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News18
a day ago
- Health
- News18
Beyond The Medicine Wars: Why India Needs To Learn From China's Integration Model
Last Updated: India's medical establishment attacks traditional medicine while China embraces it. When chess grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi proudly posted a Doctor's Day photo calling his Ayurvedic family members 'doctors", he unleashed medical establishment fury. Dr Cyriac Abby Philips—the hepatologist known as @theliverdr—disparaged his post, declaring 'none of them are really doctors". This vicious attack perfectly exemplifies the toxic hostility India's medical establishment reserves for traditional medicine. My own X (previously Twitter) battles with Dr Philips revealed the same ugly pattern: an ideological warfare which trumps any real scientific curiosity or enquiry. Here's my honest take: if a loved one had a major accident, I'd rush them to a modern hospital without hesitation. But once past the crisis and into recovery? I'd recommend Ayurvedic healing—yoga, pranayama, aligned diet. For chronic conditions, there's solid research backing Ayurveda's effectiveness. Positing one modality as 'evidence-based medicine" champion and the other as 'pseudoscience" smacks of the quackery the medical establishment accuses others of. Rather than serve patients, or science, it only serves to deny. When I visited China, I was struck by how seamlessly they've woven traditional medicine into their modern healthcare fabric. Walk into any major hospital and you'll find TCM departments running alongside surgical wards. Patients don't see contradiction—many still consider these 'TCM hospitals" even while receiving cutting-edge medical procedures and surgeries. This isn't accidental—it's smart policy. Under Xi Jinping, China has passed 26 policies elevating TCM to 'national treasure" status. The 2017 Traditional Chinese Medicine Law mandated TCM institutions in public hospitals, while the 2016-2030 Strategic Plan allocated 50 billion yuan for development. Ironically, even communist China embraced traditional medicine, while our home grown 'progressives" remain stuck in old dogma. TCM and Ayurveda are sister sciences which share ancient DNA. Both emerged from similar foundations: constitutional medicine (prakriti versus constitution), delicate energy balance (doshas versus qi), sophisticated pulse diagnosis revealing hidden ailments, and natural pharmacology working with the body rather than against it. Both emphasize prevention over cure, viewing health holistically—mind, body, and spirit dancing in harmony. The Silk Road facilitated deep medical knowledge exchange between Indian and Chinese physicians, with documented cross-pollination enriching both traditions. If China can successfully weave traditional medicine into modern healthcare while maintaining scientific standards, India should easily achieve the same with Ayurveda. The double standards are mind-boggling. A Wall Street Journal headline during SARS celebrated how Chinese Medicine—including cow urine—was 'finding new respect in Western medicine". The same substance routinely mocked by India's medical establishment gained international recognition when China's protocols actually worked. Meanwhile, pranayama gets serious study in Western universities, with researchers documenting measurable cardiovascular benefits in peer-reviewed journals. Yet the narrow-minded dogmas of some in India's Medical Establishment, preempts research at home which could help India lead the world in this medical revolution. This intellectual dishonesty crystallised during my exchanges on X (formerly Twitter) with Dr. Philips. When he attacked Giloy using an observational study—hardly gold-standard evidence—I pointed out the obvious: observational studies can't establish causation. Moreover, his study failed to confirm the tested substances were actually Giloy; contamination might have caused the reported liver damage. The contradiction became glaring when in the same post he dismissed Ashwagandha as 'pseudoscientific" despite multiple double-blind RCTs proving its efficacy. A 2019 study in Medicine showed Ashwagandha improved memory and executive function in cognitive impairment patients. A 2020 Journal of Ethnopharmacology study documented significant cortisol reduction and better sleep. These aren't folk tales—they meet modern medicine's exact methodological standards. Dr. Philips' response to actual evidence-based medicine which he claims to champion? He blocked me. What we witnessed was scientific hypocrisy in real-time. Dr Philips rejected rigorous clinical trials while promoting weak observational studies, violated the basic principle that correlation doesn't equal causation, and based sweeping condemnations on uncontrolled case reports from a handful of patients. This represents fundamental abandonment of scientific methodology—ironically, the same unscientific approach he accuses traditional