Dr. Kishore explains how to make Indian Knowledge Systems relevant in today’s world

Summary

The speaker discusses the challenges of integrating India's diverse traditional health systems into a cohesive public health approach. They highlight the need for consensus on practices like yoga, which has various schools with differing methods, and the difficulty in standardizing and regulating them. The speaker emphasizes the richness of Indian knowledge systems but stresses the importance of making them relevant and inclusive in contemporary civilization, suggesting a focus on integration and personalized treatment rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the need for a public health approach that integrates Indian knowledge systems into modern health practices.
• 🤔 There is a challenge in reaching a consensus on the diverse and rich knowledge within Indian health systems, which is crucial for effective integration.
• 🧘‍♂️ The speaker mentions the integration of various Indian yoga schools at NIMHANS, highlighting the importance of yoga for mental and neurological health.
• 🏥 As an administrator, the speaker discusses the need to recommend a standardized approach to yoga that is backed by studies and can be widely adopted.
• 🌐 The issue of commercialization and unregulated practices in yoga schools is raised, posing a challenge in regulating and standardizing these practices.
• 🌿 The speaker talks about the diversity in herbal health practices across different regions in India and the need to understand the commonalities among them.
• 🔍 Efforts are being made to create a common protocol for yoga, but the process is facing significant difficulties, indicating the complexity of integrating diverse practices.
• 🌱 The speaker highlights the beauty of Indian knowledge systems in their ability to adapt and develop localized health practices, but also points out the need for a more unified approach.
• 🤝 The importance of collaboration and consensus among different health professionals is stressed, as this is essential for the integration of Indian knowledge systems into mainstream health practices.
• 🌟 The speaker calls for a focus on making Indian knowledge systems relevant to contemporary civilization by finding a way to present and integrate them in a manner that is understandable and inclusive.

Q & A

What is the main challenge discussed in the transcript regarding the integration of Indian knowledge systems into modern healthcare practices?

The main challenge is arriving at a consensus on which practices to integrate and how to regulate and standardize them in a way that is acceptable and effective across different regions and healthcare systems.

What is NIMHANS and what role does it play in the integration of Indian knowledge systems?

NIMHANS stands for National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences. It plays a role in trying to integrate various Indian knowledge systems or Indian systems of health into modern healthcare practices, such as bringing together different schools of yoga.

How many schools of yoga were mentioned in the transcript as being brought together by NIMHANS?

Six schools of yoga were mentioned: Ayengar, Bihar Munger, Lonavala or Kaivalya Dhama, Chennai, and four to five other systems of yoga.

What is the issue with the commercialization of yoga and other Indian knowledge systems as discussed in the transcript?

The issue is that some entities have created their own commercial forms of yoga with ulterior motives, leading to a lack of regulation and a dilution of the original practices, making it difficult to discern which practices are authentic and beneficial.

Why is it difficult to convince directors and healthcare professionals about the effectiveness of Indian knowledge systems like yoga for mental health?

It is difficult because these professionals often require evidence-based principles of management that are standardized and universally applicable, which may not align with the personalized and varied approaches of Indian knowledge systems.

What is the importance of understanding the principles behind different practices in Indian knowledge systems?

Understanding the principles is crucial for effective integration into modern healthcare. It helps to clarify why certain practices are recommended for specific conditions and how they can be personalized to suit individual needs.

How does the speaker suggest approaching the integration of Indian knowledge systems into a common consensus?

The speaker suggests that there needs to be a focus on making the practices inclusive, understandable, and presented in a form that is scientifically valid and can be accepted by the modern healthcare community.

What is the significance of the study mentioned in the transcript about herbal community health practices in Bangalore?

The study highlights the diversity of medicinal plant uses across different regions and the need to identify commonalities among these practices to create a standardized approach that is still personalized to local conditions.

What is the speaker's view on the need for a personalized approach in Indian knowledge systems as opposed to a one-size-fits-all approach?

The speaker emphasizes that a personalized approach is essential because it takes into account individual variations and is based on a holistic understanding of the person's condition, which is a fundamental aspect of Indian knowledge systems.

