Traditional Medicine and Homoeopathy
The come back made by the traditional methods of treatment and Homeopathy, has been another recent development in the area of medicine. Though Allopathic treatment retains its primacy, more and more people are going for Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathy especially for treating chronic diseases. Today, these traditional healing systems are a part of multi-million dollar industry embracing their practice, research and development and manufacture. Our country has over 1.5 million registered practitioners of traditional medicine, while some 200 colleges turn out 9,000 graduates in Traditional Systems of medicine every year. The Indian Board of Alternative Medicine set up in Calcutta works for the propagation, promotion and advancement of traditional medicine. The Board is affiliated to the Open International University of Complementary Medicine, established under the aegis of World Health Organization (WHO).

The Indian (Traditional) System of Medicine
The Central Council of Indian Medicine is a statutory body constituted by the Government of India that is responsible for prescribing minimum standards of education for courses in Indian System of Medicine viz. Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani. The Board also regulates practice on Indian System of Medicine and prescribes standards of professional conduct, etiquette and code of ethics to be observed by the practitioners.

Ayurveda (Ayur-Life; Veda-Knowledge)
This system of traditional medicine lays emphasis on the preventive rather than the curative aspect of ailments and employs the properties of medicinal plants/ herbs in its practice. This ancient science is indigenous to India, and dates back some 3000 years.

The National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is regarded as an apex institute of Ayurveda. It imparts training in all the specialties of Ayurveda like, Kaya-Chikitsa, Maulik Siddhant, Dravyaguna, Shalya Tantra, Shareer Kriya, Kumar Bhritya etc., with a scientific approach. The institute offers both graduate (BAMS) and post graduate (MD [Ayur.]) courses as well as research facilities for doing PhD. There are 60 seats available for the graduation and 54 seats for post graduation every year. A candidate with Physics, Chemistry and Biology at 10+2 level can seek admission in the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) or Ayurvedacharya Course. The Course is of five and a half years of duration including six months Internship. Knowledge of Sanskrit is essential. Postgraduate Degree and PhD can also be pursued thereafter.

Institute of Postgraduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurveda University, Jamnagar is another institute that is totally funded by Government of India. The institute is only of its kind and offers postgraduate courses, research facilities and training facilities for teachers.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has also set up ‘National Academy of Ayurveda’ at New Delhi with the objective of promoting the knowledge of Ayurveda through Guru Shishya Parampara. Eminent experts and practitioners of Ayurveda are selected as fellows of the Academy and they act as a Guru or Teacher to a particular student. Students or Shishya are postgraduates in Ayurveda, who are required to spent two years in close interaction with the Guru and study a particular subject of Ayurveda.

Unani
Hippocrates laid the foundation of Unani System of medicine in the 5th century BC. It was later adapted by the Arabs and developed into an elaborate therapeutic system. Unani system of medicine was introduced in India via- the Central Asian trade routes sometimes around 10th century AD. Unani theory is based on the Hippocratic philosophy of good health being equivalent to a perfect balance of the arkan or elements, akhlat or humor and mijaz or temperament. Unlike the allopathic viewpoint of the patient as a biological organism under attack by foreign bodies, Unani treats patients in relation to their environment. Treatment given includes diet control, administration of herbal and sometimes animal- based drugs, physiotherapy and surgery.

There are a number of Unani-Tibb Colleges, which offer courses in Unani System of Medicine. For the Pre-Tib Course or the Intermediate Course any Matriculate can apply for admission. Graduate Level Course in Unani Medicine & Surgery is open to students who have passed 10+2 with Science or Arts. At all levels candidates who are proficient in Arabic or Persian are given preference. National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which imparts training as well, provides facilities for research in Unani.

Siddha
It is also a form of traditional medicine is confined to a very small southern part of India, Tamil Nadu. In many respects, its principles are somewhat akin to Ayurveda although its origins are probably much older than Ayurveda. Its reference points are the ancient medical treatises, which are a compendium of valuable information on herbs, drugs, alchemy, disease syndromes and diagnosis.

Presently only two Colleges in Tamil Nadu offer facilities for studies in the Siddha System of Medicine. Admission to the course is open after 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Knowledge of Tamil is compulsory during and the Entrance Exam one has to clear the Tamil paper also.

Tibetan Medicine
Tibetan Medicine is an ancient Himalayan Therapeutic Practice; dating back some 3000 years it is a synthesis of Tibetan, Chinese and Persian traditional system of Medicine. After the Chinese invasion of Tibet the system found its way into India, where it was able to germinate and flourish a new. In 1963,The Dalai Lama founded the first Tibetan Medicine and Astro Institute (TMAI), and today the institute has 32 branches spread all over the country. Diagnostic methods of this system include mucus, phlegm, saliva and urine tests and the unique six-finger pulse readings. Remedies include oral tablets prepared from herbs, fruits, flowers mineral and metallic powders as well as acupuncture, massage and fomentation.

Candidates with 80 per cent marks at the School Leaving Certificate Examination in either Arts or Science are eligible to seek admission in any of the three TMAI Centres that impart Trainings in Tibetan Medicine. Changpori Tibetan Medical Institute at Darjeeling and Benaras Tholop at Varanasi also conduct courses in Tibetan Medicine.

Homeopathy
The concept of Homeopathic medicine came in to existence in Germany originally in the late 18th century; today it is the most widely practiced of all traditional medical systems in India. Homeopathy takes a holistic approach to therapy, and gives as much weightage to the patient's physical constitution as to their symptoms. The practice claims to be unique in its facility to strengthen the immune system and eradicate all traces of disease from the body. The science is based on the principle of Similar Similibus Crentur, which means let likes be cured by likes.

The Central Council of Homoeopathy, a statutory body under Government of India, is the apex body taking care of education, training and other matters relating Homoeopathy. At present there are around 150 institutions in the country offering degree and diploma courses in Homoeopathy, which meet the regulations prescribed by the Council. Annual intake by these institutions is around 7000. The training period for Homeopathic Studies varies with the course undertaken. Diploma in Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery (DHMS) is of 4 years' duration, including 1-year of Internship. Bachelor’s in Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery (BHMS) is a 5 years six months Degree Course including 1-year of Internship.

National Institute of Homoeopathy, Calcutta, an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is a model academic institute of Homoeopathy in the country. Students possessing Higher Secondary or equivalent qualification (10 + 2) with English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology are eligible for admission in the BHMS course offered by the institute. Fifty seats are available every year among which 18 seats are allotted to candidates who are nominated from different states and Union Territories where no Homoeopathic College exists. Thirty candidates get admission on the basis of All-India Entrance Examination and the rest two seats are reserved for foreign national who are nominated by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India. The Entrance Examination for BHMS course is usually held in June every year.

Post Graduate Education in Homoeopathy was introduced in 1989 and M.D. (Hom.) is possible in the seven different subjects namely Materia Medica, Homoeopathic Philosophy & Repertory, Pediatrics, Medicine, Psychiatry and Pharmacy. 15 institutions have been permitted by the Central Council to start Post Graduate Course in Homoeopathy. PG qualification has been made an essential requirement for teachers.