practitioners of having. Here's the uncomfortable truth: modern medicine modalities don't automatically equal 'evidence-based". There's plenty of rigorous evidence for traditional medicine—both validated over millennia and proven by contemporary methods including RCTs. The reactionary approach of some allopathic practitioners makes them more 'dogma-based" than science-based. Dr Philips perfectly exemplifies this ideological pseudo-scientific approach. When ideology trumps evidence, everyone loses—especially patients seeking relief. China's success tells a completely different story. Look beyond Covid headlines and you'll see systematic results across medicine. Their stroke rehabilitation protocols blending Traditional Chinese Medicine with conventional therapy show significantly better outcomes—improved Modified Barthel Index scores and enhanced neurological function versus Western medicine alone. In cardiovascular disease, systematic reviews of 17 RCTs involving 11,726 patients using TCM demonstrated significant improvements across stable angina, myocardial infarction, and coronary artery disease. Diabetes management through integrated protocols achieves glycemic control comparable to standard medications but with fewer dangerous hypoglycemic episodes. In China there are a reported 1.28 billion annual patient visits to TCM institutions, with TCM integrated across all three hospital tiers—from township clinics to major urban centers. This is a results-driven healthcare policy, rather than a religious proclamation about who can be called as a doctor. India's medical establishment desperately needs a reality check. Our medical colleges don't just teach skepticism toward traditional practices—they actively indoctrinate students into derision and superiority. This is ideological programming wearing the medical mask of scientific training. It closes minds to evidence and creates doctors more interested in protecting turf than treating patients. We need China's pragmatic model: rigorous research on traditional treatments using modern standards, stringent quality control for herbal products addressing legitimate safety concerns, integrated training exposing students to both systems, and patient-centered outcomes over academic ego battles. top videos View all The path forward is about choosing real science over ideology, evidence over prejudice, patient welfare over professional ego. We also need to revise laws which empanel these colonial dogmas on who can heal. China proved integration works when approached systematically rather than defensively. India has both ancient wisdom and modern expertise. What we lack is intellectual humility in the medical establishment to acknowledge no single system has all answers and the courage to find the best healing treatments and healthcare practices which serve patients, not the ideology of some doctors. The author is a commentator on Indian policy and society. He can be followed on X @sankrant. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views tags : ayurveda China India view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 07, 2025, 16:20 IST News opinion Opinion | Beyond The Medicine Wars: Why India Needs To Learn From China's Integration Model Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. 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News18
a day ago
- Health
- News18
Renewed Attack On Yoga And Ayurveda Stems From Insecurity, Intolerance
Last Updated: The civilisational knowledge and wisdom of thousands of years that have healed generations cannot be simply mocked away It could have been just another of those millions of daily fights on X that one forgets as the river of the social media timeline brings in new flotsam. But it got bigger and bigger, perhaps because an entire civilisation's knowledge and wisdom were attacked and insulted, and a country's medical system was brought into question. Indian chess grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi had written an innocuous Doctors' Day post honouring his family of ayurvedic and homoeopathy doctors. A handle called @theliverdr, a practitioner from Kerala named Cyriac Abby Philips, piped up to say none of them were actual doctors. Cheered on by some others, he called AYUSH (ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha, and homoeopathy) 'pseudo-science". It is fine to criticise Indic medical and wellness systems. But when one repeatedly attacks and summarily dismisses it, one needs to delve into the motives. After all, the civilisational knowledge and wisdom of thousands of years that have healed generations cannot be simply mocked away. First, it betrays the deep insecurity of allopathy, which works on the Western paradigm of modern medicine, towards other medical systems. Many allopathic practitioners take the Abrahamic approach of exclusivity, that only it is the last word and the true cure; all other systems are hocus. While Cyriac Abby Philips denigrates Hindu scientists showing any