This document calls for a new paradigm in Ayurvedic medical practice called Science Based Evidence Based Ayurveda (SBEBA). It argues that while Ayurveda itself does not need updating, the application of Ayurvedic principles in clinical practice needs to be brought in line with modern scientific standards through rigorous appraisal of medical literature and implementation of standardized diagnostic and treatment criteria. SBEBA aims to train physicians in systematically evaluating evidence and optimizing Ayurvedic principles for accurate patient diagnosis and management. Adopting this new paradigm would help Ayurveda gain global acceptance and make its health benefits accessible to more people.

1. Science Based Evidence Based Ayurveda
Call for new paradigm in Ayurvedic medical practice
Dr .Remya Krishnan MD (Ayu) PhD,
Proposer of Science Based Evidence
Based Ayurveda

2. Updating Ayurveda??
 No change in the medical literature possible
because Ayurveda is a shasthra ( rationale
proven in multiple ways based on cause-mechanism
– effect analysis , constantly verified
and established for many centuries.
 “Mature sciences” need to update in application
process only.
 “Immature sciences” require constant updating/
revision in knowledge .
 Ayurveda being a mature science solely requires
updating in application process .
 Outdated application of even mature sciences
provide immature impact and detrimental
outcome in healthcare .

3. Statistics cannot signify any
“science “
 Statistics is probability based calculations to
validate data findings .
 Science is deterministic (mathematical)way of
calculations to validate specific circumstances .
 Statistics has no role in validating mature
sciences.
 Statistics could be an aid to validate immature
sciences as validation by its own inbuilt technical
infrastructure is incompetent for validation
process.
 Therefore statistics can never signify Ayurveda .

4. Medical vis a vis Medicine
literature
 RCT’S , meta analysis , efficacy testing of drugs
etc are not employing medical literature , but
rather “medicine literature”
 “Medical literature” stands superior to “medicine
literature”.
 Standardised techniques on how to access,
appraise , interpret, translate and evaluate
medical literature are required for Ayurvedic
physician.

5. Methodologic criteria
 A standardised methodologic criteria to optimise
the diagnostic and treatment principles explained
in medical literature to treat the specific
circumstances in the subject is to be applied by
Ayurvedic physicians .
 Practice guidelines based on methodologic
criteria must be implemented .
 Training programmes and seminars which instruct
the physicians on how to make the optimised use
of medical literature in their day to day patient
care is required .
 We call this new paradigm Science Based
Evidence Based Ayurveda (SBEBA).

6. Former paradigm
Unsystematic clinical
experiences of teachers and
rolemodels , blindly adopted
to build up nd maintain the
knowledge .
Practice of cookbook
medicine and traditional
practice style .
Business oriented practice.

7. New paradigm
 Indepth knowledge of science based appraisal
techniques of medical literature are inevitable
components to become a competent physician of
Ayurveda.
 Intense training to use methodological criteria of
Basic science for adopting and translating core
principles into clincial practice .
 The indepth learning, understanding and practice of
science based intentions lead to accurate predictions
in patient diagnosis, prognosis and management .
 The clinicians must regularly stay in touch with
original medical literature and must be able to solve
their clinical problems by use of them

8. Barriers to teach SBEBA
 All the physicians and faculties are new to this
knowledge of practice style and appraisal
techniques , so the topic may be threatening for
them .
 All the physicians feel that they are doing right as
no standardised appraisal of stable &solid
rationale of science is adopted and practiced by
Ayurvedic physicians until today.
 So as “what is right” is not known, established
and practiced, they think that anything could be
right .
 SBEBA is met with skepticism by many faculties
and hence they are unenthusiastic about
modifying their teaching and practice in
accordance with its dictates.

9. Barriers to teach SBEBA
 Most physicians run a common unit for
dispensing and medical practice. Scientific
prescribing cuts off unnecessary medicines and
treatment procedures and so commercial eye
make them favor unethical irrational practice.
 Physicians appreciate quick answers , so cook
book medicine has its appeal . Learning new
techniques to appraise medical literature and go
for astute application is counted as burden by
lethargic physicians .

10. How to over come barriers?
 Education and awareness programmes on SBEBA for
Ayurvedic physicians .
 Support from the Government to implement the same in
the curriculum and as residency programmes for
physicians .
 Regular prescription audit to ensure rational practice in
health care .
 Teaching among three groups of people :
 a. Those physicians who think that the current
paradigm is unscientific and shift is indispensable .
 b. The group of physicians who possess energy ,
enthusiasm and attitude to learn and conduct
educational trials by new paradigm
c.Skeptical group, but believe that it is very unlikely
that the new paradigm will result in bad effects .

11. SBEBA – future Ayurveda
Offers a lot for personal and
professional development of
Ayurveda.
 The only way to expose the inbuilt
scientificity of the Medical system
and acquire global acceptance .
 The only practical way for “Health
for all” .
 Future of Ayurveda .