ANCIENT AYURVEDIC GUIDELINES FOR COMMENCEMENT OF CLINICAL PRACTICE

Abstract

Ayurveda – the science of life; lays down ethics for lifestyle, treatment of diseases and conduct of the medical practitioners and healthcare staff, besides a disciplined patient and a potent medicine for proper management of health care challenges.  Extensive literary research was carried out to highlight the intensive detail regarding induction into an ethically apt and essentially remarkable practice of medicine on part of the doctor. Ayurvedic texts have laid down strict rules regarding the educational qualification, while laying stress on the importance of practical knowledge and presence of mind of the doctor. Also, the Acharyas of Ayurveda have differentiated practitioners from the quacks on the basis of various qualities exhibited by them; and have also emphasised  the qualities of an ideal physician and ideal surgeon. Besides this, Ayurveda also gives importance to certain qualities on part of the patient that make treatment more effective and promote better prognosis. Thereafter stress has been laid on the various techniques for sterilization of the wound and patient; while also giving due importance to the disinfection of the environment to minimize the occurrences of fomite based infections. The ancient masters of Ayurveda have also laid down the provision for consent of the patient or his kin prior to any invasive / surgical intervention besides for patients suffering from critical conditions as well.

The article is a literary research study to highlight the stringent rules and regulations laid down by the Acharyas of Ayurveda regarding commencement of clinical practice and authorization for entry into the medical field. The aim of the article is to compile and highlight these ancient rules and regulations to emphasize the holistic and far sighted approach of the science. The rules laid down centuries ago hold no essential gaps in regard to today’s challenging scenarios as well.