Microbial Infections and Human Health: What Ayurveda can Offer?

Abstract

Microbiology is one of the most important and fascinating fields of biology and there is no life without microorganisms. However, at the same time it also represents the deadliest agents of human diseases. The importance of microorganisms in human diseases justifies the increasing research interest in understanding the pathogenesis of infections as well as in developing better therapeutic/management strategies for microbial infections. The holistic and patient centred therapeutic approaches in complementary and alternative medicines like Ayurveda can offer a lot in the area of microbial infections. Ayurveda, being a science originated and established long before the development of modern microbiology, does not have specific references to microorganisms like bacteria or virus. Nevertheless, diseases manifestations that are now understood as microbial infections were described in Ayurveda along with their ethology, progression, prevention and cure. These descriptions in Ayurveda are purely patient centred and the management strategies are, thus, emphasizing more on restoring the physiological homeostasis and wellness of the patient, rather than a targeted destruction of microbes. A logical and constructive synergism of the concepts of infections in Ayurveda and modern medicine can uncover novel concepts and strategies in understanding and managing microbial infections.