Introducation
‘Ayurveda’ meaning “science of life”, is a traditional Indian system of healing based on the ‘vedas’ – the holy books of knowledge with a history of over 5000+ years in India.
Bachelors of Ayurvedic medicine and surgery (BAMS-PG) is a course involving an in-depth study of traditional ayurvedic principles & healing practices with modern medical science for a holistic approach on health which focuses on learning to balance mind, body and spirit.
During the British colonial rule in India, Western medicine gained dominance and Ayurveda experienced decline and marginalization. But after India gained independence in 1947, Ayurveda received greater renewed support. Hence, The BAMS degree course was introduced in 1979 as the officially standardized and nationally recognized qualification for Ayurvedic practitioners.
BAMS-pg courses prepares qualified ayurvedic medical graduates to become capable enough to diagnose, treat and promote wellness using both ayurvedic and conventional methods The ayurvedic subjects involve an in-depth study of ayurvedic principles, herbal medicines, traditional diagnostic techniques and treatment methodologies. It emphasises on treating the person wholly including mental, physical and spiritual well-being.
Nowadays, BAMS-PG is the most accredited and recognized medical degree in India and its principles are also being adopted in other countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal and other South Asian nations. The Ministry of AYUSH actively promotes and regulates ayurvedic education, research and practice in India. Pursuing a post graduate program provides and equips you with extended clinical expertise, expands career options, provides higher pay, in-depth research opportunities and much more.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR BAMS-PG:
- Bachelor Degree in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS – Under graduate program) from a university or institute approved by National Commission of Indian System of Medicine (NCISM).
- 1 year compulsory rotating internship completion certificate.
- Must possess a provisional or permanent registration certificate from either NCISM or State council of Indian Medicine.
- AIAPGET entrance exam.
- AACCC-PG counselling for admissions in AIQ seats under government, government-aided, deemed universities, central universities and national institutes.
SUBJECTS
SANSKRIT – To understand classical ayurvedic texts: Since all the constituent terminologies of ayurveda are scripted in Sanskrit, it helps you to understand the deep meanings of the shlokas, versus, physiological, spiritual and the ancient texts of the ayurvedic curriculum for better knowledge about the authenticity of Ayurveda.
PADARTHA VIGYAN – science and philosophy of ayurveda: “Padartha” means substance or entity. “vigyan” means science. Hence it is a philosophical study of universal substances and their relationship with the human body. It includes concepts like “pancha mahabhuta theory”- study of 5 elements: earth(bhumi), water(jala), air(vayu), fire(agni), aether(atmosphere) and other philosophical concepts like soul, mind, time, direction, guna, karma, pratyaksha, anumana etc.
RACHANA SHARIRA – Human anatomy: “Rachana” means structure. “Sharira” means body. Hence Rachana Sharira refers to the study of structure of the human body from the perspective of both ayurveda and modern science. The samhitas describe ayurvedic anatomy as an inclusion of study of embryo and fetus(garba), bones (asthi), muscles (peshi), joints (sandhi), respiratory, cardiovascular, nerves etc.
KRIYA SHARIRA – ayurvedic physiology: “Kriya” means actions or functions. “Sharira” means body. Hence it is a study of functions and mechanisms of the human body. It includes concepts like “tridosha” i.e, vatha (movement), pitta (metabolism), kapha (structure and lubrication); bodily tissues like plasma (rasa), blood (rakta) and blood vessels, reproductive tissues (shukra), bone marrow (maja) etc.
DRAVYA GUNA VIGYAN – pharmacology or materia medica: “Dravya” means substance or material. “Guna” means quality. “Vigyan” means science. Hence it is a study of substances or materials required for the development of ayurvedic medicines i.e, medicinal plants, herbs, animal products, minerals etc. It helps to understand the effect of plants on the human body which includes concepts like rasa(taste), guna(qualities) like guru(heavy), laghu(light), sheeta(cold), ushna(hot) and 20 other qualities, potency or effect of the substance, digestive effect, etc.
RASA SHASTRA – latro chemistry: “Rasa” means mercury. “Shastra” means science. Hence it is the study of complex procedures involved in converting metals, minerals and poisonous elements into consumable therapeutic substances.
BHAISHAJYA KALPANA – Ayurvedic pharmacology: It is the practical application of theoretical knowledge learnt in dravya guna about the preparation of ayurvedic medicines using minerals, metals and herbs.
