Evidence-based Ayurveda

C. P. Khare is the founder president of the Society for New Age Herbals, a forum for promoting evidence-based herbal medicine, in New Delhi, India. He has been an herbalist, herbal drug consultant, and herbal historian for more than 60 years.

Introduction: The thrust: Why a new scientific path? Part 1 The Legacy and Logical Steps for a New Therapeutic Regimen 1. The Need for Liberal Regulations for promoting evidence-based Ayurveda 2. Each and Every Step of Ayush will have Far-reaching Impact 3. To Move with the Times: Expand the knowledge-base of Ayurveda 4. Once Upon a Time there was a Classical Age in Countries which are now Leaders in Herbal Medicine 5. Avoiding Scientific Inquiry: Not Possible Now 6. Ayurvedic Pharmacognosy and Pharmacology: In Modern Perspective 7. How Classical Procedures Lost their Ground 8. Identification of Proper Herbs: A Challenging Task a) Pharmacopoeia of People’s Republic of China Pharmaceutical Names b) International Pharmaceutical Names 9. Pruning of Classical Formulations: Suggested Process 10. The pragmatic Nature of Ayurveda: No Restrictions on Revising Old Formulations 11. Basic Steps for Revalidatation of Ayurvedic Formulations 12. Hidden Secrets of Clinical Success: Super Power of “sacred word” Part 2 Defining a New Scientific Path By Switching over to Modern pharmacognosy, Pharmacology and Research Protocols 13. Identification of Medicinal Plants by Voucher Specimen 14. DNA Barcoding: A Breakthrough for Authentication of Raw Herbs 15. Modern Extraction Methods and Standardization of Extracts 16. Markers for Quality of Herbal Drugs 17. Pharmacological Actions of Chemical Constituents 18. Pharmacological Screening of Drugs: By Experimental Studies 19. A Shift in Ayurvedia Pharmacopoeia: From Holistic Approach to Disease-specific Concepts 20. Unbiased Research: Lifeline of Evidence-based Ayurveda and Contribution of Young Indian Scientists to Ayurveda 21. Threat to classical reputation By dubious Herbs and Substitutes 22. Red List of Medicinal Plants: Threat to Ayurvedic Formulations 23. Ayurvedic Education System: A Path-breaking Study Reflecting the Elements of Evidence-Based Ayurveda