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AAPRA
8/ 5/ 0 5
PETITION FOR
LICENSING OF QUALIFIED AYURVEDIC PRACTITONERS IN THE US
FROM:
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PRACTITINERS AND RESEARCHERS OF AYURVEDA (AAPRA)
LAKSHMI C.
MISHRA, M. PHARM, PH.D., B. I.
M. S., PRESIDENT, AAPRA
DR. BETSY SINGH PH.D, VICE PRESIDENT AAPRA
Supported by:
(1) Medical Professional Societies Supporting
Regulation of AMI:
(1) Am Assoc. of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) (MDs and AMI
degree holders: >45000
members) V. Koli, MD, President, H.
Sharma, MD Chair of Integrative medicine committee AAPI
(2) Assoc. of Ayurvedic Professionals of North
America.
(3) Am. Assoc. of
Practitioners, Researchers of Ayurveda
(4) Florida Vedic
College
I. PURPOSE OF THE
PETITION
The purpose of the
petition is to regulate Traditional Ayurvedic Medical System of India
through licensure of qualified ayurvedic physicians to practice Ayurvedic
Medicine of India (AMI) in order to protect citizens from unqualified
Ayurvedic practitioners and to provide quality ayurvedic health care. Minimum qualification required for
licensing AMI practitioners in India (the home country of AMI)
is a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) degree or its
equivalent degree. The degree
consists of 4 ½ years of training from an accredited institution and one year
of internship in an Ayurvedic hospital (Appendix 1). American citizens deserve a guarantee of
protection from unqualified practitioners of AMI as the citizens of India are
protected. The petition is asking
for the state to regulate AMI and license BAMS or equivalent degree holders
with experience to use Ayurvedic procedures and therapies to diagnose,
prevent, and treat diseases. Since
the license does not include allopathic
treatments, there is no direct conflict with conventional medicine
practitioners. We are asking for
license parameters relevant to traditional practice in the same manner that
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is regulated.
II. SCOPE AND PARAMETERS
OF AMI PRACTICES
Ayurvedic Medicine of India (AMI) is new for the US and
currently not regulated anywhere in the country. AMI recognizes the natural ability of the
body for self healing. This concept
is used in determination of appropriate individualized therapy.
The practice of Ayurvedic
Medicine means to engage, with or without compensation, in the Ayurvedic
traditional methods of health care to prevent, diagnose, treat human health
conditions, prevent disharmony and restore harmony of body elements (doshas
and gunas), promote, restore and maintain health which includes the
following:
(i) NIDAN -Diagnosis: Ayurvedic diagnosis of rogas, diseases
(identification and classification of health ailments), imbalance of doshas
or symptoms by following Ayurvedic methods:
a. Determination of body
and mental constitution with respect to doshas,
and gunas (an Ayurvedic concept of body and mental attributes): Exacerbation of the attributes is
believed to be the cause of sickness and diseases. The
disease classification in Ayurveda Texts includes over 200 diseases and 150
health conditions. Health conditions
or diseases are
also diagnosed such as jwara-fevers, raktapitta-coagulpathies,
hemorrhagic disorders, kamala-jaundice, udara-poor digestion
condition, etc.
b. Evaluation and
assessment of patient’s tendency to develop certain
ailments, adaptation to adverse situations, mental and physical stamina,
exercise endurance, and digestive power (fire)
c. Examination of the patient by classic Das-vidhi Pariksha-Ten
Point
Examination and Ashth-vidhi Pariksha-
Eight Point examination.
1. Prakrit-Determination
of constitution: Characteristics of dosha and guna constitutions are used to determine
specific constitution.
2. Vikriti- Disease susceptibility: Past
history of the patient may suggest susceptibility of a patient to diseases.
3. Dhatus-
Quality of tissues: Seven dhatus (body tissues) and psyche is
evaluated as pravar- superior, madhyam- medium or avara-
inferior.
