The allopathic medical system and the indigenous systems have much to learn from each other for the benefit of the patient. Joint efforts will go a long way in mutual improvement. Even today, depending upon the country, 25 to 75 per cent of drugs are plant based, an area in which the indigenous systems have a fund of information. The techniques of diagnosis, clinical drug testing, drug administration and several others aspects that are routine in Allopathy can immensely help the practitioners of the indigenous systems (Bannerman, 1977; Canary, 1983). Hence, the urgent need to bring together and integrate the best of all systems of medicine.

That foreign and Indian indigenous systems of medicine ought to be read together, if the full benefit from either is to be derived, was a recommendation made in 1879, in Calcutta Review, and reiterated time and again.

Some attempts have been made in this direction, as for example:

a) Use of Acupuncture to anaesthetise the patient during caesarian, tumour removal, and other surgical procedures in Colombo, Sri Lanka, by Dr Anton Jayasuriya, a doctor trained in both modern medicine and Acupuncture, and by Dr K. Gireesh, Neurologist and Neurosurgeon, at Chennai;

b) Treatment of fracture and soft tissue injury by integrated traditional Chinese and western methods in China (Tienyu, 1983);

c) Homoeopuncture, a combination of Acupuncture and Homoeopathy, involving dipping the acupuncture needle before use, as advocated by Dr Anton Jayasuriya;

d) Use of bioengineering instrumentation in some Ayurvedic procedures like Panchakarma;

e) Admission of holders of degrees in indigenous medical systems to allopathic degree courses in India, particularly as used to be in the Karnataka state (the practice was unfortunately discontinued); and

f) Use of Dietetics and Naturopathy in post-operative and recouperative stages in several countries.

There have been some unfortunate instances of ‘integration’ where some unscrupulous Homoeopaths and Ayurvedists have clandestinely administered allopathic drugs like steroids mixed with homoeopathic/ayurvedic medicine and claimed a great success of their treatment. Such perversions should be condemned and the practitioners be given exemplary punishment.

We should conduct research, develop literature and work towards designing courses integrating Allopathy, Homoeopathy, Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani with each other. We should also integrate herbal medicine of South America, Africa, China and India. This will help in identifying species of medicinal plants common to two or more of these countries. This will bring to light, new uses for the known species of medicinal plants and will also indicate species that were not in use as medicinal plants in one or more countries but can be employed basing on the uses in another country. Appendix 24 gives some such examples.

Allopathic hospitals should employ consultants qualified in different system of complementary medicine. The Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, has an Ayurvedist on their staff.

Practitioners of Alternative systems of medicine should be encouraged to employ the diagnostic tests and procedures used in Allopathy. These practices should be a part of the curriculum of the courses in indigenous medicine.

We need to organise conferences and seminars to provide a common platform for the practitioners of different systems of medicine, to identify areas of mutual interest, to bring the best of all systems together. There are serious impediments to a large scale integration of all systems of medicine, but there is vast scope for mutual improvement through integration.

PRACTICE OF COMPLEMENTARY/ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Whatever the system of medicine, there is no second word on that the practitioner must have adequate education, training and experience, in the system, not only to be a successful therapist but also to be a safe, responsible and dependable practitioner, enjoying the confidence of his patients.

For Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathy, as for Allopathy, there are statutory bodies that regulate medical practice in the respective systems, and academic institutions to impart training and to confer degrees and diplomas. Unfortunately, these provisions have not prevented unscrupulous persons from practicising in any system of medicine including Allopathy. In every part of the world there are quacks placing the gullible population at risk. Worse is the situation in complementary or Alternative medicine and more particularly so in the developing world. We certainly should make a distinction between a quack and an experienced and responsible therapist, who may not have had an opportunity for formal medical education, as in the case of folk medicine. Quackery is a real and dangerous issue. The law occasionally wakes up but that is not adequate. The problem is not that the law is inadequate but it is the inadequacy of vigilance and the will to implement the law.