TRADITIONAL & LOCAL HEALTH PRACTICES & GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES TO PRESERVE THEM AND TKDL

TRADITIONAL & LOCAL HEALTH PRACTICES AND GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES TO PRESERVE THEM WITH INTRODUCTION TO TKDL

• Traditional and Local Health Practices (TLHPs) are time-tested indigenous methods used by local communities for maintaining health and managing diseases.

• These practices are often holistic, community-based, eco-friendly, and utilize locally available herbs and materials.

• They are passed orally through generations and often lack formal documentation.

• TLHPs include home remedies, folklore medicine, bone-setting techniques, midwifery, ethno-veterinary practices, and use of kitchen pharmacy.

🔸 "Swasthasya swasthya rakshanam, Aturasya vikara prashamanam cha" — आ.हृ. सूत्रस्थानम् 1/20
(Translation: The objective of Ayurveda is to maintain the health of the healthy and treat the disease of the sick.)

TYPES OF TRADITIONAL & LOCAL HEALTH PRACTICES

• Household Remedies: Usage of turmeric, ginger, pepper, honey, etc., for common cold, fever, indigestion.

• Folk Healing Systems: Traditional bone setters, herbalists, and spiritual healers.

• Ethno-Medicine: Local tribal healthcare knowledge using forest produce like Ashwagandha, Guduchi, Haritaki, etc.

• Midwifery and Traditional Birthing Practices: Local dais providing prenatal and postnatal care.

• Community-based Practices: Use of Dhupa, Lepa, Kavala, Gandusha, Agnihotra, etc., to maintain local hygiene and immunity.

🔸 "Lokanām hita kāmyaya, vyākhyātāḥ śāstrāṇi sāttvikaiḥ" — च. सूत्रस्थानम् 30/26
(Translation: The noble sciences are explained by the wise for the welfare of people.)

SIGNIFICANCE OF TRADITIONAL & LOCAL HEALTH PRACTICES IN RASASHASTRA & BHAISHAJYA KALPANA

• Many formulations in Rasashastra have their roots in traditional practices.

• Use of Bhasma, Pishti, Avaleha, Arka, Lepa, Taila, and Ghrita are adapted from traditional formulations.

• Local knowledge about Shodhana (purification) and Marana (incineration) has guided the classical processes.

• Local methods of Bhaishajya Kalpana like decoctions (Kashaya), infusions (Phanta), and medicated oils have informed classical texts.

🔸 "Dravyam gunaḥ karma chaiva trividham karma samhitam" — च. सूत्रस्थानम् 1/26
(Translation: Every drug has three essential features – substance, property, and action.)

MODERN VIEW ON TRADITIONAL & LOCAL HEALTH PRACTICES

• Recognized as Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) globally.

• Increasing validation through clinical studies, ethnobotany, and pharmacognosy.

• Documented in Ethnopharmacological surveys and WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy.

• Part of Ayurveda Pharmacopoeia and Ayush Quality Standards.

• Widely used in Community Health Programs and Primary Health Centers in rural India.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES TO PRESERVE TRADITIONAL & LOCAL HEALTH PRACTICES

• National AYUSH Mission (NAM): Promotes Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy systems.

• AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres: Integration of AYUSH with public health infrastructure.

• Scheme for Promotion of Local Health Traditions (LHT): Documentation and promotion of local health knowledge.

• National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH): Digitization of classical and folk manuscripts.

• Support to Traditional Healers: Skill development, certification, and inclusion in national healthcare.

• AYUSH GRIDS and e-AUSHADHI Portal: For integration of AYUSH and modern healthcare systems.

• Documentation under NMPB: National Medicinal Plants Board supports surveys and conservation.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE DIGITAL LIBRARY (TKDL)

• TKDL is a digital library that systematically documents and translates traditional medical knowledge (like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga) in multiple international languages.

• Launched by CSIR in collaboration with Ministry of AYUSH to prevent biopiracy and protect Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

• Helps patent examiners globally to verify the novelty of claims related to traditional knowledge.

• TKDL covers classical texts such as Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Bhavaprakasha, and Yogaratnakara.

• Aims to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and modern intellectual property mechanisms.

🔸 "Yat pinde tat brahmande" — क. संहिता, खीलस्थानम्
(Translation: That which exists in the body exists in the universe — reflecting the universal application of traditional wisdom.)

MODERN RASASHASTRA & BHAISHAJYA KALPANA PERSPECTIVE

• Inclusion of Standardization Techniques like TLC, HPTLC, AAS, and ICP-MS to validate local formulations.

• Importance of Pharmacovigilance in identifying adverse effects of folk remedies.

• Integration of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) in processing classical and local drugs.

• Awareness regarding Drug-Drug Interactions with modern medications.

• Promotion of Herbo-mineral combinations in tribal and rural therapeutics.