4. Samhanana- Compactness of the body built:
Quality of overall body structure is evaluated as superior, medium or
inferior.
5. Pramana- Anthropometry:
All body parts with respect to size are evaluated to determine if
they are proportionate (sampramana) or visampramana-disproportionate. Disproportionate body size may have poor
prognosis.
6. Satmya-
Adaptability: Ability of a person to
survive hostile stressful situation is evaluated based on various previous
experiences of the person.
7. Satva-
Mental stamina: It is evaluated to determine the ability of a person to
tolerate pain and other stressful situations
.8..
Ahar sakti-Digestive power: It is evaluated in terms of ability
to ingest and digest food.
9 .Vyayama sakti- Exercise endurance: It is evaluated based on the
increase in pulse rate, respiration rate, blood pressure after a given
quantum of exercise and the rate of reversal of these changes after
subsequent rest.
10. Vaya and Vayikaran- Age and rate of aging: It is evaluated based on the appearance
of a person with respect to age. If
the person looks older than the age, then it is suggestive of negative
health and needs additional care and anti-aging measures.
Classic Eight Point
Examination
1. Nadi-Pulse
reading: It helps determine dosha predominance. A pulse crawling
like a snake is indicative of vata, jumping like frog is pitta,
and walking like a swan is kapha.
2. Sparsa-Skin: It helps diagnose a variety of disease
condition. For example, a pale skin
indicates anemia, pallor skin indicates jaundice; a soft thick, whitish
skin indicates kapha; and a wheatish coppery shining firm skin
indicates pitta; and a dry, coarse, wrinkled dusky and pigmented
skin indicates vata.
3.
Chakshu-Eyes:
Changes in the eye condition are indicative of many health conditions. A big whitish slow moving eye is
indicative of kapha, a sharp bright, moist pinkish eye indicative of
pitta, and a small flickering, dry, dusky and pigmented eye is
indicative of vata.
4. Akriti- Face and over all
appearance: Signs of both, mental,
and physical disorders or distress can be noticed on the face. Signs easily noticeable are pallor,
puffiness, sluggishness, anxiety, and depression.
5. Jihva-
Tongue : A big soft, flabby pale coated tongue is indicative of kapha
and ama disorder, a soft, sharp or red tongue is indicative of pitta
disorder while a thin, dry, coarse, furred or pigmented tongue is
suggestive of vata disorder.
6.
Sabda- Voice
and Speech: A heavy voice may be indicative of kapha, ama and excess
of adipose tissue (meda), sharp speech indicative of pitta,
and dry coarse and interrupted speech indicative of vata
7. Mutra-Urine: Classic oil drop urine test helps
determine prognosis of diseases in general.
For example, if a drop of the standard til or mustard oil dropped on the surface of the urine in a cup
gives a circular spread or splits in to pieces indicates good prognosis of
the disease. If the drop sinks in
the urine or mixes with it indicates grave prognosis.
8 .Mala-
Stool : Stool is also examined to
determine the exacerbation of doshas.
A bulky fowl-smelling stool is indicative of kapha and ama
disorder and poor digestive fire, a well-formed yellowish stool is
indicative of pitta and frequent
unformed dark stool is indicative of vata.
(d.)
Commonly used diagnostic
procedures, such as, physical examinations, x-rays, electrocardiograms,
ultrasound, phlebotomy, clinical laboratory tests and examinations, and
physiological function tests, shygmomanometer and stethoscope to look at
blood pressure and basic heart sounds.
(e.) Sadhyata-Prognosis: Assessment of the patient in
terms of partial, full or no cure
or recovery from the disease
(ii.)
CHIKITSA-Treatment: Ayurvedic methods of treatment to
normalize body and mental functions
Practice of ayurvedic chikitsa
(treatment) includes doing, undertaking, professing to do, and attempting
any of the following:
(a.) Samsodhana- Bio-purification: Panchkarma purification therapies
1.
