathy has zero pharmacological action.
The dangers go beyond academic snickers. Because homeopathic “treatments” are inert, relying on them can be deadly. Experts warn that if patients forgo real medicine in favor of homeopathy, their illness can worsen, even to the point of death. For example, if a feverish child is given only sugar pellets instead of antibiotics for pneumonia, that child risks serious complications. By contrast, standard treatments target the root cause. Homeopathy may comfort the mind (see next section), but it does nothing to fight bacteria, viruses, or tumors. The bottom line: trusting homeopathy instead of evidence-based care is gambling with lives.
It’s true that many patients feel better after Ayurvedic or homeopathic “treatments.” That’s the classic placebo effect: the brain’s power to modulate symptoms. Psychology and neuroscience research (e.g. Harvard Medical School) explain how just believing in a treatment can trigger real changes in the brain that reduce pain or anxiety. For instance, a placebo can release endorphins or change expectation, making a headache or insomnia seem improved. But placebos only mask symptoms, they do not cure disease. As Harvard notes, placebos “won’t lower your cholesterol or shrink a tumor.” They can make you feel better, but they cannot treat high blood pressure, eliminate infection, or heal broken bones.
That’s the trap. Quack remedies may alleviate a cough or stress through the ritual of care, but the underlying illness remains. Worse, patients often think the system failed when symptoms return (since the placebo wears off), yet they never get a true cure. Homeopathy and Ayurveda are essentially elaborate placebos – good for hope, not for healing. And while hope has value, doctors must prioritize truth and health. The sober evidence is clear: if you need real intervention, count on drugs and surgeries that have passed rigorous testing, not on sugar pills and cow dung elixirs.
Our Message to you Students
Choosing a pseudoscientific field doesn’t just shortchange patients, it can actively harm them. One example: toxic contamination. Investigations in the U.S. have repeatedly found that many Ayurvedic remedies (especially unregulated imports or untested batches) contain dangerously high levels of heavy metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic. These substances are sometimes added deliberately (a misguided Ayurvedic practice called rasa shastra) or picked up from the environment. The FDA warns that unapproved ayurvedic products “containing harmful levels of heavy metals may cause heavy metal poisoning”, with symptoms from kidney damage to neurological issues. Yes, Ayurvedic vendors sometimes brag about “cured” patients, but in reality one could be poisoning people while thinking “it’s just Ayurveda.”
Another harm is delay of care. We’ve already mentioned deaths from avoiding real treatment. Even mild conditions can worsen: a treatable fracture may grow infected if only massaged with oils; measles can become deadly if only turmeric milk is given instead of medical care. The public health risk is so serious that even the WHO has warned against using homeopathy for serious diseases like HIV or malaria. In India, AIDS activist reports and WHO advisories have flagged AYUSH claims as false and dangerous.
Finally, consider social harm. You may walk out of college convinced in quack cures, then face skeptical peers or science teachers who know the facts. Your own self-respect can erode if you realize you’re perpetuating myths. By contrast, earning a degree in, say, paramedicine or nursing means mastering real science and helping patients safely. You’ll carry pride in tangible skills, not in pretense.
Failed NEET? What is the altenative?
So if not Ayurveda or Homeopathy, then what? India still faces a huge shortage of trained healthcare professionals in real, science-based fields. Recent reports highlight that India needs twice as many doctors, three times as many nurses, and four times as many paramedics as it currently has to meet WHO standards. In other words, doctors and allied health workers are in huge demand. Rather than downgrading your ambitions to quackery, consider these respected paths:
Dentistry (BDS): A Bachelor of Dental Surgery is a full-fledged medical degree (4 years + internship) focusing on oral health. As oral hygiene awareness grows, demand for dentists is rising. Dentists diagnose and treat real conditions (cavities, oral cancers, jaw injuries) with scientifically-tested methods. An Indian government report notes dental service demand “is expected to continue growing as awareness of oral health increases”. Dentists earn well and run clinics – a sure, respected career.
Veterinary Medicine (BVSc & AH): If you love science and animals, veterinary science is a rigorous professional course. It covers anatomy, physiology, surgery of animals, vaccines and public health. India’s livestock and pet sectors are expanding, so vets are needed more than ever. (Northeastern states, with significant agricultural communities, particularly need animal doctors.) A vet degree requires entrance exams but is science-intensive, not a backdoor.
Nursing: A Bachelor of Nursing is 4 years of intense science study (anatomy, pharmacology, physiology) plus clinical rotations. Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, and India has a shortage of millions. In fact, experts say India needs three times more nurses than it has to meet basic coverage. As an RN or specialized nurse (e.g. ICU nurse, midwife), you’ll save lives every day. Nursing is well-paid, respected, and globally mobile (many countries welcome Indian nurses with high salaries).
Allied Health & Paramedicine: Fields like Physiotherapy (BPT), Occupational Therapy, Medical Lab Technology (MLT), and Emergency Medical Services (paramedic training) are exploding in India. Hospitals are desperate for trained rehab therapists, lab techs, radiographers, and EMTs. For example, a government source notes a 40% shortfall of radiographers and a 20% shortfall of lab technicians in rural areas. Paramedical courses take 3–4 years after 12th grade, and include deep science (biochemistry, pathology). Graduates get jobs in hospitals, diagnostics centers, and health services. With such high demand, your career is secure.
Pharmacy, Biotechnology, Public Health: If you still want to study health sciences but not treat patients directly, strong options exist. An M.Pharm or Pharm.D trains you in drug development and patient care. Biotechnology and biomedical engineering degrees lead to research or industry jobs. Public health (MPH) is key for communities. These are all respected, scientific paths where NEET scores aren’t a barrier (most have separate entrances or merit systems).
All the above require real study and exams – and rightly so, because they deal directly with science and people’s health. They will give you a professional title and respect earned through competence, not a shortcut. Dentists are doctors of the mouth, vets are animal doctors, nurses are healthcare specialists. No one calls them “fake doctors,” and they save lives with proven methods. Choosing one of these careers does not mean you’ve somehow “failed” – it means you have integrity and foresight.
Don’t fool yourself by trading rigorous training for magical thinking. As one editor admonished, critics of alternative medicine “themselves have started with a belief, not a hypothesis” – but science demands hard proof, not blind faith. We’re in 2025: modern healthcare is about immunizations, imaging scans, and life-saving surgeries, not chanting or endless dilutions of water. If you dream of wearing a white coat and the title “Doctor,” earn it through science. Your future patients will thank you, and you’ll sleep better knowing you didn’t enroll in quackery.
About Northeast Centre for High School Research (NECHR):
NECHR is a group of young college undergraduates from Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland that founded the Northeastern Centre for High School Research (NECHR) in 2023 in an attempt to promote a research-driven mindset among high school students in Northeast India.
