Ministry of Ayush

"AYUSH" redirects here. For other uses, see Ayush (disambiguation).

Ministry of Ayush

Branch of Government of India
Ministry of Ayush
Ministry overview
Formed	9 November 2014 (9 years ago) (2014-11-09)
Jurisdiction	Government of India
Annual budget	₹3,647.50 crore (US$460 million) (FY2023–24) [1]
Ministers responsible	Sarbananda Sonowal, Cabinet Minister Mahendra Munjapara, Minister of State
Ministry executive	Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary
Website	ayush.gov.in

The Ministry of Ayush, a ministry of the Government of India, is responsible for developing education, research and propagation of traditional medicine and alternative medicine systems in India. Ayush is a name devised from the names of the alternative healthcare systems covered by the ministry: ayurveda, yoga & naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and homeopathy. ^[2]

The Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM&H) was first established in 1995 under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. ^[3] ISM&H was renamed as the Department of AYUSH. The department was made into an official ministry by the Modi government in 2014. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

The ministry of Ayush has faced significant criticism for funding systems that lack biological plausibility and are either untested or conclusively proven as ineffective. Quality of research has been poor, and drugs have been launched without rigorous pharmacological studies and meaningful clinical trials on ayurveda or other alternative healthcare systems. ^{[2] [5]} The ministry has been accused of promoting pseudoscience. ^{[6] [7]}

History

Emphasis on indigenous healthcare models

Successive Five-Year Plans of India (produced by the Planning Commission of India and later the NITI Aayog) allotted considerable focus to alternative, especially indigenous, forms of medicine within the healthcare sector. The Government of India set up a number of committees for healthcare sector development, including Bhore (1946), Mudaliar (1961), and Srivastava (1975), that emphasized the need for improvement of traditional systems of Indian medicine. ^[8] The National Health Policy (1983), National Education Policy in Health Sciences (1989), and National Health Policy (2002) further elaborated on the role of the Indian System of Medicine (ISM) and Homeopathy (H) as a means to facilitate healthcare access in rural areas where many Indians lack adequate health services. ^[9]

Educational courses and ISM&H

A diploma course in ayurveda was launched in the third (1961–1966) five-year plan. ^[10] The Central Council of Indian Medicine was established in 1971. ^[11] followed by Central Council of Homeopathy in 1973. ^[12] The sixth (1980–1985) and seventh (1985–1990) five-year plans aimed at developing novel ISM&H drugs. ^[10] The eighth (1992–1997) five-year plan lent considerable emphasis on the mainstreaming of Ayush.^{[ citation needed ]} The Department of Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy was launched in March 1995, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. ^{[13] [2]}

The ninth five-year plan (1998–2002) ensured for its integration with western medicine.^{[ citation needed ]} It was the first to tackle different aspects of the Ayush system in a standalone manner which focused on overall development including investment in human resource development, preservation and cultivation of medicinal plants, establish a more complete pharmacopoeia, and outline good manufacturing processes.^{[ citation needed ]} The acronym AYUSH was devised in 2003. ^[2] The department of Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy was renamed the department of AYUSH in November 2003. ^[13]

The National Rural Health Mission was launched in 2005 with the stated aim of integrating Ayush practitioners into national health programs, including in primary health care (Ayush medical officers at community health centers, para-professionals et al.) and to provide support for research in the field. ^[14] The National Rural Health Mission listed the mainstreaming of Ayush as one of its priorities. ^[15]

After 2014

Observers noted an increased focus on Ayush healthcare after the 2014 Indian general elections, which brought the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power. ^[4] On 9 November 2014 the previous government department for traditional Indian medicine was elevated by the administration of Narendra Modi into a standing ministry that includes the promotion of yoga practice and the use of Ayurvedic products. ^{[16] [2] [4]} The allotted budget for Ayush had more than doubled since 2013–14, and stood at ₹ 1428.7 crore for 2017–18. ^[17]

Activities

Healthcare

The ministry runs multiple healthcare programs; primarily aimed at the rural population.