How does the speaker propose to address the issue of different healthcare professionals providing conflicting advice on Indian knowledge systems?

The speaker suggests that there needs to be a concerted effort to educate and convince healthcare professionals about the value of Indian knowledge systems, emphasizing the need for a common consensus and a standardized yet personalized approach.

What is the speaker's final call to action regarding the integration and promotion of Indian knowledge systems?

The speaker calls for the need to gather people together, make the practices relevant to the current living system, and ensure that the integration of Indian knowledge systems is inclusive, well-regulated, and scientifically validated.

Outlines

00:00

🧘‍♂️ Integration of Indian Health Systems

The speaker discusses the challenges of integrating various Indian knowledge systems, particularly yoga, into a cohesive public health approach. They highlight the efforts at NIMHANS to bring together different schools of yoga, such as the Ayengar, Bihar Munger, and Kaivalya Dhama schools, to create a standardized approach to mental and neurological health. The speaker also addresses the issue of commercialization and the need for regulation in the yoga industry. They emphasize the importance of consensus and standardization in managing health practices, drawing parallels with the administration of psychiatric health.

05:02

🌿 Challenges in Standardizing Indian Knowledge Systems

This paragraph delves into the complexities of standardizing Indian knowledge systems, particularly in the context of herbal medicine and traditional health practices. The speaker mentions a study conducted in Bangalore, where different regions use different medicinal plants for the same ailment, such as jaundice. The challenge lies in identifying common properties among these plants and prescribing them based on their habitat. The speaker calls for a more robust integration of these practices into a unified system that can be understood and accepted by the scientific community. They also discuss the need for personalization in treatment, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all approach, and the importance of educating the public and medical professionals about the rich diversity of Indian health practices.

Keywords

💡Public Health Approach

A public health approach refers to a strategy aimed at improving the health of the entire population rather than focusing on individual patients. In the video, this concept is discussed in the context of integrating traditional Indian health systems into modern practices to address contemporary health issues. The speaker mentions the challenge of creating a consensus on which practices to adopt and standardize for public health benefit.

💡Transit Scholars

Transit Scholars in this context likely refers to individuals who are knowledgeable in traditional Indian texts and are able to interpret and apply these ancient principles to modern-day scenarios. The script suggests that these scholars are instrumental in bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary civilizational nuances.

💡Consensus

Consensus, in the context of the video, is the general agreement or shared understanding among experts or stakeholders on a particular issue or approach. The speaker emphasizes the difficulty of achieving a consensus on integrating various Indian knowledge systems into a unified, standardized approach to health care.

💡NIMHANS

NIMHANS stands for National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, an institution in India that is dedicated to mental health care and research. The speaker mentions NIMHANS as an example of an organization trying to integrate Indian knowledge systems into its health care practices.

💡Yoga Schools

Yoga Schools refer to various systems or styles of yoga practice that have been developed over time. The script mentions several specific schools of yoga, such as the Ayengar school and the Bihar Munger School, which are being considered for their potential benefits to mental and neurological health within the context of a public health approach.

💡Pranayama

Pranayama is a practice in yoga that involves breath control and is believed to have benefits for the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems of the body. The speaker suggests that as an administrator, recommending pranayama could be a starting point for integrating yoga into a public health strategy.

💡Administrator

In the context of the video, an administrator is someone responsible for overseeing and managing health care practices or policies on a larger scale, such as at a national level. The speaker discusses the challenges faced by administrators in integrating diverse Indian health systems into a cohesive approach.

💡Regulation

Regulation in this context refers to the establishment of rules or standards to control and guide practices, especially in the realm of health care. The speaker discusses the need for regulation to ensure that the integration of Indian knowledge systems into health care is done safely and effectively.

💡Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a traditional Indian system of medicine that dates back thousands of years. The script mentions a question about why Ayurveda was not considered during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the ongoing debate about the role of traditional medicine in modern health care.

💡Herbal Community Health Practice

This term refers to the use of medicinal plants by communities for health purposes, as illustrated by the example of a market vendor in Bangalore. The speaker discusses the diversity of uses for the same plant across different regions and the potential for integrating this knowledge into a broader health care strategy.

