The Hindu : Karnataka / Bidar News : AyuSoft for Ayurvedic doctors on the anvil

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Tuesday, Feb 08, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bidar

AyuSoft for Ayurvedic doctors on the anvil

By Our Staff Correspondent

BIDAR, FEB. 7. The Pune-based Centre for Development of Advanced Computing is developing AyuSoft, a decision support system software to assist ayurvedic doctors.

This involves digitally compiling of all ancient literature on Ayurveda and interpreting them through English and Indian languages. This will not only encourage more students to take up Ayurveda but also promote its wider understanding, B.V. Sathaye, senior research scientist, AyuSoft project, told The Hindu.

Dr. Sathaye was here recently to participate in a seminar on anatomy organised by N.K. Jabshetty Ayurvedic College. "When we complete the project by November end, we will have compendia of all classic Sanskrit texts on Ayurveda. This e-archive will be open ended. People can easily seek information from it and also add to it," he said.

Books may be lost or destroyed, but this digital library will remain with an ever-expanding database. The system will also have interactive software that helps in diagnosis and treatment. This will be compact and can be operated on desktop, Dr. Sathaye said.

The project has six components - a glossary of ayurvedic terms; an encyclopaedia of concepts, which includes description of body parts, diseases, drugs and plants and animals that are sources of medicines; a patient information management system; a diet and drug advice; lifestyle advice; and prakruti (body constitution) assessment.

Ayurveda experts led by Medha Dhurandhar, V.M. Nanal, Manoj Nesari and V.V. Dhoipode are looking after the project, Dr. Sathaye said. The patient information management system is an important component of the project. Practitioners from across the country will upload details of their cases. This data will serve as a test for various drugs. It will also provide proof of the usefulness or otherwise of a diet or lifestyle advice, on which future doctors can give their advice, Dr. Sathaye said.

Dr. Sathaye, who retired as the Principal of Goa Ayurvedic College and head of the Ayurvedic Department in Gujarat University, said the project will help students who can go back to what he calls "the largest reference book on Ayurveda in the world.''

The need for standardisation of diagnosis and treatment methods, dietary advice and recommendations for exercise will be fulfilled by the project, he said.

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AyuSoft for Ayurvedic doctors on the anvil