With a PhD in molecular genetics, author Aarathi Prasad works in interdisciplinary research at University College, London. Her first book,Like a Virgin: How Science Is Redesigning the Rules of Sex, was published in 2012, exploring how inventions such as the silicone womb could change the future of reproduction. Her latest book, In the Bonesetter’s Waiting Room: Travels Through Indian Medicine, examines the diverse treatments on offer in the country’s cities and rural communities, and the future of Indian healthcare.
In India there are two broad approaches to medicine: conventional “western” medicine and traditional practices, which go under the banner of Ayush. What are these practices?
There are several systems of medicine that the state sanctions for use. One of them is ayurveda, which is a very old system [with medicines often based on herbs, minerals and metals] indigenous to India, and then there is also yoga. Siddha is similar to ayurveda but the texts are different and come from a different part of India. There is unani, which is originally from the Greek hippocratic system of medicine that came to India with Arab scholars. Then there are naturopathy and homeopathy, which are European in origin. Any of these things, you can go to a government-funded facility to use.
Because India is so pluralistic, most people are willing to accept more than one thing on an equal footing
Related: Homeopathy won’t cure you – unless you have a little faith
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