Ayush is supposed to form an integral backbone of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana ^[18] and the ministry had long worked for integrating the different systems of Ayush with modern medicine, in what has been described as 'a type of "cross-pathy"'. ^[3] More than 50,000 children have been enrolled in 'Homeopathy for Healthy Child'. ^[19] It observes different days to raise general awareness about Ayush and promote each of the systems. ^[20]

The ministry had collaborated with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to set up the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) in 2001, on codified traditional knowledge on Indian systems of medicines such as ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and yoga as a means of preventing grant of "bed" patents on traditional knowledge and thus counter biopiracy. ^[21]

Institutions

The ministry is also at the aegis of several professional research institutes and academic faculties devoted to various forms of alternative medicine: ^[22]

• Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar - Established on 2020 in Jamnagar as an Institute of National Importance poised to take Ayurveda education to new vistas, it added.
• National Institute of Homeopathy - Established on 10 December 1975 in Kolkata as an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. ^[23] Conducts degree course in Homeopathy (UG since 1987 and PG since 1998); affiliated to the West Bengal University of Health Sciences. ^[23]
• National Institute of Siddha - Was established at Chennai for an estimated cost of ₹ 470 million; inaugurated in November 2005. ^[24] A joint venture between Government of India and Government of Tamil Nadu, the proposal was approved, in principle, during the ninth five-year plan period. ^{[25] [24]} Affiliated to the government-owned Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University and also the national headquarters of the Central Council of Research in Siddha (CCRS). Has an attached hospital—Ayothidoss Pandithar Hospital; on an average, 2,174 patients were reported per day (2017–18) whilst there's an in-patient (IP) department with a capacity of 120 beds. ^{[26] [27]} Further expansions are in progress. ^[27]
• National Institute of Unani Medicine - Established in 1984 at Bangalore, as a joint venture between Government of India and Government of Karnataka. ^[28] Initially offered research facilities but academic courses were set up from 2004. Currently offers post graduate courses (MD in Unani) in eight different specialties; affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. ^[29]
• National Research Institute for Panchakarma - Set up in 1971 at Cheruthuruthy. Undertakes research activities as well as provides professional and academic training. The institute comes under the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) of the Ayush. ^[30]
• National Institute of Ayurveda - Set up in 1976 at Jaipur, by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; a refurbished extension of the Government Ayurvedic College, Jaipur which was established by the Government of Rajasthan in 1946. Offers research as well academic facilities; affiliated with Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurved University.
• All India Institute of Ayurveda - Established in 2009 at Delhi; offers research as well academic facilities. Brainchild of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Runs a secondary institute Rashtriya Ayurved Vidyapeeth.
• National Institute of Naturopathy -
• National Institute For Sowa Rigpa -
• Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga - Promotes Yoga philosophy and facilitates training and advanced research, as well. The institute was started in 1970, in the form a hospital, by the now defunct Central Council for Research in Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy, under the Vishwayatan Yogashram. The hospital was later converted into an institute, by name, Central Research Institute for Yoga (CRIY) in 1976, to provide free training to people and to organize research on yoga. In 1988, the institute was renamed to its current name.
• North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homeopathy - Established in 2016 at Mawdiangdiang, Shillong. Offers a four and a half-year degree course in Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery and Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery.
• North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine - The NEIFM, Pasighat is an autonomous Institute under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India. It is located at Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh.

The ministry also monitors two semi-autonomous regulatory bodies:-

• Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) - One of the professional councils under the University Grants Commission (UGC) to regulate higher education in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Sowa-Rigpa. It suggests the professional benchmarks and practices for medical professionals in these systems, as well. The Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) Act 1970 (48 of 1970) has been repealed and all the provisions of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has been come into force with effect from the 11th day of June 2021. ^[31]
• National Commission for Homoeopathy - One of the professional councils under the UGC to regulate higher education in Homeopathy. Maintains central registers of homeopaths.