ROG NIDAN AND VIKRITI VIGYAN – ayurvedic diagnosis: “Rog” means disease. “Nidan” means cause. “Vikriti” means pathology. “Vigyan” means science. Rog nidan is the subject that acts as a foundation to the study of ayurveda. It enables the student to identify and analyse the ailment from an ayurvedic perspective. Diagnostic methods include Ashta vidha pariksha (8 fold examination) of pulse, urine, tongue, voice, touch, eyes, pulse, feces; “Dosha and Dhatu” examination and much more.
SHALYA TANTRA – general surgery with ayurvedic techniques: “Shalya” means anything that causes pain or distress to the human body. “Tantra” means science. Hence, shalya tantra refers to removing foreign bodies and prescribing treatment procedures which require the most ancient surgical methods of ayurveda. It includes 8 types of surgical methods:
- Chedana
- Sevana
- Bhedana
- Lekhana
- Esana
- Vyadhana
- Srava
- Aharana
PRASUTI TANTRA & STHRI ROGA – obstetrics and gynaecology: This subject focuses on all the aspects of a female body starting from menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum care etc. It focuses completely on the care of the mother. Prasuti tantra specializes in pregnancy – from conception to delivery and taking care of the child whereas Stree roga specializes in pure gynaecology which studies the treatments for various diseases and problems related to the female reproductive system.
KAUMARA BHRITIYA – pediatrics: “Kaumara” means childhood and “bhritiya” means care. Hence, kaumara Bhritiya refers to the nurturing and care of the child and its physical, mental and emotional development through various stages of life including birth, infancy and adolescence. It focuses completely on the child.
PANCHA KARMA – ayurvedic detoxification techniques: “Pancha” means five. “Karma” means methods or therapies. Hence, Pancha karma is the study of various procedures inclined to purification of the human body, mind and spirit. The main agenda is to eliminate the toxins accumulated inside the body due to improper dietary, distress or other factors. The 5 procedures include:
- “Vamana”- induced vomiting to remove excess phlegm for asthma, cough etc
- “Vasti” – balancing vata (space) through herbal oils.
- “Raktamokshana” – purifying blood by removing toxins to treat skin and blood diseases through leeches or venipunctures.
- “Virechana” – eliminating pitta and purifying the small intestine.
- “Nasya” – treating neurological conditions, headaches, sinus etc by applying medical oils and powders to the nasal areas.
KAYA CHIKITSA – general medicine: “Kaya” means Agni which is the root cause of health and disease. “Chikitsa” means treatment. Chikitsa deals with the non-surgical diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of diseases affecting the human body.
SHALAKYA TANTRA – ENT and Ophthalmology: The word shalakya tantra is derived from “shalaka” which refers to an instrument used to examine and treat the body organs above the collarbone. It includes areas like:
- Urdhwanga (head & neck)
- Netra roga (eyes)
- Karna roga (ear)
- Nasa roga (nose)
- Mukha roga (mouth)
AGADA TANTRA evam VAIDHI VAIDYAKA – toxicology: “Agada” means antidote. “Tantra” means science. Hence Agada tantra refers to a specialized branch of ayurveda that deals with the treatment of poisons.
- Sthavara visha
- Jangama visha
- Dushi visha
Vidhi vaidyaka means “medical jurisprudence” which refers to the legal responsibilities and duties of a doctor in case of death and the medical-legal aspects of law and order.
BHUTA VIDYA – psychiatry and psychology: “Bhuta” refers to living beings or supernatural entities. “Vidya” means knowledge. Hence, bhuta vidya is the study of unseen entities. The diseases are classified into 3 types of unhappiness:
- Aadhyatmika
- Aadhibhotika
- Aadhidaivika
RASAYANA – rejuvenation and preventive medicine: “Rasa” means fluid or essence. “Ayana” means path of circulation.
Types of Rasayana:
> Based on administration
- Kutipraveshika Rasayana
- Vatatapika Rasayana
> Based on Purpose:
- Kamya Rasayana
- Naimittika Rasayana
- Achara Rasayana
SWASTHAVRITTA AND YOGA: Focuses on lifestyle management, public health & principles of yoga. wasthavritta and yoga are interconnected as they both promote preventive measures and health care philosophy rather than curing diseases.
