REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Desai (1988) studied Medical Ethics in India. Medical ethics in the Indian context is
closely related to indigenous classical and folk traditions. This article traces the history of
Indian conceptions of ethics and medicine, with an emphasis on the Hindu tradition.
Classical Ayurvedic texts including Carakasamhita and Susrutasamhita provide
foundational assumptions about the body, the self, and gunas, which provide the
underpinnings for the ethical system. Karma, the notion that every action has
consequences, provides a foundation for medical morality.

Conception, prolongation of one's blood-line is an important ethical aim of life. Thus a

wide range of practices to further conception are acceptable. Abortion is a more complex
matter ethically. At the end of life death is viewed in the context of passage to another
life. Death is a relief from suffering to be coped with by the thought of an eternal atman
or rebirth.

Shankar (2001) conducted a survey of drug use patterns in western Nepal. In Nepal,
traditional health care providers have an important role to play in the provision of health
services. Non-doctor prescribing of allopathic medicines is commonly carried out by
compounders, health assistants and other practitioners. Self-treatment in which herbal
remedies play a large role is also common. Most of the previous studies have been carried
out in the Kathmandu valley. As studies in the Pokhara valley are lacking the present
study was carried out. Methods: The study was carried out in Pokhara sub-metropolitan
city and the surrounding villages in the month of September 2001 using a semi-structured
questionnaire by the health workers of the community medicine department. The pattern
of drug use in the preceding 6 month period was noted. Differences in the proportion of
patients using self-medication and complementary medicines according to age, place of
residence and socioeconomic status of family were analysed by the z test of proportions
(p<0.05). Findings and conclusions: 112 households were surveyed during the study
period. 120 individuals from these households had been prescribed medications during
the study period. There was a total of 164 encounters with the health care system. Self-
medication was practiced by 39 families during the study period. Home remedies

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accounted for 18.9 % of the drugs used. 71.6 % of the respondents using prescribed
medications had used modern medicines. Self-medication was more common among
rural households. Improving accessibility to medicines, improvement of the government
health care system and greater integration of traditional and modern health care systems
are recommended.

Ryan (2003) studied the Use of Herbal Medicines in Wound Healing. Healing of chronic
lower extremity wounds is a global problem, especially in the developing world where it
is often only folk and traditional medicine that can be afforded. In the structured health
services of the developed world, there are usually a wider range of possible therapies. In
India, traditional medicines flourish in parallel with Western systems, and those who treat
wounds may use the expertise of more than one system. Ayurveda is a traditional system
that has evolved in India over centuries using especially native plant sources as remedies.
Like many Asian systems, its theoretical basis concerns balance and energy in the
individual. In this perspective paper, the author advocates awareness of plant products
available for wound healing and a study of the extent of their utilization. They must be
developed for safe use and their efficacy reviewed, taking into account cure well-being
and patient satisfaction as well as cost. Developing a list of products and classifying them
appropriately is a beginning for such studies.

Joudrey at al (2004) studied Perceptions of Alternative and Allopathic Medicine. This

exploratory study of student nurses is based on the results of the responses to one
question on an open-ended questionnaire: How would you define the relationship
between alternative medicine and allopathic (conventional) medicine? A specific goal of
the study was to find out how the surveyed respondents conceptualized the relationship
between allopathic and alternative medicine. Three themes were identified: (a) They are
not at all alike, (b) The two can or should be used together, and (c) Those who practice
alternative medicine and those who practice allopathic do not get along very well." The
discussion suggests some reasons for these perceptions and considers some implications
for future health care.

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Patwardhan at al (2005) discussed that Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine (TIM)
and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remain the most ancient yet living traditions.
There has been increased global interest in traditional medicine. Efforts to monitor and
regulate herbal drugs and traditional medicine are underway. China has been successful in
promoting its therapies with more research and science-based approach, while Ayurveda
still needs more extensive scientific research and evidence base. This review gives an
overview of basic principles and commonalities of TIM and TCM and discusses key
determinants of success, which these great traditions need to address to compete in global
markets.

Datta at al (2009) discussed theories and Management of Aging: Modern and Ayurveda
Perspectives. He explained that Aging is a complex phenomenon, a sum total of changes
that occur in a living organism with the passage of time and lead to decreasing ability to
survive stress, increasing functional impairment and growing probability of death. There
are many theories of aging and skin remains the largest organ of the study. Skin aging is
described as a consequence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The most common amongst
visible signs of skin aging are wrinkles and there are various therapies including antiaging
cosmeceuticals, sunscreens, chemical peeling, injectable agents, such as botox, fibrel,
autologous fat grafting as also few surgical procedures have been used. Ayurveda, the
Indian traditional medicine, describes aging with great details. This review provides
modern and Ayurvedic perspectives on theories and management of aging.

Gehlot at al (2009) studied the Ayurveda Education in India: How Well are the
Graduates Exposed to Basic Clinical Skills? ‘Ayurveda’ is an ancient system of
healthcare that is native to India. At present, in India, there are more than 240 colleges
that offer a graduate-level degree (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery BAMS)
in Ayurveda. Even though the Central Council of Indian Medicine, the governing body
that monitors the matters related to Ayurveda education, has imposed various educational
norms and regulations, the standard of education has been a cause of concern in recent
years. The mushrooming of substandard Ayurvedic colleges is the most important factor
that is being held responsible for this kind of erosion in the standards. The present study

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is a mailed survey, which was carried out to evaluate the ‘Extent of exposure to basic
clinical skills during BAMS course’ as perceived by the sample groups of students and
teachers drawn from 32 Ayurvedic educational institutions spread all over India. A
methodically validated questionnaire was used as the tool in the study, to which 1022
participants responded. The study indicates that there are some serious flaws in the
existing system of the graduate-level Ayurveda education. Since the Ayurvedic graduates
play an important role in the primary healthcare delivery system of the country, governing
bodies are required to take necessary steps to ensure the adequate exposure of the students
to basic clinical skills. Along with the strict implementation of all the regulatory norms
during the process of recognition of the colleges, introducing some changes in the policy
model may also be required to tackle the situation.

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