Praadhan Karma: a. vaman-emesis, b. virechana-purgation, 3.niruha-non-unctus enenma, anuvasan
basti-unctus enenma and matra basti-enema, 4.nasya,
sirpvirechan-head-cleansing, nasal
drops and 5. raktamokshan-blodd-letting.
2. Purva karm: Preparatory procedures before panchkarma include dipan
(stimulation of digestive juices), burning the toxic waste and ama
with pachan -digestant drugs, snehan-oleation Abhyantar and bahya- injestion of
medicated oils or ghees and external application of oils or ghees, and svedan-sudation therapy, bashpa sweda wet or pottoli sweda dry
heat like by a heating pad, use of heated chambers or hot fomentation or
heated cloth, nadi sweda-steam out of a tube.
3. Pashat karma: Post panchkarma
procedure includes bringing the patient back to normal diet which consists
of giving light gruel first, followed gradually by thick gruel, un-spiced
and spiced soup two to three times a day for several days.
(b) Shamana-Palliation: Palliative or curative
treatments are used to balance vitiated
doshas.
1. Dipan- Kindling
the digestive power (agni , fire)
by administering herbal formulas
2. Pachana: Burning
the toxic waste and ama by administering herbal formulas
3. Prabhva Dravy- Treatment with specific action
ayurvedic herbal and herbo-mineral formulas and dietary supplements excluding synthetic compounds, controlled
substances or dangerous drugs
4.
Shiro Dhara-
Pouring a thin stream of medicated oils or herbal decoctions over the
forehead between the eyes of a patient.
5. Shirobasti- Medicated Oil/ ghee is
contained by a dam constructed with horse gram-flour dough around the
head.
6. Netrabasti- Same as above but around the
eyes
7. Katti Basti- Same as above but in the
lumbosacral area
8. Hridayabasti- Same as above but in the heart
area
9. Shiropicchu- Oil pad dipped in medicated
ghee / oil placed over the "Sahasrara chakra", or the fontanelle
10. Dhavan- Cleansing of skin and wound
areas with herbal teas
11. Ksharkarma- for hemorrhoids and
fistula
12. Upavasa: Fasting
13. Trut nigraha: Observing thirst
14 Atap-seva: Sun bathing
15 .Vyayama: Exercise, yoga and stretching
16. Pranayam: Breathing
exercise
17. Abhyang
,: Whole body
massage
18. Keshamardan: Head massage
19 .Marma mardan: Vital points massage
(anatomical site where muscle, vein, ligament, bone joint meet) with
medicated oils
20.
Daivavyapasraya:
Energy modulation through, temperature treatment (heat and cold),
acupressure, sonotherapy
21. Standard first aid
procedures for emergencies and accidents, such as CPR, bandage of a cut on
the skin
(c.) Ayurvedic psychiatry based on three gunas-attributes, Satva, Rajas, and Tamas gunas. Rajas
and Tamas are called masnsik doshas-mental attributes.
It is believed that all mental illnesses arise from these two doshas and directly related to
unwholesome interaction between the individual and his environment. Therapies aim to balance these two doshas using herbal formulas and
improved interaction with the environment
Assessment of mental constitution based on tridoshas and trigunas
Examination includes the following eight factors
1. Mana- emotion mood effect
2. Buddhi- thought and decision
3.
Sajan-jnan- orientation
4.
Smriti- memory and learning
5.
Bhakti- desire
6.
Sila- habits
7.
Cesta- psychomotor functions
8.
Acara- conduct and behavior
It also includes (a) to (d) elements cited in Nidan
Treatment:
1. Daivavypasraya-
mantras and religious activities
2. Sattvavajaya-
assurance therapy (asvasan),
replacement of emotions and psyoshock therapy
3. Yoga, meditation
4. Panchkarma-biopurification
5. Samsamana- palliative treatment with
the help of medhya rasayanas-neuro-nutrition herbs, neuro-nutrition herbal formulas,
dietary and life style interventions and environmental changes.