Economics

As of March 2015, there were nearly 800,000 Ayush practitioners, over 90 per cent of whom practiced homeopathy or ayurveda. ^[3] A 2018 study by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) estimated the market share of Ayush medicines at around US$3 billion and that India exported Ayush products of a net worth US$401.68 million in the fiscal year 2016–17. ^[32]

The Department of Pharmaceuticals had allocated a budget of ₹1.44 billion to the ministry for 2018-2020 for manufacture of alternative medicines. ^[33] The average expenditure for drugs on Ayush and scientifically based medicine has been found to not vary widely. ^[9]

Cabinet Ministers

• Note: MoS, I/C – Minister of State (Independent Charge)

#	Portrait		Minister (Birth-Death)	Term of office			Political party	Ministry	Prime Minister
				From	To	Period
1			Shripad Naik (born 1952) MP for North Goa (MoS, I/C)	9 November 2014	30 May 2019	6 years, 240 days	Bharatiya Janata Party	Modi I	Narendra Modi
				31 May 2019	7 July 2021			Modi II
2			Sarbananda Sonowal (born 1962) Rajya Sabha MP for Assam	7 July 2021	Incumbent	2 years, 263 days

Ministers of State

#	Portrait		Minister (Birth-Death)	Term of office			Political party	Ministry	Prime Minister
				From	To	Period
1			Mahendra Munjapara (born 1968) MP for Surendranagar	7 July 2021	Incumbent	2 years, 263 days	Bharatiya Janata Party	Modi II	Narendra Modi

Criticism

Pseudoscience

A strong consensus prevails among the scientific community that homeopathy is a pseudo-scientific, ^{[34] [35] [36] [37]} unethical ^{[38] [39]} and implausible line of treatment. ^{[40] [41] [42] [43]} Ayurveda is deemed to be pseudoscientific ^{[44] [45] [46]} but is occasionally considered a protoscience, or trans-science system instead. ^{[47] [48]} Naturopathy is considered to be a form of pseudo-scientific quackery, ^[49] ineffective and possibly harmful, ^{[50] [51]} with numerous ethical concerns about the practice. ^{[52] [53] [54]} Much of the research on postural yoga has taken the form of preliminary studies or clinical trials of low methodological quality; ^{[55] [56] [57]} there is no conclusive therapeutic effect except in back pain. ^[58] Unani lacks biological plausibility and is considered to be pseudo-scientific quackery, as well. ^{[59] [60]}

There is no credible efficacy or scientific basis for any of these forms of treatment. ^[61]

Research

Two systematic reviews, one by The Lancet in 2005 and the other by the Australian government's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in 2015, found no evidence that homeopathy was more effective than a placebo. ^[3] In a comprehensive review of alternative medicine (including ayurveda and homeopathy) conducted in 2000, the UK House of Lords Committee on Science and Technology was unable to find evidence to support the value of these treatments. Randomized control trials or RCTs for ayurveda and homeopathy have been extremely limited as of 2017. ^[3] Multiple systemic reviews have highlighted several methodological problems with the studies and trials conducted by Ayush and its associates in relation to developing an ayurvedic drug for diabetes. ^[62] A tendency to publish in dubious predatory journals and non-reproducibility by independent studies has also been noted. ^{[63] [64]} The Hindu reported in 2015 that India had yet to conduct a systematic review of any of the systems of medicine under the purview of Ayush. ^[3]

Drugs

The ministry (in conjunction with other national laboratories) has been subject to heavy criticism for developing, advocating and commercializing multiple sham-drugs (BGR-34, IME9, Dalzbone, Ayush-64 et al.) and treatment-regimes for a variety of diseases including dengue, ^{[65] [18] [66] [67]} chikungunya, swine flu, ^[68] asthma, autism, ^[69] diabetes, malaria, ^[70] AIDS, ^[71] cancer, ^[72] COVID-19. ^{[73] [74] [75]} and others despite an absence of rigorous pharmacological studies and meaningful clinical trials. ^{[63] [64] [76]}

A 2018 systematic review of traditional and AYUSH medicine noted the existing regulations to be inadequate for ensuring the safety, quality, efficacy and standardized rational use of these forms of treatment. Researchers also noted a lack of monitoring for adverse effects from the usage of these drugs and of contraindication trials. ^[8]

The ministry recommended the herb giloy as an "immune booster against" COVID-19 ^[77] and issued multiple press releases during the COVID-19 pandemic claiming the herb was safe. Later, multiple studies in different Indian cities found cases of liver damage in those with a history of giloy consumption. ^[78]

Miscellaneous

The Washington Post noted the efforts behind the revival of ayurveda as a part of the ruling party's rhetoric of restoring India's past glory to achieve prosperity in the future. ^[4] It also noted of the ayurveda-industry being largely non-standardized and that its critics associated the aggressive integration of ayurveda into healthcare services with the Hindu nationalist ideology of the ruling party. ^[4] There have been allegations coming out of right-to-information requests that it is the Ayush ministries official policy to not hire Muslims as trainers. ^[79]

