Ayurveda Pharmaceutical Science
Nearly as old as the Vedas, Ayurveda is still practised around the globe. Companies such as Himalaya, Dabur, Patanjali, Hamdard, and Zandu are all in the business of commercial ayurvedic products. In recent years, many people have been turning to alternative treatments, such as ayurveda, unani and homeopathy. The ayurvedic system is built on a holistic view of diseases; the aim is not just to relieve ailments but also prevent them from recurring. Over the last decade, ayurvedic medicine has seen exponential growth in investments as the demand for herbal products has increased significantly. “There are 8,000 to 10,000 ayurvedic pharmacies in India at present, but only 7 or 8 colleges offer exclusive courses for ayurvedic pharmaceutical sciences. Being the pioneer college in this field, there’s tremendous demand for our graduates all over India,” says Johan Modha, principal of the Institute for Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Sciences at Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar. Those who wish to study ayurvedic pharmaceuticals can opt for either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Pharmacy, with a specialisation in Ayurveda. For those who want to study in-depth, there is the Bachelor’s degree in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS). These courses are available at the Institute for Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Institute of Medical Sciences in Varanasi. “Integration of Ayurveda and modern pharmacy has led to interdisciplinary research, education and patient care,” says a senior Dean from Lovely Professional University. In this course, students study ayurvedic drug manufacture, formulations and raw materials, modern drug manufacture, standardisation, quality control, store management and dispensing. What Ayurveda needs now are trained professionals ready to invest time and effort to conduct modern standardised research.