(iii.) SWASTHA
VRITTA-Hygiene and health maintenance practices
1.
Ayurvedic lifestyle choices
2.
Ayurvedic dietary interventions
3.
Ayurvedic yoga exercises
4.
Ayurvedic massage
5.
Ayurvedic meditation
6.
Pranayam
(Ayurvedic breathing exercise)
Administrative structure:
Ayurvedic Medicine Board composed principally of
Ayurvedic physicians and charged with exercising independent regulatory
authority over the profession .
Licensure is requested to provide standardized
criteria of knowledge and experience for those persons practicing AMI in
state.
IV. JUSTIFICATION FOR LICENSING QUALIFIED AYURVEDIC PHYSICIANS
(BAMS, BIMS, ABMS AND EQUIVALENT DEGREES FROM ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS)
Regulation of Medical Systems the US: Many medical systems, e.g., chiropractic,
acupuncture and oriental medicine, naturopathy, osteopathy are currently
regulated in most states. AMI which
is a very useful therapeutic modality is not regulated in any State. Even
massage therapy that does not require diagnosis of diseases and treatment
with herbal drugs is regulated in many states. But AMI, which includes diagnosis,
prevention, treatment of diseases by use of herbals, dietary interventions,
minerals and Panchkarma procedures
such as, strong purgatives, enemas and emetics, requiring significant
training and close supervision of patients by a physician, is not. Even a massage therapy license requires
500 to 1000 hours of training, passage of National Board Exams, and other
regulatory steps before being allowed to practice in most states.
Potential
Public Health Hazard from unqualified AMI practitioners in the US: Currently there are over 20 educational
facilities in the US (Appendix 3) offering AMI training limited to a total
of about 500 hours (less than 300
hours of lectures) and covers primarily health maintenance and life style
choices (National Ayurvedic Medical Association web site). The admission criteria are only a High School
Diploma. None of the
schools are accredited by regional accreditation boards such as WASC. A certificate, such as “Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist” given by California College of
Ayurveda, implies that a student has mastered and can practice AMI. The fact is that in order to be a
clinical specialist of AMI to be able to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure
diseases, the minimum required course work in India is 2,860 lecture hours
and 700 practicum hours (full time 4 ½ years) and one year of internship.
American citizens deserve to be treated by equally qualified physicians as
the citizens of India.
AMI practitioners with 500 total training hours without a previous medical degree are not
qualified to treat diseases as Ayurvedic clinical specialist. However,
students are often lead to believe that they can practice AMI as long as
they do not use words like “diagnose, prevent, treat and cure” in their
communication with patients. AMI
practitioners whose training is limited to 500 total lecture hour and do
not hold a separate medical degree are not qualified to treat diseases,
however, they are often advised by AMI schools that they can practice AMI
as long as they do not use the words like “diagnose, prevent, treat and
cure’ in their practice, obtain a signed contract from the patient and
operate under a limited liability company (The Law and Ayurveda: Practical
Guidelines for Licensed and Non-licensed Health care Providers by Jeff
Turner, Light on Ayurveda Vol. IV, Issue 3, page 8).
- NEW DELHI: In a major step towards promoting
Ayurvedic studies in the US
and tapping its $40 billion herbal market, India has cleared the
proposal to send experts to teach AMI
in 10 American medical colleges.
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has extended his full support for
the proposal and we are in touch with officials of the AMI Department
in this regard,'' said Navin C Shah, a senior medical representative
of Indian doctors in the US. For details call Dr. Navin Shah, 301 699
3192 ; Dr. K.K. Dwivedi, Embassy of India, 202-939-9803.
