Breaking silos: can the emerging field of Ayurvedic biology contribute to the advancement of Indian health science

Abstract

This article describes the evolution of an emerging cross-cultural field of research called Ayurvedic biology. Ayurveda and biology both carry equivalent etymological meaning; the study of ‘changes’ in life processes. The difference lies in the systemic perspective of Ayurveda versus the molecular and mechanistic perspectives in biology. The field of Ayurvedic-Biology seeks to systematically explore the convergence of biological phenomena of health and wellness, derived from different cultural viewpoints. With illustrations of research from genomics, regenerative biology, drug discovery, food sciences and disease classification methods, this article indicates the potential of Ayurvedic biology for the advancement of health sciences.