💡Personalized Treatment

Personalized treatment is an approach where medical care is tailored to the individual needs and characteristics of a patient. The speaker contrasts this with the 'one-size-fits-all' approach of modern medicine, advocating for a more personalized approach that is inherent in traditional Indian health systems.

Highlights

Efforts to integrate various Indian knowledge systems for health are ongoing at NIMHANS.

Six schools of yoga have been brought together, including the Ayengar and Bihar Munger schools.

Yoga is recognized for its benefits to mental and neurological health.

The challenge of consensus on which yoga practices to recommend as an administrator.

Discussion on the commercialization and unregulated aspects of some yoga schools.

The need for regulation and standardization in the practice of yoga.

The question of why Ayurveda or Siddha were not considered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attempts to create a common protocol for yoga over the past five years and the difficulties faced.

The identification of a live herbal community health practice market in Bangalore.

Different regions using the same medicinal plants for different conditions, highlighting the habitat-based nature of these practices.

The need for efforts to understand commonalities among various medicinal plants used for the same condition.

The richness of Indian knowledge systems and the challenges of rejuvenation and integration.

The importance of presenting Indian knowledge systems in a form that is understandable and inclusive.

The necessity to find a common consensus on principles present in Indian knowledge systems.

The contrast between the personalized approach of traditional Indian medicine and the reductionistic approach of modern medicine.

The call for integration and personalization in treatment, based on variations and individual needs.

The need to convince the scientific community and modern medicine practitioners of the value of Indian knowledge systems.

The importance of finding people who are ready to listen and take forward the integration of Indian knowledge systems.

