In Ayurveda, which is basically a humoural medical system, diseases are understood as an imbalance between the body's three humors. The three humors are Vata (nerve energy), Pitta (catabolic fire energy) and Kapha (anabolic nutritive energy). Ayurveda in India is the best as no where else you can find the most professional practitioners of this medical system. Indian Ayurveda practitioners have kept the 5000 years old tradition of Ayurveda in its most original form.
Course Details
Eligibility for the Bachelor course in Ayurveda is 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The duration of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) is five and half years including six months of internship. For Post graduate study, the period of study is three years. Ph.D is also awarded in Ayurveda which is of two years duration. Selection of BAMS is through the same All India Entrance Examination as for MBBS. In the case of private medical colleges entrance examinations are conducted by the institutes individually.
Career Prospects
There are many job opportunities both in India and abroad. An Ayurvedic practitioner can get employment as medical officer/doctor at government and private Ayurvedic hospitals. One can also start his/ her own practice or open ones own retail shop of Ayurveda medicines. They can also find employment as supervisors in 'Panch Karma' (Ayurvedic massage) / health centres.
Ayurvedic doctors can work industries engaged in Ayurvedic preparations. He can also work as Professor in Ayurvedic colleges or do research. A BAMS degree holder can also open up his own pharmacy after experience of 1-2 yrs of production in a reputed firm. Only after that you can apply for a drug manufacturing license. Another option is to work as a research scientist for multinational companies with a minimum experience of 3 years in clinical research and laboratory research.
Top Colleges Offering UG/PG/Other Courses
Bachelor and Master's degree in Ayurveda is offered by several universities in India. Some of them are University of Health Science, Vijayawada; Dr. MGR Medical University, Guindy, Chennai; Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded; Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore; National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur; Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth (National Academy of Ayurveda), New Delhi; Mahatma Gandhi Gramoday Vishwavidyalay, Chitrakoot; Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar.
Remuneration
In government Ayurveda hospitals the starting salary scale is around Rs 8000 for BAMS graduates. Professors in Ayurveda colleges get more than Rs 8000/- per month. In private practice the remuneration depends totally on the effort you put in and your professional reputation. Dedicated and competent practitioners can earn more. A BAMS graduate working in private sector can earn more than what he earns in government sector. Running own pharmaceutical company is more remunerative than other jobs.