sign of spiritual belief, netizens posted screenshots from the Rajagiri hospital portal, where he is a senior consultant. The hospital has 'chaplaincy and pastoral services" and its motto 'we care, we cure" is a 'proclamation of our firm commitment to invoke the healing power of God upon the whole person, body and soul". Second, ayurveda and homoeopathy are recognised medical courses in India that one gets into after clearing the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test or NEET. BAMS, or Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, is an integrated medical degree specially designed to teach students the systems of the traditional Indian ayurveda system. BHMS, or Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery, comprehensively covers aspects of that field. After completing this degree, you become eligible to practice as a doctor in homoeopathy. Western medical institutions have increasingly acknowledged and put to use Indian medical systems. For instance, Gerhard J Newerla, MD, from Albany, New York, writes in The New England Journal of Medicine, 'The first knowledge of testicular function was acquired empirically by the ancients when domestic animals were castrated for various reasons. However, the specific effects in men were also familiar in those early civilisations where eunuchs were part of the social order. Furthermore, The Ayurveda, written by Sushruta of India, written about 1400 BC, recommended the administration of testicular tissues for the cure of impotence." Columbia University credits Sushruta for the earliest plastic surgeries and nose jobs. 'During the 6th Century BCE, an Indian physician named Sushruta—widely regarded in India as the 'father of surgery'—wrote one of the world's earliest works on medicine and surgery. The Sushruta Samhita documented the etiology of more than 1,100 diseases, the use of hundreds of medicinal plants, and instructions for performing scores of surgical procedures—including three types of skin grafts and reconstruction of the nose," its journal says. In his acclaimed book, Saving My Neck: A Doctor's East/West Journey through Cancer, Dr Timothy McCall, MD, wonderfully describes his experience at an ayurvedic doctor's place in Kerala. He says this doctor, Chandukutty, loves taking the cases in which the conventional medical doctors have thrown up their hands. In the first week, Dr McCall shadowed him at his clinic in 2007; he witnessed how a 20-something woman with rheumatoid arthritis slowly started recovering. She was bedridden despite high doses of prednisone and methotrexate, heavy Western meds used to calm her autoimmune condition. At Chandukutty's clinic, after a few massages with medicated oils infused with dozens of herbs, she was up walking with a cane. Within three days, she was walking without one. Dr McCall writes: Rather than looking at an entire organism, a reductionist studies the parts that comprise it. In medicine, for example, the heart is viewed as a collection of parts, each of which is studied in detail. Each of these parts is in turn broken down into its own constituent parts. In the case of the heart, reductionists examine the chambers, the valves, the coronary arteries, and every other part that can be identified. This process continues at ever-finer levels of organization, down to nuclei and mitochondria, hormones and neurotransmitters. Reductionist thinking in medicine has saved millions of lives. Consider antibiotics, insulin, and the polio vaccine—even hand-washing. But, unfortunately, some physicians take a good thing too far. They put so much trust in the power of reductionism that they feel no need to consider the full humanity of their patients. When this attitude is taken to its extreme, the patient is seen as the sum of her lab tests and imaging studies. She becomes little more than a machine, some of whose parts can be fixed, others replaced. After a lifetime immersed in the field, I believe that we as a society have accepted a flawed understanding of health care. Mark Hyman, MD, and then director, Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, says the 'integrative approach is the future of health care". But in the land where that very integrative approach was born, some practitioners ironically want to choke every ounce of ancient knowledge instead of exploring—in true scientific temperament—what they still do not know or are able to prove accurately with current medical understanding. Abhijit Majumder is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Who's a 'real' doctor? How Chess grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi vs The Liver Doc's viral war of words began... over a selfie
