Ayurvedic Medicine in Bangalore, India

Description

The following experience is available to BU medical students as a 4-week global health (credited) elective or a summer experience (between first and second year). The experience was made available due to a BU faculty member’s connection to the program.

The experience is located at Personalized Precision Health Systems Foundation (PPHSF), a collective of doctors and scientists from Ayurveda, allopathy, Siddha medicine, and nanoscience, working in close association with many leading colleges, clinics, and senior doctors of South India. Students may visit Ayurvedic colleges, hospitals, specialty clinics and pharmacies. This experience is primarily based in Kerala and Bangalore, and depending on interest, students may choose to visit centers in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, or Maharashtra.

Some potential components of this experience may include:

  • Introduction to Ayurvedic medicine, fundamental principles and practices.
  • Integrative and cooperative models of traditional and modern medicine. For example, the Bangalore team is developing models for the use of Ayurveda within allopathic hospitals in conjunction with surgery and in emergency conditions.
  • Models of research in traditional medical systems, current status, and future trends
  • Herbal pharmacological processes, including visits to traditional and modern faculties producing Ayurvedic and Siddha medicines
  • Discussions on current issues such as safety, quality standards, sustainability, etc
  • Botanical studies – including field visits to forest areas and farms to study medicinal plants with master Ayurvedic/Siddha botanists
  • Yogic exercises
  • Visits to in-patient panchakarma treatment centers treating various types of conditions
  • Clinical observation and study of Ayurvedic sub-specialties with masters in their fields such as:
    • Ophthalmology specialty hospitals
    • Orthopedics – management of acute injuries and chronic pain conditions from Ayurveda, Siddha, or Kalari medicine (a unique martial arts and medical tradition from Kerala)
    • Anatomy in Ayurveda, including unique methods of cadaver dissection, applications in yogic practices and manual therapy
    • Marma – learning systems of vital points and their use in therapeutics
    • Ayurvedic psychiatric specialty hospital – the only one of its type in the world
    • Pediatrics, especially clinics focusing on working with autistic patients
    • Veterinary medicine – Ayurveda for elephants, cows, horses, etc.

Program Fees

Program fees for a four-week elective/experience range from $1500 to $4400 depending on choice of program, length of stay, etc.

The Benefits of This Experience

Exposure to different medical philosophies and paradigms rooted in traditional medicine can offer several benefits for physicians-in-training in the Western world:

  • Holistic approach: Traditional systems often focus on a holistic approach to health, emphasizing the balance of mind, body and spirit. This perspective can complement the more specialized focus of Western medicine
  • Cultural responsiveness: Understanding these practices can help healthcare providers better serve patients from diverse backgrounds who may seek or value these traditional healing methods and an integrative approach to medical care
  • Patient-centered care: Exposure to different healing paradigms can enhance a physician’s ability to tailor treatments to individual patient preferences and needs

Contact

For more information, contact Eric Rosenbush.