Some researchers have argued that the provision of Ayush services is an example of "forced pluralism" which often leads to disbursal of incompetent healthcare services by unqualified practitioners. ^{[8] [80]} Ayushman Bharat has been noted to increase privatization of state healthcare facilities and compel rural populace into preferentially choosing alternative medicine, raising concerns about ethics. ^{[17] [81]} The proposal of integrating Ayush with western medicine has been criticized. ^[82] The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has expressed strong opposition to integrated medicine, ^{[3] [83] [84] [4]} often by using the term "mixopathy". ^{[85] [86]} In 2020 and 2021, the IMA held nationwide protests to demonstrate against federal changes issued by the Ministry of Ayush that permit ayurvedic practitioners to perform minor surgical procedures. ^{[87] [88] [89]}

The ministry had attracted widespread criticism after publishing a pamphlet titled Mother and Child Care through Yoga and Naturopathy which asked pregnant women to abstain from eating meat and eggs, shun desire and lust, hang beautiful photos in the bedroom and to nurture spiritual and 'pure' thoughts among other advice. ^{[90] [91]} In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry recommended Arsenicum album 30 as a preventive drug; the claim was without any scientific basis or evidence, and was widely criticized. ^{[92] [93] [94]}

Response

The ministry rejected the NHMRC's 2016 study on homeopathy which was regarded as the most rigorous and reliable investigation into homeopathy to date. ^{[95] [96]} In 2017, the ministry set up a committee at the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (CCRH) to counter claimed western propaganda against homeopathy; the committee was ill-received. ^{[19] [97] [76]}

Reception

A NSSO survey in 2014 found that only 6.9% of the population favored Ayush (3.5% ISM and 3.0% homeopathy) over conventional mainstream medicine and that the urban population was slightly more conducive to seeking Ayush forms of treatment than their rural counterparts; another survey in 2016 reiterated the same findings, approximately. ^{[98] [9] [99]} A 2014 study did not report any significant difference between the usage of Ayush services by rural and urban populace, after adjusting for socioeconomic and demographic variables. ^[9] Low-income households exhibited the highest tendency for Ayush followed by high-income households and on an overall, Ayush lines of treatment were majorly used to treat chronic diseases. ^[9] The treatments were more used among females in rural India but no gender-differential was observed in the urban populations. ^[9] Chhattisgarh (15.4%), Kerala (13.7%), and West Bengal (11.6%) displayed the highest Ayush utilization levels. ^[9]

A 2018 review article noted that the states exhibited differential preference for particular Ayush systems. Ayurveda and Siddha respectively show greater popularities in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Unani was well received in Hyderabad region and among Muslims whilst homeopathy was highly popular in Bengal and Odisha. It further noted that the preference among the general population for usage of Ayush revolved around a perceived "distrust or frustration with modern medicine, cost effectiveness, accessibility, non-availability of other options and less side effects of Ayush medicines". ^[8]

