New Delhi, March 31 (PTI): Till now many Americans could benefit from Ayurveda treatment, but now they can learn for themselves the ancient Indian science of medicine in their own homeland.

Ayurveda experts from Mumbai and Pune are conducting a six-week course in traditional Indian system of medicine at various medical schools, including at the prestigious Harvard and Rutgers University, in the United States from May.

Medical students, resident doctors, faculty and practicising physicians are likely to attend the free-of-cost ayurveda classes, organised in nine medical schools across the US by the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH).

Navin Shah, co-founder of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin in the US, who has been the brain behind this programme, said that India has not been able to promote their alternative medicinal system, as the Chinese and Koreans, who have made significant inroads in the US.

The Ministry of Health is sending two Ayurveda professors -- H S Palep from Mumbai and Tanuja Nesari from Pune -- to the United States to impart knowledge of Ayurveda to US doctors.

"The only condition we have stipulated is that these experts should be able to scientifically validate that they have been able to cure the diseases," Shah said.

If successful, the courses can be a part of the Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) under the medical curriculum in the US education system.

Shah said in the US the concept of healing the mind, body and soul was fast gaining popularity and ayurveda can make a niche for itself in the alternative medicine sector.

"Alternative medicine has a 40-billion-dollar market in the US and traditional systems of medicines of China, Korea and Mexico have cornered a lion's share," he said.

Ayurveda has been able to capture a share of just 200 million dollars, which is very minisicule compared to its actual potential, he said.

The classes might encourage many American graduates to come to India and learn the craft and could be great potential clientele for India, he said.

"There is tremendous interest on the subject. Interest has also been shown by American medical students and graduates to come to India and take a one-year course in Ayurveda," he said.

Shah said the National Health Institute has shown keen interest for a joint Indo-US research on Ayurveda.

"They are ready to fund the research," he said.