Ayurveda should not be called an `alternative’ system of medicine rather it is a mainstay with holistic approach and can be useful for all ailments. And going by the lifestyle diseases and their prevention, now the science has got tremendous acceptance the world over.

Dr GS Lavekar, the Director-General of Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) said that ayurveda was gaining more acceptance worldwide and over 350 universities in the US only were teaching it in their curriculum.
Dr Lavekar says that ayurvedic medicines have the capacity to tackle all chronic diseases and can even take care of the side effects of chemotherapy and enhance quality of life in cancer patients. Even the Advanced Cancer Therapy Research and Education Centre, the apex body in cancer research in India, functioning from Tata Cancer Hospital in Mumbai, has acknowledged its role, said Lavekar.
"Some more drugs like AYUSH-C for cancer, AYUSH-Osto for osteoporosis and AYUSH-SL for filariasis are also under the process of development," he said. "As gastro-intestinal ailments also affect a large chunk of State population, NRIADD will also work on `standardised formulations with quality’ to address specific problems in future. Drugs on geriatric care and reproductive child health (RCH) are also listed priority."