---

The new 'SMART 2.0' program launched by The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) along with the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) envisages clinical studies in priority areas of Ayurveda through mutual collaboration between Ayurveda academic institutions and hospitals across the country. 

The objective of ‘SMART 2.0’ ((Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research among Teaching Professionals) is to generate tangible evidence to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of Ayurveda interventions using interdisciplinary research methods and translate it into public health care.

“The study aims at safety, tolerability, and adherence to Ayurveda formulations in the priority research areas of Bal Kasa, Malnutrition, Insufficient lactation, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, Osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and Diabetes Mellitus (DM) II,” says Prof (Vd) Rabinarayan Acharya, DG, CCRAS.

CCRAS, which is the apex organization for the development and promotion of research in Ayurveda, has welcomed interest from all Ayurveda teaching institutions to widen this academic outreach. CCRAS will provide scientific inputs and project monitoring during the multi-center trials.

Under the ‘SMART 1.0’, around 10 diseases were covered with the active participation of teaching professionals from 38 colleges. Its success proved the effectiveness of the collaborative approach in overcoming evidence gaps to integrate Ayurveda into public healthcare programs.

Despite the huge potential, Ayurveda is still struck by perception barriers when it comes to application in public healthcare. Scaling up clinical research with practitioner participation can overcome perception barriers and put Ayurveda on an equal evidence footing within India’s medical mainstream.

---

Related Articles

Kerala Tourism holds road shows in Europe

Kerala receives award for ‘Best Honeymoon Destination’

Treating alcoholism

Sobha Hermitage Home Away from Home

Vaajeekarana for procreation

Alcohol The good and the bad