AYUSH and Ayurveda: The Business of Traditional Medicine
What AYUSH Means
AYUSH groups India's traditional and alternative systems of medicine: Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy.
AYUSH is an acronym for the systems of medicine that India recognises alongside modern medicine. It covers Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy.
The systems
Ayurveda, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa are ancient Indian traditions; Unani came from Greco-Arab medicine; homoeopathy arrived from Germany in the 19th century but became widely used in India.
A government ministry
A separate Ministry of AYUSH was created in 2014 to promote research, education and regulation.
Why economists care
The sector is a mix of healthcare, consumer goods, tourism and agriculture, and it employs many practitioners and farmers.
A household buys a herbal tonic at a pharmacy for a cold; the money flows to a maker, distributor and farmers who grew the herbs.
It covers six systems.
- AYUSH stands for six systems of medicine.
- A dedicated ministry was set up in 2014.
- It links healthcare, consumer goods and farming.
- Homoeopathy is widely used in India.
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