References

1. "DEMANDS FOR GRANTS, 2023-24 MINISTRY OF AYUSH" (PDF). Union budget of India . 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
2. Rathee, Pranshu (20 November 2018). "What is AYUSH and the controversy around it?". Deccan Herald . The Printers (Mysore). Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
3. Shrinivasan, Rukmini (26 April 2015). "Questions over science swirl, but AYUSH stands firm". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 22 January 2019.
4. Doshi, Vidhi (29 January 2018). "How ghee, turmeric and aloe vera became India's new instruments of soft power". The Washington Post . Retrieved 18 February 2019.
5. Narayanan, Kavya (1 July 2020). "AYUSH Ministry is endangering people, jeopardising Ayurveda with lax response to Patanjali's Coronil and COVID-19, warn experts". Firstpost . Archived from the original on 21 November 2020.
6. Kumar, Ruchi (27 April 2020). "Face It: The Indian Government Is Peddling Pseudoscience – The Wire Science" . Retrieved 10 April 2022.
7. Krishnan, Vidya (18 August 2020). "Where Pseudoscience Is Spreading". The Atlantic. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
8. Samal, Janmejaya; Dehury, Ranjit Kumar (18 October 2018). "Utilization, preference, perception and characteristics of people adopting traditional and AYUSH systems of medicine in India: a systematic review". Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine. 16 (2). doi:10.1515/jcim-2018-0020. PMID   30352037. S2CID   53024438.
9. Rudra, Shalini; Kalra, Aakshi; Kumar, Abhishek; Joe, William (4 May 2017). "Utilization of alternative systems of medicine as health care services in India: Evidence on AYUSH care from NSS 2014". PLOS ONE. 12 (5): e0176916. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1276916R. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176916 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   5417584 . PMID   28472197.
10. Samal, Janmejaya; Dehury, Ranjit Kumar (May 2016). "An Evaluation on Medical Education, Research and Development of AYUSH Systems of Medicine through Five Year Plans of India". Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 10 (5): IE01–IE05. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2016/18194.7793. ISSN   2249-782X. PMC   4948421 . PMID   27437245.
11. Sharma, Yogima. "Niti Aayog wants axe on homoeopathy, ayurveda bodies". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
12. Ghosh, Ajoy Kumar (April 2010). "A short history of the development of homeopathy in India". Homeopathy: The Journal of the Faculty of Homeopathy. 99 (2): 130–136. doi:10.1016/j.homp.2009.10.001. ISSN   1476-4245. PMID   20471616. S2CID   3758540.
13. "About the Ministry". Ministry of AYUSH.
14. Lakshmi, J. K. (January 2012). "Less equal than others? Experiences of AYUSH medical officers in primary health centres in Andhra Pradesh". Indian Journal of Medical Ethics . 9 (1): 18–21. doi:10.20529/IJME.2012.005. ISSN   0974-8466. PMID   22319847.
15. Gopichandran, Vijayaprasad; Satish Kumar, Ch (October 2012). "Mainstreaming AYUSH: an ethical analysis". Indian Journal of Medical Ethics. 9 (4): 272–277. doi: 10.20529/IJME.2012.091 . ISSN   0974-8466. PMID   23099604.
16. Bhatia, Rahul; Lasseter, Tom (23 May 2017). McBride, Janet; Hirschberg, Peter (eds.). "Modi's Yogi". Reuters. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
17. Shaikh, Sumaiya (November 2018). "Spoonful of Sugar: Why India's push for alt-med in the public health system is ill-advised" . The Caravan . Retrieved 16 January 2020.
18. "Clinical trials on Ayurvedic medicine against dengue underway: Shripad Naik". The Economic Times. PTI. 4 November 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
19. Bhuyan, Anoo (9 August 2017). "AYUSH Ministry Writes to Nobel Laureate Against His 'False Propaganda' on Homeopathy". The Wire. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
20. "First Naturopathy day celebrated by Ayush ministry seeking to promote drug-less system of medicine". Hindustan Times. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
21. "Know Instances of Patenting on the UES of Medicinal Plants in India". PIB, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. 6 May 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
22. "Institutes under AYUSH" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
23. "About Us". NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HOMOEOPATHY.
24. Manikandan, K. (1 September 2005). "National Institute of Siddha a milestone in health care". The Hindu . Chennai. Archived from the original on 7 November 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
25. India Systems of Medicine & Homoeopathy Annual Report 2000-2001 (PDF). Retrieved 16 October 2011.
26. "Siddha hospital to get new OPD building". The Hindu. Chennai. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
27. Madhavan, D. (20 December 2012). "National Institute of Siddha modifies expansion plan". The Hindu. Chennai. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
