Ayurveda Gyan Naipunya Initiative

Background

Ayurveda is one of the most renowned traditional healthcare systems practiced in the Indian subcontinent for more than 5,000 years and is getting popularised globally. As per a recent report by WHO, 70% of the global population uses herbal medicines in primary health care. Ayurveda is in practice in more than 90 countries with an increasing demand. There are over 500,000 registered Ayurveda practitioners in India who are mainly practicing based on the Ayurveda formulations documented in Ayurvedic formularies and pharmacopeia of India.

In the recent past, Ayurveda intervention has successfully managed many new disease conditions, both acute and chronic, not described in classical texts of Ayurveda. A significant challenge remains: How can this knowledge be translated into a larger public benefit? Due to many barriers, the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda is still not exhaustively explored. There are many avenues still to be explored by the practitioners and experts in the field who carry the responsibility of contributing to growth in the future. The futuristic goals can be accomplished when one gains insights about Ayurveda and works on strengthening it. The focus of Ayurveda practice should be on building bridges to this knowledge for public benefit.  

The Ayurveda practice requires a rigorous evidence-based appraisal. Scientific validation and the documentation of Ayurvedic drugs are essential for global acceptance. Another major drawback is the need for more documentation. Recognizing these inherent issues, an attempt has been made to document clinical practice and specific conditions for the promotion and development of Ayurveda. 

Aims and objectives

• To promote the culture of reporting of evidence-based practice among the Ayurveda Practitioners.
• To provide a platform to the Ayurveda practitioners for reporting their innovative practices & experiences in various disease conditions.
• Documentation of the reported successful therapeutic regimens for various disease conditions involving Single drug/ Formulation/ Procedures for the purpose of education and academics.
• Identifying the interested Ayurveda practitioners for collaboration of creation of database through applications and capacity building through training in research methods and good clinical practices.
• Undertaking research for mainstreaming the pragmatic practices through scientific validation and evidence-based appraisal.  

Operational guidelines

Part I

• Expression of Interest The Expression of Interest for Central Council for Research in Ayurveda Sciences (CCRAS) Ayurveda Gyan Naipunya Initiative (AGNI) - CCRAS -AGNI will be floated on the CCRAS Website in the month on November. The interested Ayurveda practitioners may apply in the given format (Part 1) for sharing their success stories and experiences/ innovations on disease conditions/pharmaceuticals/ instruments/equipment along with consent form. The interested Ayurveda practitioners have to send separate expression of interest if applying for more than one claim. The duly filled in proposal Part 1 form along with the consent form and at least 10 case studies as supporting documents has to be submitted to CCRAS. The duly filled form to be send to CCRAS on the email account of CCRAS-AGNI (ccrasagni@gmail.com) or it may be submitted to CCRAS on the address CCRASAGNI Section (Room No 108, First Floor, Jawahar Lal Nehru Bhartiya Chikitsa Avum Homeopathy Anusandhan Bhavan No.61-65, Institutional Area, Opp. 'D' Block, Janakpuri, New Delhi – 110058) or on the address of nearest CCRAS units situated in various part of the country. 
• Acknowledgement of the receipt of the proposals.  The Ayurveda Practitioners, participating in this programme by sharing their experience will be acknowledged with a receipt number based on their category of experience sharing to CCRAS.
• Scrutiny of the proposals  - An internal review committee and expert group formed by CCRAS will scrutinize the proposals for selection on the basis of priority disease conditions and submitted evidences.  

Part II

• Submission of Part 2 Form : The Short-listed proposals will be asked to fill up the detailed case format (part 2) and to present the proposal when called for presentation by CCRAS.  
• Brainstorming Session : The selected proposals will be called for a brainstorming session, and closed group meeting with experts, in phase wise manner, to be held in the month of January/ February for sharing their experiences and success stories. Each participant will be awarded with a certificate of appreciation. The selected proposals will be processed for Research/Academic purposes.
• Mainstreaming and Scientific Validation : CCRAS will document and publish the reported medical practices and therapeutic regimens for education and academic purpose with consultation with National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM). Further research studies may be taken up by CCRAS on the reported medical practices for mainstreaming and scientific validation by developing research proposals in collaboration with the Ayurveda Practitioners and other relevant institutes/ organizations.  

Source : CCRAS