“Swastha” means healthy and “vritta” means discipline. Hence, Swasthavritta is a way of healthy living. The key concepts include:
- Dinacharya (daily routine)
- Ritucharya (seasonal routine)
- Ahara vidhi (diet rules)
- Sadvritta (righteous code of conduct)
BAMS PG COURSES:
MD IN AYURVEDA: Also known as Ayurveda Vachaspati, Doctorate of medicine in ayurveda is a 3 year BAMS post graduate program which includes various specializations like:
> CLINICAL SPECIALIZATIONS:
- Kayachikitsa (internal medicine)
- Shalya tantra (general surgery)
- Shalakya tantra (ENT & Ophthalmology)
- Kaumara bhritiya (pediatrics)
- Prasuti tantra and stree roga (obstetrics & gynaecology)
- Panchakarma (detoxification)
> NON-CLINICAL SPECIALIZATIONS:
- Dravaguna vigyan
- Agada tantra evam vidhi vaidyaka
- Sharira rachana
- Sharira kriya
- Rasa shastra & bhaishajya kalpana
- Swasthavritta & yoga
MS IN AYURVEDA: Also known as Ayurveda Dhanvantari, Master of Surgery in ayurveda is a 3 year post graduate program that focuses on the surgical aspects of ayurveda in BAMS PG Courses.
> THE MAIN SPECIALISATIONS INCLUDE:
- Shalya tantra (general surgery)
- Shalakya tantra (opthalmology & ENT)
- Prasuti tantra & stree roga (obstetrics and gynaecology)
MSC IN AYURVEDA: MSc in ayurveda is not an officially standardized national level program such MS or MD. It is generally offered by specific universities for students who are interested more in research-oriented and non-clinical ayurvedic studies like MSc in Ayurvedic medicinal plants, MSc in food and nutrition, MSc in ayurvedic medicinal plants etc. This program is basically designed for those who want to pursue a career in research, pharmaceuticals or wellness industry rather than clinical practice as a specialized doctor or physician.
MASTERS OF PHILOSOPHY IN AYURVEDA: M.Phil in ayurveda is also not an officially standardized program such as MD or MS. It is an advanced program which has a strong focus on research aspects which acts as a bridge between masters degree (MD &MS) and PhD. Hence it is a preferred program for students aspiring for PhD but does not qualify students for clinical practice as a specialized doctor in BAMS PG Courses.
MASTERS OF PHARMA IN AYURVEDA: Masters of pharma is a program designed for students who are interested to pursue a career in research and development for manufacturing Ayurvedic medicines rather than indulging in clinical practice as a specialized doctor. Admissions are often based on National level entrance exams like GPAT (graduate pharmacy aptitude test) or entrance exams in respective institutions.
MASTERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH: Masters in public health is a 2 year postgraduate program which deals with improving community and population health rather than treating individual patients.
> THE CURRICULUM INCLUDES:
- Epidemiology
- Health policy and management
- Bio-statistics
- Environmental sciences
- Social and behavioural sciences
> SPECIALIZATIONS INCLUDE:
- Global health
- Community health
- Public health nutrition
- Maternal and child health care
- Health promotion and education
- Disaster management
PG DIPLOMA IN DRUG REGULATORY AFFAIRS: Diploma in drug regulatory affairs is a specialized 1 year post graduate program which focuses on training the students to work in highly regulated bio-tech, pharmaceutical, medical device industries and ensure the proper functioning, efficiency and safety of medical products as per national and international laws and guidelines.
> SUBJECTS INCLUDE:
- Drug development and approval
- Good manufacturing practices
- Clinical trial regulations
- Quality check and assurance
- Regulatory submissions
- ELIGIBILITY includes B.Pharma or BSc in life sciences, bio-tech, chemistry and microbiology.
DIPLOMA IN CLINICAL RESEARCH: Diploma in clinical research is a 1 year post graduate program that educates the students with the proper knowledge and skills required for working in a research industry which includes scientific, regulatory and ethical aspects of designing, monitoring and conducting clinical trials.
> ELIGIBILITY:
Degree in either of the following:
- Life sciences – biology, microbiology, chemistry, bio-tech.
- Medicine – MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS
- Nursing or Pharma (B.Pharma)
> CURRICULUM INCLUDES:
- Fundamentals of clinical research
- Clinical trial guidelines
- Clinical trial operations
- Clinical data management and Bio-statistics
- Ethical guidelines
- Pharmacovigilance
Entry level salary after completion of this course ranges from 2-2.5L rupees per annum and may increase based on your experience.