28. "National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore". AYUSH. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
29. "Courses". National Institute of Unani Medicine. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
30. "Institutions". CENTRAL COUNCIL FOR RESEARCH IN AYURVEDIC SCIENCES. CCRAS. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
31. "National Commission for Indian System of Medicine". 11 August 2022.
32. "AYUSH ministry aims to triple market share of its medicines, services". The Times of India. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
33. Sharma, Neetu Chandra (20 October 2018). "Govt allocates ₹144 crore to AYUSH ministry for alternative medicines". Mint. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
34. Tuomela, R (1987). "Science, Protoscience, and Pseudoscience". In Pitt JC, Marcello P (eds.). Rational Changes in Science. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science. Vol. 98. Springer. pp. 83–101. doi:10.1007/978-94-009-3779-6_4. ISBN   978-94-010-8181-8.
35. Smith K (2012). "Homeopathy is Unscientific and Unethical". Bioethics. 26 (9): 508–12. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8519.2011.01956.x. S2CID   143067523.
36. Baran GR, Kiana MF, Samuel SP (2014). "Science, Pseudoscience, and Not Science: How do They Differ?". Healthcare and Biomedical Technology in the 21st Century. Springer. pp. 19–57. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-8541-4_2. ISBN   978-1-4614-8540-7. within the traditional medical community it is considered to be quackery
37. Ladyman J (2013). "Chapter 3: Towards a Demarcation of Science from Pseudoscience". In Pigliucci M, Boudry M (eds.). Philosophy of Pseudoscience: Reconsidering the Demarcation Problem. University of Chicago Press. pp. 48–49. ISBN   978-0-226-05196-3. Yet homeopathy is a paradigmatic example of pseudoscience. It is neither simply bad science nor science fraud, but rather profoundly departs from scientific method and theories while being described as scientific by some of its adherents (often sincerely).
38. Shaw, DM (2010). "Homeopathy is where the harm is: Five unethical effects of funding unscientific 'remedies'". Journal of Medical Ethics. 36 (3): 130–31. doi: 10.1136/jme.2009.034959 . PMID   20211989.
39. Sample, Ian (21 July 2008). "Pharmacists urged to 'tell the truth' about homeopathic remedies". The Guardian . London.
40. "Homeopathy: Complementary therapy". Cancer Research UK. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
41. UK Parliamentary Committee Science and Technology Committee - "Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy" February 22, 2010.
42. Grimes, D.R. (2012). "Proposed mechanisms for homeopathy are physically impossible". Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies. 17 (3): 149–55. doi:10.1111/j.2042-7166.2012.01162.x.
43. "Homeopathic products and practices: assessing the evidence and ensuring consistency in regulating medical claims in the EU" (PDF). European Academies' Science Advisory Council. September 2017. p. 1. Retrieved 1 October 2017. ... we agree with previous extensive evaluations concluding that there are no known diseases for which there is robust, reproducible evidence that homeopathy is effective beyond the placebo effect.
44. Semple D, Smyth R (2013). Chapter 1: Psychomythology (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 20. ISBN   978-0-19-969388-7.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
45. Kaufman, Allison B.; Kaufman, James C. (12 January 2018). Pseudoscience: The Conspiracy Against Science. MIT Press. ISBN   978-0-262-03742-6.
46. "13-10-09". Skeptic. 9 October 2013 [2011]. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
47. Quack, Johannes (2011). Disenchanting India: Organized Rationalism and Criticism of Religion in India. Oxford University Press. pp. 3, 213. ISBN   978-0-19-981260-8.
48. Manohar, P. Ram (2009). "The blending of science and spirituality in the Ayurvedic healing tradition". In Paranjape, Makarand R. (ed.). Science, Spirituality and the Modernization of India. Anthem Press. pp. 172–3. ISBN   978-1-84331-776-0.
49. Sources documenting the same:
    • Atwood, Kimball C. IV (2003). "Naturopathy: A critical appraisal". Medscape General Medicine. 5 (4): 39. PMID   14745386.(registration required)
    • Atwood IV, Kimball. C. (26 March 2004). "Naturopathy, pseudoscience, and medicine: Myths and fallacies vs truth". Medscape General Medicine. 6 (1): 33. PMC   1140750 . PMID   15208545.
    • Harvey, Claire (11 July 2015). "Don't duck the law by sending kids to quacks". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
    • Chivers, Tom (10 November 2014). "How does naturopathy work? A bit like a flying vacuum-cleaner to Mars". Spectator. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
