Legal protection of traditional medicine in India
Legal protection of traditional medicine in India

Summary/Abstract: Specialized medical knowledge began to develop on the Indian subcontinent in ancient times. It is associated with information, skills, and practices based on theories, beliefs, and experiences of different generations. Traditional medicine in India is not a uniform system but is divided into several subsystems, i.e. Ayurveda, Siddha (Tamil medicine), Unani (Persian- Arabic medicine), and Sowa-Rigpa (Tibetan medicine). A wide range of natural healing methods is used, including herbal medicine, cleansing of toxins, and diet. This cultural heritage of medical thought requires the adoption of adequate legal protection nowadays. In the second half of the twentieth century India initiated efforts to introduce legal regulations concerning the use of natural medicine. Institutionalization of this issue was carried out by establishing the Central Council of Indian Medicine in the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha Medicine, and Homeopathy (AYUSH). The government supports scientific research and undertakes educational initiatives in the field of traditional Indian medicine. The aim of this article is to reconstruct the model of regulation of natural medicine in India as part of its cultural heritage, in the context of the development of modern technologies.

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