Nearly 300 delegates from 55 countries, including research scientists, doctors and pharmacologists with expertise in Western and Ayurvedic medicine gathered in London on 1-2 April for the Second International Ayurveda Congress to discussed scientific evidence on preventing disease, promoting longevity and alleviating specific conditions with Ayurveda.
Ayurveda offers a holistic, highly personalised prevention-oriented approach, including diet, exercise, and many other modalities which enable people to take charge of their own health and well-being.
Against a backdrop of an NHS in crisis, the largest-ever gathering in the UK of experts in Ayurveda finished with a resolution to help address major health problems and reduce medical costs in every country through the promotion and application of Ayurveda worldwide.
The Congress heard numerous presentations on the application of Ayurveda to relieve major disorders, with remarkable results. These included summaries of Ayurvedic strategies to improve Type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease, the effect of Ayurvedic approaches to optimise brain health, and personalised strategies for effective weight management; as well as the striking relevance of Ayurveda`s mind/body classifications and personalised approach to the emerging sciences of genomics and epigenetic.
The patron of the conference, Prof. Tony Nader MD, PhD, a neuroscientist who has pioneered research in the relationship between consciousness and physiology, said “we are delighted that this special Congress is bringing so many leading experts in Ayurveda to London, and all of us are most honoured that we will be joined by India's Minister for AYUSH*, His Excellency Shripad Yesso Naik.
“Our principal aim is to bring Ayurveda into more widespread use worldwide, and to ease the pressure in modern health systems by adding a focus on the effective prevention of imbalance and disease.”
At the end of the Congress, leaders of the three largest Ayurvedic organisations in the world passed a Resolution recommending 9 action points to promote Ayurveda on a global scale. The points include working with national, regional and local authorities in each country to support the application of Ayurvedic principles in daily life.