    • Russell, Jill; Rovere, Amy, eds. (2009). American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies (Second ed.). Atlanta: American Cancer Society. pp. 116–119.
50. Carroll, Robert (26 November 2012). "Natural". The Skeptic's Dictionary. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
51. "NCAHF Position Paper on Over the Counter Herbal Remedies (1995)". National Council Against Health Fraud. 1995. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
52. Atwood, Kimball C. IV (2003). "Naturopathy: A critical appraisal". Medscape General Medicine. 5 (4): 39. PMID   14745386.(registration required)
53. Gorski, David H. (18 September 2014). "Integrative oncology: really the best of both worlds?". Nature Reviews Cancer. 14 (10): 692–700. doi:10.1038/nrc3822. PMID   25230880. S2CID   33539406.
54. Singh S, Ernst E (2009). Naturopathy. Transworld. pp. 197–. ISBN   978-1-4090-8180-7. many naturopaths are against mainstream medicine and advise their patients accordingly – for instance many are not in favour of vaccination.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
55. Krisanaprakornkit, T.; Ngamjarus, C.; Witoonchart, C.; Piyavhatkul, N. (2010). "Meditation therapies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews . 2010 (6): CD006507. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006507.pub2. PMC   6823216 . PMID   20556767.
56. Ospina, M. B.; Bond, K.; Karkhaneh, M.; et al. (2008). "Clinical trials of meditation practices in health care: characteristics and quality". Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 14 (10): 199–213. doi:10.1089/acm.2008.0307. PMID   19123875. S2CID   43745958.
57. Uebelacker, L. A.; Epstein-Lubow, G.; Gaudiano, B. A.; Tremont, G.; Battle, C. L.; Miller, I. W. (2010). "Hatha yoga for depression: critical review of the evidence for efficacy, plausible mechanisms of action, and directions for future research". Journal of Psychiatric Practice. 16 (1): 22–33. doi:10.1097/01.pra.0000367775.88388.96. PMID   20098228. S2CID   205423922.
58. Wieland, L. Susan; Skoetz, Nicole; Pilkington, Karen; Vempati, Ramaprabhu; D'Adamo, Christopher R; Berman, Brian M (12 January 2017). "Yoga treatment for chronic non‐specific low back pain". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2017 (1): CD010671. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010671.pub2. ISSN   1469-493X. PMC   5294833 . PMID   28076926.
59. Hall, Harriet (14 August 2018). "Naturopathy Textbook". sciencebasedmedicine.org. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
60. Bellamy, Jann (27 December 2012). "Naturopathy Embraces the Four Humors". sciencebasedmedicine.org. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
61. Sources that criticize the entirety of AYUSH as a pseudo-scientific venture:
    • Shrinivasan, Rukmini (26 April 2015). "Questions over science swirl, but AYUSH stands firm". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 22 January 2019.
    • Krishnan, Vidya. "AYUSH Ministry rails against global study on homeopathy". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
    • Kumar, Ruchi (12 December 2018). "Indian academia is fighting a toxic mix of nationalism and pseudoscience". Undark Magazine . Retrieved 31 January 2019– via Quartz India.
    • Kaufman, Allison B.; Kaufman, James C. (12 January 2018). Pseudoscience: The Conspiracy Against Science. MIT Press. p. 293. ISBN   978-0-262-03742-6.
62. Misra, Anoop; Gulati, Seema; Luthra, Atul (2016). "Alternative medicines for diabetes in India: Maximum hype, minimum science". The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. 4 (4): 302–303. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(15)00515-X . PMID   27016323.
63. Patwardhan, Bhushan (2016). "Ayurvedic drugs in case: Claims, evidence, regulations and ethics". Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 7 (3): 135–137. doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2016.08.005. PMC   5052386 . PMID   27640330.
64. Pulla, Priyanka (25 February 2018). "Big claims, little evidence". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 16 December 2018.
65. "Homoeopathy pills to check spread of dengue". The Hindu. 11 September 2018. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 22 January 2019.
66. Chandna, Himani (16 April 2018). "India could have the solution to cure dengue by next year: an ayurvedic pill". ThePrint .
67. "Ayurvedic dengue cure: Indian scientists create first of its kind drug to treat the disease". Hindustan Times. PTI. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
68. "Swine flu prevention: homeo pills effective, say officials". The Hindu. 28 January 2015. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 23 January 2019.
69. Shaikh, Sumaiya (15 May 2018). "Do the AYUSH based treatments for autism stand up to scientific scrutiny?". Alt News. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
70. Mittal, Shivani (29 January 2019). "The inefficacy of AYUSH-64, the anti-malarial Ayurvedic drug developed by Ministry of AYUSH". Alt News. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