Transcripts

presenting

a public health approach

and then two of our learned Transit

Scholars who brought about things that

are relevant from the Indian texts to uh

the principles that are relevant for

today's

you know lifestyle or today's content

the Contemporary civilizational uh

nuances so what I would like to there

are some efforts that are going on we

had these questions coming up during Dr

girija's presentation also is how do we

come to some kind of consensus you know

that is the problem we have Rich

knowledge but the problem is we have to

arrive at some kind of consensus and to

begin with let me give you some examples

at nimhans we are trying to integrate

various Indian knowledge systems or

Indian systems of Health

um we were somehow we were able to bring

together six schools of yoga you have

ayengar school of yoga

we have Bihar Munger School of yoga

ah we have lonavala or kaivalya dhama

which has its own yoga Chennai also has

Madam we have four to five systems of

yoga

and now we are saying that yoga is good

for mental health yoga is good for

neurological Health yes being a

professional the way we are speaking is

fine but being an administrator let us

bring in the perspective of an

administrator with wherein I have to

look at the whole country or maybe

trying to do some Administration here

so if I have to tell people that what is

the kind of yoga that I recommend as an

administrator so that all of you can at

least begin with you can start with you

start some kind of pranayama say this is

what is good for sympathetic and

parasympathetic system is my

recommendation and my recommendation is

based on certain studies and when I say

studies I select four or five schools of

yoga there are at least for five actual

schools of yoga there are at least maybe

around 10 to 15 of them who have very

very ulterior motives they have made

their own commercial forms they have

it's a lot of unregulatory things that

come in so if you have cons if you are

considering six schools of yoga why not

you consider me because I also have some

contributions here and then what I am

doing behind is not my job to go and

check finally I realized that he might

be doing something ulterior now how do

we regulate this

I say that jaji is a very very good uh

you know Sanskrit scholar some other

person will say that Jaa is not good or

he is he saying all you know something

which is nonsense how are we going to

bring some kind of standardized not not

standardization some kind of way in

which you regulate so this is the

problem that we face now you know why

was ayurveda or siddha not considered as

you know during the covet period this

was a question that came and now see for

for us for from the past five years we

are trying to come out with one common

protocol for yoga and you should you

should see how much of difficulties that

we are facing if I have to convince my

director the director is the director of

nimhans

she is the authority on psychiatric

health so she tells me that for

depression this is what is our

principles of management please come up

with your principle of management this

is what we are facing in health now you

imagine all those domains that came up

here so we have many principles many I'm

not saying that they're all not good I

am saying that there are so many

approaches for one particular as she was

saying we did a study we did a study we

what we did was we we identified that

there is a live herbal Community Health

practice Market at Bangalore if you you

know if you want to believe this that

there is a market and this Market there

is one vendor there are two or three ah

you know vegetable markets which are

huge and this vendor comes up only with

medicinal plants and we went and

interviewed him he says that we have

customers who ask for these medicinal

plants then we we interviewed all those

people who come to him they said that I

use this plant for for cough and cold I

use this plant for jaundice so then a

person from Tamil Nadu says I use this

plant for jaundice a person from Kerala

says I use this plan for jaundice a

person from maybe uttar Pradesh is I use

this plant for joints okay all these

three plants are used for jaundice all

these three plants have the same are

different and they are habitat based at

different habitats they have the same

properties minded they can they are

antiviral they have very good effects

okay now have we done efforts to see

that what is the common you know what is

common among all these three plants

which are used for the same condition by

the people at their habitat you know

that is the beauty of Indian knowledge

systems but then there should be some

effort where I will say that for

jaundice these are the prescribed plants

and these plants are habitat based this

is what is my suggestion now efforts to

do this integration has not been very

very robust now this is the problem with

Indian knowledge systems because we it

is true that Indian knowledge systems

are very very rich and we have been

subjected lot of uh you know subjugation

exploitation which has been there and we

all agree I need not have to speak about

that but then if we have to rejuvenate

we have to stand shoulder to shoulder

with another psychiatrist I have to

speak like how he speaks I have to tell

him that this is how is my Approach is

in what he understands and maybe I have

an audience there and if I'm able to do

better I'll have to prove it the way it

is to be proven and maybe the scientific

Community you know understands because

psychiatrists are the domain experts

right I will say that I am an ayurveda

psychiatrist then I'll have to tell them

that how I am different or how I can

contribute and how I can integrate so

this is the area I feel

that we need to focus on we have

everything we need to we need to figure

out how do we join these strings and see

that we become relevant so this is the

most important question that we should

focus and maybe we should find answers

from knowledge is Rich but then how do

we integrate how do we have and this

study Madam you said that you know

different places different states have

their own approaches yes and that is a

beauty different cultures have developed

their own way of handling diseases but

then have we have we been able to

present it in a form that is you know

understandable because you know the

common complaint is that that physician

says something else this position says

something else another fellow says

something else this is what they know

they don't know what is the principle

behind this we need to make them

understand isn't it so this is something

which I feel is the need because I am

doing the same thing and I know the

difficulties that I am facing now

because I have to go to the people

people are not bothered people just want

to get better but then at the level of

systems we'll have to say that you know

how do we arrive at a consensus and how

do we see that everything becomes

inclusive so this is something which I

wanted to bring it up at this uh you

know stage because we are speaking of

Indian Indian knowledge systems we

should also try to speak or at least

contemplate on how do we plan to present

this how do we plan to make a common

consensus on each principles that are

present each one is Rich we need to

integrate everyone everyone together we

cannot discard other practices we have

to make it inclusive and what is the

methodology that we follow because this

kind of system doesn't exist in the

Modern Way reductionistic approach

because if there is antidepressant the

antidepressant is used

for all the people all the races

everywhere around the world and that is

the Paradigm with which they they go and

they will tell us give me one herb that

I can give to everyone and attacks uh to

everyone and this is not possible and we

have not been able to tell them that

purusham purusham weeks yeah you have to

look at every person the person has to

be you know the treatment has to be

personalized it is based on lot of

variations so this is what I have to

convey they don't understand sir we have

to tell them because they have not been

taught like that and we cannot leave

them and go we have to bring them

together and make them there are people

who are ready to listen there are people

who will take it forward so we'll have

to look for them try to convince them

and do the whole thing so Indian

knowledge system the relevance now it is

extremely gaining lot of steam we'll

have to take it forward we'll have to

get people together and then see that we

make relevant to the current living

system so this these are the comments I

wanted to make I'm sorry okay

you know making these comments uh in the

sense that uh you know the time in spite

of the time being not there thank you

for listening and thank you for the four

wonderful speakers who came up with the

enlightening presentations thank you one

and on