Sydney-based NICM Health Research Institute and All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi will jointly work on validation of ayurvedic medicine and aligned inventions such as yoga and meditation.
Highlights:
- New academic chair in Australia to research ayurvedic medicines, yoga and meditation
- It will be based at Western Sydney University's campus in Westmead for three years
- It will develop strategies to integrate ayurvedic medicine with conventional healthcare system
Ayurveda, which means 'life science' in Sanskrit, is considered one of the world's oldest holistic healing systems. It was developed more than 3,000 years ago in India. Still, ayurvedic medicines continue to be at odds with allopathic or modern care due to a lack of scientific evidence.
NICM Health Research Institute Director, Professor Dennis Chang, said research outcomes will help to validate the effectiveness of ayurvedic interventions and their integration with the Australian health care system.
Western Sydney University and Indian Government’s Ministry of Ayush inks an agreement to appoint an academic Chair in Ayurvedic medicines. Source: Getty Images/Tomekbudujedomek
Western Sydney University's Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Barney Glover, said the new academic chair will significantly impact the scientific evaluation and internationalisation of ayurvedic medicine.
"The visiting Ayush academic chair will provide leadership and work within the robust Australian regulatory framework to develop strategies to promote the translation and integration of evidence-based Ayurveda medicine into conventional healthcare," Professor Glover said in a statement.
The chair will be based at Western Sydney University's Westmead campus for three years.
Melbourne-based yoga instructor Rajendra Yenkannamoole calls it's a great step. "Yoga has many benefits, and further research can only help its integration with the health system," Mr Yenkannamoole told SBS Hindi. 
Sydney-based Maria Gonzalaz, who is currently researching the effects of yoga on depression and anxiety, also welcomed the announcement.
Maria Gonzalez, a PhD student, who is currently studying effects of yoga on mental health of cancer pantients. Source: Supplied by Maria Gonzalez
"Such a chair would prove powerful as it would allow more research projects to be undertaken," she said.