71. "A homeopathic experiment gives hope for treatment of AIDS". Business Standard India. 5 April 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
72. "Ministry of Ayush Develops drugs for Dengue, Cancer" . United News of India. 8 August 2017.
73. Karthikeyan, Ragamalika (22 May 2021). "Why the push for AYUSH is harmful: Narendra Nayak interview". The News Minute. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
74. Thapar, Karan (30 April 2021). "COVID in India: 35 Questions for K. VijayRaghavan, V.K. Paul and Balram Bhargava". The Wire. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
75. Pulla, Priyanka; October 15, 2020 (15 October 2020). "'A fraud on the nation': critics blast Indian government's promotion of traditional medicine for COVID-19". Science . Retrieved 23 May 2021.
76. Rukmini, S. (9 August 2017). "7 Scientific Pieces Of 'Propaganda Against Homeopathy' That The Government Might Need To Consider". HuffPost India. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
77. Malathy Iyer (4 July 2021). "Mumbai: Study says liver damage likely due to autoimmune response to giloy". Mumbai News - Times of India.
78. Ray, Kalyan (6 March 2022). "Ayurvedic drug backed by AYUSH Ministry causes liver damage, says study". Deccan Herald. The Printers, Mysore.
79. "Ayush minister rejects RTI response of no-Muslim hire policy". Hindustan Times. 12 March 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
80. Sheehan, Helen E. (2009). "Medical pluralism in India: patient choice or no other options? | Indian Journal of Medical Ethics". Indian Journal of Medical Ethics . 6 (3): 138–41. doi: 10.20529/ijme.2009.045 . PMID   19653589. S2CID   6339140.
81. Singh, Jyotsna (1 March 2019). "All is not well with Modi's flagship health scheme". The Caravan . Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
82. Shaikh, Dr Sumaiya (13 January 2018). "Why is it dangerous for AYUSH practitioners to prescribe modern medicine?". Alt News. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
83. "Ayush doctors support NMC bill, hold rally". The News Minute. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
84. Isalkar, Umesh (2 January 2018). "Bridge course for Ayush practitioners draws ire". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
85. Sirur, Simrin (19 February 2022). "Don't call practitioners of Indian medicine 'quacks', have rights under law, says Commission". ThePrint . Retrieved 6 April 2022.
86. Taskin, Bismee (8 December 2020). "'No point mixing all in one' — IMA to fight govt move to allow Ayurveda doctors to do surgery". ThePrint . Retrieved 6 April 2022.
87. Jamkhandikar, Shilpa (11 December 2020). "One million Indian doctors on strike to protest surgeries by traditional practitioners". Reuters. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
88. Singh, Prachi (12 August 2020). "The Contest Between AYUSH and Allopathy Shouldn't Forget Public Health". The Wire. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
89. Sharma, Dinesh C. (13 February 2021). "Indian Medical Association launches hunger strike". The Lancet. 397 (10274): 567. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00363-9. ISSN   0140-6736. PMID   33581811. S2CID   231885079.
90. Rathee, Pranshu (20 November 2018). "What is AYUSH and the controversy around it?". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
91. Pandey, Geeta (21 June 2017). "Reality Check: Should pregnant women shun meat and lust?". BBC. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
92. Shaikh, Dr Sumaiya (31 January 2020). "No, homeopathic drug 'Arsenicum album 30' cannot prevent Coronavirus infection, as claimed by AYUSH ministry". Alt News. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
93. Prasad, R. (30 January 2020). "Coronavirus | Highly irresponsible on the part of AYUSH Ministry to prescribe Unani medicines". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 5 February 2020.
94. "Explained: How to read the AYUSH ministry advisory on coronavirus infection". The Indian Express. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
95. Krishnan, Vidya (5 May 2016). "AYUSH Ministry rails against global study on homeopathy". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 23 January 2019.
96. Ernst, Edzard (28 May 2017). "Homeopathy: the NHMRC report revisited". edzardernst.com. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
97. Scroll Staff (8 August 2017). "Centre sets up committee to deal with false propaganda against homoeopathy". Scroll.in. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
98. "90% of Indians prefer allopathy over AYUSH - Times of India". The Times of India. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
99. "People want modern medicine, not miracle cures". Hindustan Times. 22 May 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2020.

External links

• Ministry of Ayush, Official website