Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Comparative Overview

Abstract

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.

Evaluation of the Hepato and Nephron-Protective Effect of a Polyherbal Mixture Using Wistar Albino Rats

“…Elevation of urea and creatinine levels in the serum was taken as the index of nephrotoxicity [34]. The reduction in albumin and protein concentrations and increase in triglyceride concentration is attributed to the initial damage produced and localized in the endoplasmic reticulum which results in the loss of P450 leading to its functional failure with a decrease in protein synthesis and accumulation of triglycerides leading to fatty liver.…”

Essential oils found in the smoke of "tira-capeta", a cigarette used by some quilombolas living in pantanal wetlands of Brazil

“…The use of a great number of plants in a single prescription is very common among Quilombola's therapeutic practice; being also observed among the river dwellers from Brazilian Amazon (Rodrigues, 2006) also in Ayurveda and Chinese therapeutics (Patwardhan et al, 2005). This practice may produce synergistic or antagonistic effects (Gilbert & Alves, 2003;Rodrigues & Carlini, 2004).…”

Indigenous Use and Ethnopharmacology of Medicinal Plants in Far-West Nepal

“…for Parkinson's disease, Commiphora as a hypolipidemic, Asclepias as cardiotonic, psoralens for vitiligo, curcumines for inflammation, baccoside for mental retention, picrosides for hepatoprotective, diosgenin for the synthesis of steroidal hormones, guggulsterons as hypolipidemic, piperidine as bioavailability enhancers, asarone as hallucinogenic, phyllanthins as anti-virals, withanolides and many other steroidal lactones and their glycosides as immunomodulators (Jain 1994, Patwardhan 2000. As an example, the sale of drugs derived from the plant Taxus The increasing use of traditional therapies demands more scientifically sound evidence for the principles behind therapies and for effectiveness of medicines (Patwardhan et al 2005). The therapies are often criticized due to dearth of research, critical evaluation, in vivo studies and validations (Fong 2002, Houghton 1995 to support the safety of uses.…”

“…The first compound derived from herbal remedies to enter the international market was ephedrine, an amphetamine like stimulant from Ephedra sinica Stapf. The next was artimisinin, a potent antimalarial drug from Artemisia annua L. (Patwardhan et al 2005). Numerous other molecules have come out of the ayurvedic experiential base, including alkaloids of Rauvolfia for hypertension, Holarrhena for amoebiasis, Mu-…”