On July 1, 2025, Indian chess grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi posted a heartfelt tribute to his family on X (formerly Twitter) in honor of National Doctors' Day . The message, accompanied by a selfie featuring his wife, parents, and sister, expressed his admiration and appreciation for the medical professionals in his family. While the post was intended as a gesture of gratitude, it quickly became the center of a major online controversy about who is truly eligible to be called a 'doctor' in India. Curious followers soon began asking about the specific fields of expertise held by his family members. In response, Gujrathi explained that his father is an Ayurvedic migraine specialist, his wife holds an MD in homeopathy , his mother works in cosmetology, and his sister is a physiotherapist. Initially, the post was met with warmth. However, within 24 hours, the tone shifted drastically. The Liver Doc Steps In, Stirring Up Storm On July 2, Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, a hepatologist better known on social media as The Liver Doc, responded sharply to Gujrathi's post. In a blunt statement, Dr. Philips asserted that the individuals mentioned in the tribute should not be classified as doctors. This response sparked a flurry of reactions, quickly dividing social media into supporters and critics. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scientists: Tinnitus? When tinnitus won't go away, do this (Watch) Hearing Magazine Undo — theliverdr (@theliverdr) The Liver Doc, known for his firm stance against unscientific practices in healthcare, argued that Ayurveda , homeopathy, cosmetology, and physiotherapy do not fall under the scope of conventional clinical medicine. Although he acknowledged that physiotherapy is a legitimate branch of healthcare that supports recovery and rehabilitation, he firmly stated that the other disciplines lack clinical validation. His especially severe comments about homeopathy, which he controversially associated with historical pseudoscientific movements, inflamed the situation further. Gujrathi Responds with Defiance Vidit Gujrathi did not remain silent. He defended his family, stating that they were all formally trained, qualified, and certified practitioners in their respective fields. He emphasized their commitment to serving others and the impact they have made over the years, even if they weren't working in the limelight. Though he later deleted his original post, Gujrathi posted screenshots of his conversation with The Liver Doc, accusing him of seeking attention by publicly attacking others instead of celebrating their contributions. — viditchess (@viditchess) In his follow-up, Gujrathi expressed that his intention was simply to honour his loved ones. He admitted he initially chose to stay quiet but felt compelled to speak out after what he described as mockery and dismissal of his family's work. He stressed that critics on social media cannot determine who deserves to be called a doctor, especially when individuals in his family have devoted their lives to helping people through alternative systems of medicine. — theliverdr (@theliverdr) — viditchess (@viditchess) The Medical Legality Behind the Title "Doctor" According to a report by India Today , the term 'doctor' in India is not restricted to those with MBBS or MD degrees in modern allopathic medicine. Under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of AYUSH, professionals holding degrees like BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) and BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery) are legally recognized as doctors. These individuals are allowed to use the prefix "Dr." before their names and are registered under statutory bodies such as the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) and the Central Council of Homeopathy (CCH). However, these councils are separate from the National Medical Commission (NMC), which governs allopathic medical practitioners. While AYUSH doctors can legally practice within their respective disciplines, they are not authorized to prescribe allopathic medication or present themselves as clinical physicians. This legal distinction often blurs in everyday practice, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where access to conventional healthcare is limited. Who Gets to Be a Doctor? The Debate Endures The controversy highlights a persistent tension in India's healthcare landscape. While traditional systems like Ayurveda and homeopathy have deep cultural roots and legal recognition, they continue to be contested by many from the modern medical establishment. Physiotherapists, though integral to patient recovery, are not granted the title of 'doctor' under standard clinical definitions. Cosmetologists, on the other hand, may or may not be doctors depending on their educational background—if they hold an MBBS or equivalent degree in dermatology or aesthetic medicine, they may qualify. In the end, what started as a tribute evolved into a conversation about professional legitimacy, public perception, and the evolving definition of a doctor in modern India. As the debate unfolds, one thing is certain: the divide between traditional and modern medicine continues to challenge India's healthcare identity.
