Dear Editor,
I read your August 20 article—”Think Twice Before Chasing the ‘Doctor’ Shortcut”—with interest. While the concerns you raised about pseudoscience are understandable, I feel the article leaned heavily on outdated criticisms and didn’t fully reflect the evolving scientific research in Ayurvedic medicine. I’d like to respectfully offer a more balanced perspective, supported by recent and credible developments.
Points of Disagreement
1. Overgeneralization about Ayurveda as “pseudoscience.”
The article asserts that Ayurveda is “built on faith and tradition, not science.” While Ayurveda does incorporate traditional concepts like doshas, there is a growing body of modern scientific study aiming to validate specific Ayurvedic interventions.
2. Ignoring emerging evidence and innovation.
The article doesn’t acknowledge ongoing efforts in research, clinical trials, and even patents that reflect credible, scientific work in Ayurveda today.
3. Skipping the nuance of integration and scientific validation.
Ayurveda isn’t monolithic. While some practices lack evidence, others are undergoing serious study to separate valid treatments from unproven claims.
Counterpoints Supported by Recent Research
1. Patents on new Ayurvedic formulations
Researchers at Gauhati University have patented a novel polyherbal formulation using Assamese plants (Phyllanthus urinaria and Adhatoda vasica) targeted at obesity and metabolic disorders. The formulation has shown positive results in lab trials. (Published in The Times of India)
National Innovation Foundation–India recorded that roughly 24% of grassroots herbal pharmaceutical patent applications (2021–22) were granted, addressing disorders like respiratory distress, blood pressure, and liver issues. (Published in Lippincott Journals)
2. Clinical trials and scientific validation
A pioneering clinical trial at Dharashiv Government Ayurved College is investigating an Ayurvedic formulation, ‘Raktamrut,’ for haemophilia treatment. It’s registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of India and WHO, involving 100 patients over 180 days. (Published in The Times of India)
Traditional diets and nutrition from Ayurveda are the focus of a major Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme hosted by the National Institute of Ayurveda in Jaipur, exploring their integration into modern healthcare. (Published in The Times of India)
A systematic review published January 2025 compiles data on the safety and efficacy of Ayurvedic interventions, pointing toward a growing evidence base. (Published in SAGE Journals)
One clinical study in 2025 evaluated a composite Ayurvedic regimen in rheumatoid arthritis patients—reflecting increasing rigor in research methodology. (Published in PMC)
3. Innovations with therapeutic promise
Researchers in Lucknow found that Panchavalkala, traditionally used for women’s health, exhibited promising anti-HPV and anti-cervical cancer activity in vitro, without interfering with chemotherapy, suggesting potential as a complementary therapy. (Published in The Times of India)
4. Supporting frameworks and integration
Experts increasingly call for pragmatic clinical designs—like real-world studies and hybrid trials—to evaluate Ayurveda rigorously. (Published in Lippincott Journals and ScienceDirect)
The AYUSH ministry, through partnerships and resources like the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), is actively bridging traditional knowledge with modern IP and research systems. (Wikipedia)
Suggested Revised Perspective
Ayurveda, like many traditional knowledge systems, includes both well-validated therapies and others that are less substantiated. Instead of dismissing it wholesale as pseudoscience, we should distinguish between anecdotal, superstitious claims and interventions undergoing rigorous investigation. The examples above show genuine progress—patents, registered trials, systematic reviews, and efforts to integrate Ayurvedic knowledge into evidence-based frameworks.
I encourage the Mokokchung Times to highlight these credible developments in future coverage. It would help your readers make informed decisions, recognizing that the future of Ayurveda lies neither in blind tradition nor dismissiveness, but in rigorous, transparent validation.
Thank you for considering my thoughts.
Sincerely,
Vashistha Kesari