- Scope of AMI Training:
The subjects included in the BAMS training program are listed in
Appendix 1. The major subjects
are: (1) Sharir
Rachana (Anatomy), (2) Sharir Kriya (Physiology), (3) Padarth Vigyan (Ayu. Physics),
(4) Bhasajya Kalpana
(Ayu. Pharmacy), (5) Rasa
Shastra (Ayu. Drugs of Metals and Mineral origin), (6) Dravya Guna (Ayu.
Pharmacology), (7) Kaya
Chikitsa (Medicine, Charak and Ashtanghradaya Samhitas), (8). Shalya Chikitsa (Minor surgery,
Susruta Samhita), (10) Shalakya
Chikitsa, (Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat), (11) Kaumarbhratya (Pediatrics), (12) Prasuti Tantra (Obstetrics), (13) Stri Roga (Gynecology), (14) Bhutavidya (Psychiatry), (15) Swasthyavrat (Hygiene, mediation, Yoga, life style
changes, dietary choices), (16) Agadtantra
(Toxicology and Forensic
Medicine)
(17) Rasayan Tantra
(Science of Health and Longevity), (18) Vajeekarantantra (Ayu. Procreative Activity and
Rejuvenation). http://web.archive.org/web/20050207070609/ccimindia.org/Curriculum_ayurveda_1.htm
. The
training covers conventional medical subjects as an integral content
of the AMI courses. Students
are also familiarized with the conventional drugs and interactions
with Ayurvedic drugs. The program is designed to allow for smooth
cross referral between conventional and AMI practitioners.
3.
No
Conflict with Conventional Medicine: A license will include only the right
to use ayurvedic diagnostic methods,
diagnosis, prevention, treatment recommendations and treatment protocol;
the license would NOT allow the use of conventional medicine treatments.
- Validity and
Scientific Basis of Ayurvedic
Therapies: Indian government
agencies and
universities have studied AMI and published findings in conventional
medical journals included in the National Library of Medicine and
indexed in Index Medicus. Additionally, the NIH, private foundations
and ayurvedic herbal products manufacturers have expended millions of
dollars in funds to underpin the safety and effectiveness of AMI
therapies. Many of these
findings from the pharmacological, biochemical and clinical studies
have been summarized in (www.redwingbooks.com/products/books/SciBasAyuThe.cfm)
Scientific Basis of Ayurvedic Therapies, CRC Press Florida, 2003.
5. Popularity of AMI: “Even in such major cities as New Delhi, which boasts several
world-class medical facilities,
AMI is widely embraced. Pharmacies stock AMI remedies alongside
conventional medical products such as antibiotics” (Washington Post, 1/8/06).
6. Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia
and Formulary of India: Briefly, AMI has over 1000 therapeutic herbs of
which over 326 have been included in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. In addition, the Ayurvedic Formulary of India has
over 780 Text formulas of animal, mineral and plant origin. These books
provide specific standards for formulations and testing Ayurvedic herbs and
Text formulas. The Government of
India has set up the following permissible limit for heavy metals in
Ayurvedic products containing only herbal ingredients for oral
administration: lead, 10 ppm,
Cadmium, 0.30 ppm, arsenic 10 ppm, and mercury, 1 ppm.
7. Usefulness of AMI: Ayurvedic Text formulas and single herbs
are known to be useful in the management of chronic diseases, psychiatric
disorders, neurological disorders and maintenance of good health,
particularly when patients become resistant to conventional drugs or are
unable to utilize conventional drugs due to co-morbidities which put them
at risk for side effects from conventional treatment. Volumes of effectiveness/ efficacy, and
safety data have been published both in India as well as the West.
8. Education: Education in AMI at the college level,
equivalent to BAMS, will be more easily facilitated in states where
it is regulated.
9. Growth of AMI: The
state could be on the forefront of the growing interest in Ayurvedic
medicine with co-operation among practitioners, users of the medical
practice and the government.
10. Supply of AMI Products:
With regulation, Ayurvedic suppliers will be encouraged to open outlets in
the state increasing the tax base while providing local access to high
quality Ayurvedic products.