Hindustan Times
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
‘You don't get to decide who's a doctor': Vidit Gujrathi lashes out at Liver Doc over Doctor's Day jibe
Indian Chess Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi has called hepatologist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, popular as The Liver Doc, a 'troll' amid their ongoing online spat. A Doctor's Day post made 'out of gratitude' by Gujrathi prompted a full-scale X war after Liver Doc commented on the picture that featured the chess GM's family members. Vidit Gujrathi accused Liver Doc of mocking his family after he remarked on the chess grandmaster's Doctor's Day post. (X/@theliverdr, @viditchess) What did Vidit Gujrathi say? 'I made a simple post out of gratitude. I chose silence at first, because not every conversation deserves a response. But when it turned into mocking my family, I stepped in,' he wrote. 'If that means stepping out of my lane, so be it. You and trolls like you don't get to decide who's a doctor. You have no authority to define others lives or dismiss their work. I've said my part. Now, back to what actually matters. No time for noise,' he added. What started it all? The post came as a response to Philips' reply to Gujrathi, who lashed out at him for writing, 'I am sorry, but none of them are really doctors' on a picture showing Gujrathi's family. Earlier, in response to a comment on the picture, Gujarati shared the professional specialities of his family members. 'My father is an Ayurvedic migraine specialist, my wife is an MD homoeopathy, my mom does cosmetology, and my sister is a physiotherapist.' In another post shared earlier, Liver Doc said he didn't mean to offend Gujrathi but added, 'I was stating plain facts from a professional standpoint, and I do not mince my words. You may call that ego or whatever, to console yourself, no problem.' 'I am staying in my lane and always have. Calling out medical misinformation is what I do apart from being a full-time doctor. I suggest you stay in your lane and discuss more on chess. Sorry for the checkmate,' the Liv Doc further added.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
'No time for noise': Vidit Gujrathi hits out at 'LiverDoc' for insulting doctor parents and family
Vidit Gujrathi. (PTI Photo) Indian chess Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi engaged in a social media dispute after a social media user questioned the legitimacy of his family members being called doctors in a post celebrating National Doctors' Day. The exchange began when Gujrathi shared a post wishing his family members, including his father, an ayurvedic specialist, his mother, a cosmetologist, his sister, a physiotherapist, and his wife, who holds an MD in homeopathy. The controversy started when a social media user with the handle 'TheLiverDoc' commented that none of Gujrathi's family members were "really doctors." Social media post by Vidit Gujrathi on X. Gujrathi responded strongly to the comment, stating: "Your entire brand and personality is built on insulting others. While you chase retweets by tearing people down, my family quietly heals lives without needing a spotlight. They've helped more people than your ego can count. Stay in your lane. And for a change, try being useful." Social media post by Vidit Gujrathi on X. 'TheLiverDoc', who claims to be a hepatologist, then posted a detailed response explaining his position and credentials. He clarified that he meant no offence to Gujrathi's family but was stating facts from a professional standpoint. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo "Hello, Vidit. I am not a fan of chess, but you are an important person for our country and I did not mean to offend your family. I am sure they are good people. I was stating plain facts from a professional standpoint and I do not mince my words. You may call that ego or whatever, to console yourself, no problem," TheLiverDoc wrote. The medical professional further explained his stance on alternative medicine: "Your statement on Doctors Day claiming an Ayurveda practitioner, Homeopath, Cosmetologist and a Physiotherapist were doctors is wrong and I stand by my words. Doctors' Day in India marks both the birth and death anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, one of India's most revered physicians and a key figure in shaping the healthcare system. " TheLiverDoc emphasised his credentials and the importance of scientific medicine: "I am a certified internist with a doctorate in hepatology and liver transplant medicine with 260 peer reviewed scientific publications, 4400 citations and h-index of 30 (just for your information). You don't know me and how useful I am to my patients and their families. I suggest you do a bit of homework before throwing such childish tantrums. " Social media post by Vidit Gujrathi on X. The exchange concluded with Gujrathi defending his initial post and family members: "I made a simple post out of gratitude. I chose silence at first, because not every conversation deserves a response. But when it turned into mocking my family, I stepped in. If that means stepping out of my lane, so be it." The chess grandmaster added: "You and trolls like you don't get to decide who's a doctor. You have no authority to define others lives or dismiss their work. I've said my part. Now, back to what actually matters. No time for noise." Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
