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Darshan Shankar , D. K. Ved

Abstract

Indigenous Systems of Medicine like Ayurveda , Siddha , Unani and Swarigpa have their separate codes of medicine and their practitioners use medicinal plants in their own way. Besides , there are traditional women , elders who also possess knowledge of medicinal plants and use them as remedies and health aids in areas from high Himalayas in the North to Kanyakumari in the South. Regional studies and checklists are available but these have not been , in all cases , correlated to modern systems based on chemistry and pharmacology. It has been estimated that about 1 ,800 species are fully documented for biological properties , which are mainly obtained from tropical and various types of forests. Of the 386 families and 2 ,200 genera , 10 families provide the larger share and the highest number of species falls under Asteraceae.About one-third of these are trees , shrubs , and herbs , respectively. Threat assessment has indicated that about 200 species are rare , endangered or threatened. Conservation and cultivation strategies have been suggested and a holistic approach recommended because cultivation alone cannot prevent extinction. In-situ conservation of wild population , establishment of taluka-Ievel herbal gardens , thousands of home gardens and large scale cultivation of selected cultivators are the four important measures , which are likely to effect conservation and reduce threat , at present facing them due to over-exploitation as well as their destructive utilization , as ischolar_mains barks , whole plants etc. in these systems.

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Darshan Shankar ¹

Affiliations
1 The Institute of Trans-disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, No. 74/2, Jarakbande Kaval, Attur, via Yelahanka, Bengaluru 560 106, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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Bhavya Vijay ¹, Gurmeet Singh ², Chethala N. Vishnuprasad ², Ashwini Godbole ², Subrahmanya Kumar Kukkupuni ², Megha ², Prasan Shankar ¹, Poornima Devkumar ¹, Darshan Shankar ³

Affiliations
1 Centre for Clinical Research and Education, The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Tech-nology, Bengaluru 560 064, IN
2 Centre for Ayurveda Biology and Holistic Nutrition, Centre for Clinical Research and Education, The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Bengaluru 560 064, IN
3 University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Jarakbande Kaval, Bengaluru 560 064, IN

Abstract

This article describes the evolution of an emerging cross-cultural field of research called Ayurvedic biology. Ayurveda and biology both carry equivalent etymological meaning; the study of ‘changes’ in life processes. The difference lies in the systemic perspective of Ayurveda versus the molecular and mechanistic perspectives in biology. The field of Ayurvedic-Biology seeks to systematically explore the convergence of biological phenomena of health and wellness, derived from different cultural viewpoints. With illustrations of research from genomics, regenerative biology, drug discovery, food sciences and disease classification methods, this article indicates the potential of Ayurvedic biology for the advancement of health sciences

Keywords

Ayurvedic biology, Ayu-genomics, drug design, food science, health and wellness, regenerative biology.

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Darshan Shankar ¹

Affiliations
1 The Institute of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, No. 74/2, Jarakbande Kaval, Attur, via Yelahanka, Bengaluru 560 104, IN

Abstract

This book is indeed an engaging and deeply insightful reader’s companion. Discerning students of history of medicine, particularly those interested in India’s medical heritage can get a broad sweep of the evolution of Ayurveda from Vedic times to the 21st century.

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