11. Third party payment: Although, Complimentary Alternative Medicine
health services are often not covered by third party payers in the way
conventional health services are.
However, many CAM therapies (e.g.,
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Chiropractic) are given a % discount by
third party payers. AMI services are
not given such discounts.
12. Health Care cost: AMI may bring down the health care cost
by providing an alternative therapeutic system.
1) AMI is known to
produces desirable therapeutic effect without causing adverse health
effects, thus may save health care costs from the treatment of side effects
known to result from treatment with conventional dugs. (Appendix 4)
(2) AMI is not known to
cause delayed adverse health effects or co-morbid conditions which
sometimes develop years after the use of a conventional drug, again saving
the cost of treating the secondary disorders. (Appendix 4)
(3)
Based on available data AMI formulas are proven useful dietary supplements
to improve health, strengthen the cardiovascular system, immune system,
improve memory, and relieve depression.
The formulas are also cited in Texts to reduce the frequency of
illnesses. Through the emphasis on prevention, health care cost may be
reduced.
(4)
AMI therapies and Text formulas are herbal or herbo-mineral, thus, can not
be patented. The use of the formulas
should be less expensive.
It is
apparent from the scope and extent of AMI that there is a great need for
the regulation of AMI in the US so that a minimum standard of education and
experience necessary to practice AMI can be enforced to protect the public
and establish it as a reliable and safe medicine in the US.
IV. AVAILABLITY OF QUALIFIED AMI PHYSICIANS
There are over 200 accredited AMI colleges and over 380,000
registered qualified ayurvedic physicians in India
(Dep. Ayush India
web site). There are many AMI
graduates in the UK. There is no formal registry to provide
any proof of the exact number of AMI graduates in the US because
there is no licensing. We believe
there are a few hundred BAMS degree holders in the US. We believe that several dozen of AMI graduates are likely to apply for
licensing in the state.
In other states such as California, there are
many persons with degrees in Ayurvedic medicine, trained in India, who
because of lack of regulation see patients in their homes for moderate fees
and have to refer patients to Indian grocery stores or have their relatives
ship the herbals to them from Indian outlets which may or may not have
followed the GMP
standard. Additionally, there are
those persons trained in mail order courses or in short courses of 200-600
hours who wish to stay off the radar screen of any regulatory body. This is how AMI is being practiced in
the USA. As a result, it is currently impossible
to determine how many persons are practicing AMI in the state or any other
state and how many patients treated.
Size of the membership in
Ayurvedic organizations is a poor measure of numbers of professionals in
the same way that membership in the American Medical Association is not an
accurate measure of physicians in this country—a fact that has been
demonstrated in the past. Additionally, there will be those who will not
practice, in spite of having the BAMS degree, due to fear of malpractice
issues as the medical discipline is not regulated and therefore generally
uninsurable. As soon as BAMS and equivalent degrees in AMI are recognized,
licenses are given, the number of qualified degree holders will increase
considerably similar to Indian MDs.
V. IS THERE A PUBLIC OUTCRY FOR THIS MEDICAL
SYSTEM?
Yes. The public has complained about wrong
diagnosis of disease, useless treatment and overcharging for a long time
from conventional medicine practitioners.
Subsequently, patients can go to regulated AOM practitioners but do
not know where to turn for Ayurvedic treatment. Many of the community
members have been highly verbal in their desire for regulation.
VI. WHY ARE THERE SO FEW COMPLAINTS REPORTED
AGAINST PRACTITIONERS?
The public does not know where to file complaints;
with no system in place for regulation,
patients merely go to another health care practice for treatment if
unhappy with the practitioner. Absence of complaints in official files does
not necessarily mean absence of health risk.
VII. HAVE OTHER STATES IN THE US
REGULATED THIS PROFESSION?
No.
