My time here has been fascinating, I really have loved to
getting to know more and more about the Indian healthcare systems here in
India. I have really focused in the last two weeks on defining my parameters in
what types of Indian medicine I am including in my research. This is
particularly interesting when I consider what type of care I am looking at studying
as a part of my research.
I came across and article earlier this week by a doctor here
in India that was a comprehensive outline at the status of the healthcare
programs in India. It is fascinating and I have gleaned a lot of important
information from it. I want to out line some of the interesting things that I
have learned from reading this paper. I will also include several things that I
have learned through my own research as well. I am going to share them here to
follow.
One of the biggest things that I have come to understand is
that in India there are several healthcare types from different cultures that
have left significant impressions on the healthcare status here. The Indian
Government recognizes several of these alternative types of healthcare as
falling under the acronym AYUSH, Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy.
I knew when I got here that I would be focusing on Ayurveda
and Homeopathy but due to the nature of my research it has become very
important that I utilize the other specialties. I will use the other specialties
in my definition of the healthcare systems here in India. I guess I’m lucky
that I went ahead and included the other slot on my survey questions. It is
true that Ayurvedic is the one main other type of medicine but I have learned
so much about the others as well that it would not be appropriate to leave them
out at this point.
In other ways this trip is also really starting to shape up as
well. I love the culture and people here so much. I constantly am taken aback
as to the genuine and sincere attitudes of the people that I have met here in
Tamil Nadu. I catch myself thinking just how lucky I was to be here and have
this wonderful experience. I have learned so much and the status of my research
reflects that.
Things are going well and I love the place more and more the
longer I am here. It has an interesting hold on you like that and I am
completely ok with it.