DIPLOMA IN FOOD AND NUTRITION: Diploma in food and nutrition is a short term program of 1-3 years which provides knowledge about food sciences, human nutrition and dietary care.
> CURRICULUM INCLUDES:
- Food science
- Dietetics
- Food health nutrition
- Food safety and quality control
- Human anatomy & physiology
- Public health nutrition
> ELIGIBILITY:
- 10+2 years academic excellence based on merit
- Background in science, particularly in physics, chemistry, biology
ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN MEDICAL WRITING: Advanced Diploma in medical writing is a specialized 1 year postgraduate diploma program which trains and educates the students to expertise as skilled communicators in pharmaceutical and healthcare industries for preparation of various medical documents based on regulatory bodies to the general public.
> CURRICULUM:
- Fundamentals of medical writing
- Writing and editing skills
- Regulatory writing
- Publication writing
- Medico-marketing
- Research and data analysis
> ELIGIBILITY:
Bachelor degree in either of the following-
- Life sciences – BSc in bio-tech, biology, microbiology, biochemistry.
- Journalism and communications
- Pharmacy – B.Pharm, M.Pharm
- Medical and allied health – MBBS, BAMS, BHMS, BDS, BPT, Nursing
MBA IN HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT: MBA in health care management is a 2 year postgraduate program that is a combination of the key business principles and health care knowledge. It is a course designed for students to develop leadership and managerial skills in various professional roles in healthcare organizations.
> CURRICULUM:
- General management
- Practical training
- Health care specifications – hospital operations management, health care quality, patient safety, medical ethics, health policy, healthcare informatics etc.
> ELIGIBILITY:
- Entrance exam completion – CAT, CMAT, XAT, MAT
- GD and PI – short listed candidates must clear group discussion and personal interviews.
DIPLOMA IN PHARMACOVIGILANCE: Diploma in pharmacovigilance is a professional 1 year program which deals with scientific activities such as understanding, monitoring, assessing, detection and prevention of adverse effects of medicines or pharmaceutical products through drug safety surveillance.
> CURRICULUM:
- Fundamentals of pharmacovigilance
- Pharmacovigilance data bases
- Medical coding
- Regulatory guidelines
- Adverse event reporting
- Risk management
> ELIGIBILITY:
- Life sciences – BSc in biochemistry, bio-tech, biochemistry
- Pharmacy – B.Pharma, M.Pharm
- Medicine (MBBS, BAMS, BHMS, BDS or nursing
- Allied health sciences
CAREER OPTIONS:
- AYURVEDIC DOCTOR/ PHYSICIAN: medical practitioner who specializes in ayurvedic medicines and remedies for herbal, dietary and lifestyle, detoxification therapies.
- HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR: ensuring and maintaining efficient and effective operations of hospital and medical staff’s training and development.
- AYURVEDIC PRODUCT DEVELOPER: professional creator and manufacturer of health and wellness products and ensuring proper sourcing, formulating, testing and safety of these products.
- CLINICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE: monitors clinical trials for pharmaceutical companies and other medical research institutions. It includes roles of identifying and setting up clinical trial sites, proper data collection, training the staff about necessary protocols, procedures and regulatory guidelines.
- MEDICAL OFFICER: a licensed physician responsible for not only clinical diagnosis, but also for administration of training and specialized medical care, key point of contact for emergencies, maintaining medical records etc.
- LECTURER / PROFESSOR: Academic professional who involves in teaching, field research, mentorship and administration of student curriculum.
- DRUG SAFETY OFFICER: ALso known as a pharmacovigilance associate, plays a vital role in collecting, monitoring, accessing, analyzing drug safety data and detecting, preventing reactions (ADR) or any other drug related issues.
- YOGA THERAPIST: a professional who expertises in addressing physical and mental wellbeing through yoga practices and recommends customized therapies.
- CLINICAL DATA MANAGER: professional who is responsible for collecting and setting up databases and electronic data capture systems (edc), checking for errors in the data, ensuring strict regulatory guidelines for a smooth clinical trial.
MEDICAL WRITER: a professional who writes and creates documents and content for clinical protocols and study reports, journal manuscripts, medical education materials, news articles in health and medicine etc.