Although AMI has been practiced in India for over 5000 years, it
is new to US. People have been using
the non-drug therapy portions of AMI e.g. Yoga, meditation, spiritual
counseling for over 50 years in the US but herbal treatments and
other measures of the health care system have not been used until the
1980’s. The Government of India
has moved forward in advocating global usefulness of AMI as contemporary
scenario of health care through global net works. (Appendix 5)
VII. ARE WIDELY
ACCEPTED TESTNG STANDARDS AVAILABLE?
Yes.
Widely accepted testing standards are available. Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
(four volumes and over 1000 pages) has been established by the Ministry of
Health and Family Planning, Department of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy
Unani, Sidha, and Homeopathy (Ayush), Government of India New Delhi India,
Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi India. The Pharmacopoeia lists all standards for
each Ayurvedic herb similar to drugs listed in US Pharmacopoeia. The
standards for herbs include macroscopic and microscopic description,
foreign matter, total ash, acid insoluble ash, alcohol soluble extractives,
and water soluble extractives. It also gives methods to test for total
heavy metals, lead, mercury, and arsenic and active ingredient if
known. In addition, the
Ayurvedic Formulary of India
published by Ayush contains the constituent herbs of each formula with the
amounts of each herb and other ingredients along with therapeutic
indications. These books are described in detail in article XIV. These books can be made available on
request.
VIII. DOES AYURVEDIC MEDICINE MANUFACTURED BY
LICENSED PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES CONTAIN UNSAFE LEVELS OF LEAD?
Although the permissible
levels of heavy metals have not been formally set by US FDA, the Government
of India, Department of AYUSH has set following permissible limit of heavy
metals in Ayurvedic products with only herbal ingredients: lead, 10 ppm, cadmium, 0.30 ppm, arsenic
10 ppm, and mercury, 1 ppm. It is
important that qualified physicians knowledgeable about the available safe
drugs are licensed.
IX. INSURANCE COVERAGE:
Ayurvedic practitioners
are advised to prepare a waver form and have patients sign it. They are also advised to search for city
ordinances concerning the scope of practice limitations and the presence of
a registered nurse while performing invasive procedures or refer patients
to a qualified MD physician. After the
AMI practice is regulated then practitioners will be required to carry
insurance coverage. Without a
license to practice it is very difficult to get insurance coverage. At this time Ayurvedic practitioners
without an MD degree are legally not allowed to “diagnose, prevent, treat
and cure” diseases and limit their practice to health maintenance by life
style changes and Yoga exercises.
In more conventional
clinics in California,
persons practicing AMI had to work under the umbrella of a practitioner
whose discipline was government regulated.
This situation was the case even if the licensed practitioner knew nothing
about AMI. This scenario is not the
solution.
X. PROPOSED LICENSE CRDENTIALS
Persons with a BAMS or an equivalent
degree, one year of clinical experience and passing a National AMI Board
Examination will be considered qualified for a license to practice AMI
which includes diagnosis, prevention, treatment and cure of diseases using
ayurvedic methods and therapies. The
minimum Ayurvedic Program course work required consists of 2,860 lecture
hours and 700 practicum hours, a total of 3,560 hours, as required for BAMS
degree by CCIM in India
(Appendix 1.). After AMI is
regulated in the state, US
trained practitioners with 500 hours of course work and 100 hours of
practicum in Yoga, meditation, spiritual counseling, herbals and dietary
intervention will not be eligible for a license to practice AMI. They may
be eligible to be a Lifestyle Coach based on their training after they
pass a board examination for the life style choice subject content. They
will not be allowed to call themselves Ayurvedic Practitioners or
Physicians.
FOLLOWING APPENDICES ARE AVIALBALE ON REQUEST
1. AMI
Educational facilities in the US
2. Conventional
drugs banned for serious adverse health effects
3. Government
of India
initiative to globalize AMI
4. Frequently
asked questions about AMI
5. Brief history and principles of AMI
6. AMI
research
7. AMI
drug regulations
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