1. AYUSH

Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy was formerly called the Departments of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM&H). AYUSH is the latest statutory effort in the series of attempts at reviving traditional medicine in India.

Ayurveda and Siddha, ancient medical systems in vogue in this country since earliest times, are fully developed medical traditions that have been serving the needs of our people. Complete by themselves they developed gradually and systematically over the centuries under the aegis of legendary scholars and physicians on the basis of a unique philosophy guided by time-tested methodologies and practices prevalent in that era. Foreign invasions, cross-cultural interaction and lack of support from the ruling British were the reasons for the stagnation of these ancient medical systems. The wealth of medical knowledge of these systems, which is presently receiving worldwide recognition is what was current and updated centuries ago. This reflects the potential of the therapeutic knowledge, which is answering several unaddressed medical needs of today, despite lying mostly untapped since then.

The beginning of the 20th century saw efforts to revive these systems. The members of the Imperial Legislative Council passed a resolution to investigate and recognize these systems and it was accepted in the year 1916. This led to the establishment of a number of colleges of Ayurveda. In the post-independence era, the efforts to develop research gained momentum. As per the recommendations of the various committees, grant-in-aid projects were sanctioned to selected colleges. The Central Council for Ayurvedic Research as an advisory body was established in 1962 and finally the Central Council for Research in Indian Medicine and Homeopathy (CCRIM&H) was established in 1969. This council initiated research programmes in ISM and homeopathy in different parts of the country and started coordination at the national level for the first time. Upon its reorganization the Central Councils for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) and Homeopathy (CCRH) were established in 1978 for the formulation, coordination and development of research in these systems on scientific lines. An independent identity under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was created for The Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM&H) in 1995. It was renamed Department of AYUSH, Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy, in November 2003.