In the grand orchestra of global healthcare, two ancient melodies have long played in parallel. One, the intricate raga of India’s Ayurveda, with its rhythmic cycles of doshas and gunas. The other, the balanced yin (陰) and yang (陽) of Taiwan’s traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), flowing like the eternal dance of taiji.
As the world seeks a new composition to address its complex health challenges, these two traditions stand poised to create a masterpiece of collaboration.
A Harmony in Philosophies and Practices: Ayurveda, which translates to “knowledge of life,” views the human body as a microcosm of the universe. It speaks of three fundamental energies, or doshas — vata (air and space), pitta (fire and water) and kapha (earth and water). Health, in this view, is a state of perfect tune, where these energies play in balance.
TCM, with its roots deeply entwined with Taoist philosophy, sees the body as a landscape of interconnected systems, where qi (氣, vital energy) flows through meridians like rivers through a continent. Health is achieved when yin and yang, the complementary forces of the universe, dance in equilibrium.
Both systems share a profound respect for the rhythms of nature and the interconnectedness of all things. They see health not as the absence of disease, but as a state of vibrant harmony — body, mind and spirit playing in concert.
Beyond this philosophical resonance, the two traditions share practical harmonies as well. Both Ayurveda and TCM emphasize the importance of prevention, viewing health as a daily practice rather than a battlefield against disease. They share a rich pharmacopeia of herbal remedies, each tradition boasting thousands of years of documented use. Where Ayurveda might prescribe ashwagandha for stress, TCM might recommend ginseng. Both systems also recognize the healing power of touch, with Ayurveda’s array of massage techniques complementing TCM’s acupuncture and tuina (推拿).
Diet, too, plays a crucial role. “Let food be thy medicine,” often attributed to Hippocrates, articulates a principle that has been central to Ayurveda and TCM for millennia. Both see food not just as fuel, but as a daily dose of medicine, carefully composed to maintain the body’s harmony.
Commonalities to Collaboration: On June 24, India and Taiwan signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish an Ayurveda chair at the National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine (NRICM). More than a mere institutional arrangement, this agreement is the culmination of a journey that mirrors the very essence of our ancient healing traditions.
In Ayurveda, we speak of the five great elements, or Pancha Mahabhutas — earth, water, fire, air and ether. TCM, too, recognizes five elements, or wu xing (五行): wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
Although named differently, both systems understand that health and harmony arise from the balance of these elemental forces within and around us.
Our journey of cooperation has, fittingly, followed the cycle of these elements. Like the solidity of the Earth, we laid the foundation with the establishment of the AYUSH Information Cell at NRICM in February 2021, one of 39 such cells in 35 countries worldwide. This initiative planted the seeds of our collaboration in fertile soil.
The element of water came next in 2021, with NRICM organizing the international conference on “Welcome the 21st Century Disease Challenges — Joint Opportunity for Taiwan and India,” allowing our ideas to mingle and merge like converging streams.
The Fire was ignited in 2022, with the signing of an MOU on cooperation in traditional medicine between the India Taipei Association and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center. This spark of formal cooperation set ablaze a passion for joint exploration of our traditional medicine systems.
The air of cooperation swept through in the following years, carrying the fragrance of Ayurveda across Taiwan. NRICM organized Ayurveda workshops and we jointly celebrated Ayurveda Day in Taipei, allowing the winds of change to blow fresh perspectives into both our healing traditions.
Finally, ether — the space of infinite possibilities — manifests in the most recent MOU. The Ayurveda chair at NRICM will serve as the bindu — the central point from which all possibilities can flow. From here, we will explore joint research initiatives, standardization of practices, exchange programs for practitioners and collaborative approaches to integrating traditional wisdom with modern healthcare systems.
This partnership comes at a crucial time. As the world grapples with chronic diseases and the limitations of a solely pharmaceutical approach to health, the demand for traditional medicine is rising.
India, recognizing this global shift, has been proactive. In 2022, the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine was set up by the WHO in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, supported by a commitment of US$250 million from the government of India.
In 2016, India’s Sikkim became the world’s first fully organic state. With all 760km2 of its farmland certified organic, Sikkim represents an ideal model for cultivating high-quality raw materials essential to the traditional-medicine herb industry. This expertise aligns perfectly with Taiwan’s needs — it is the fifth-largest global importer of pharmaceutical plants, with 90 percent of its demand met through imports. India accounts for only about 1 percent of Taiwan’s herbal imports, indicating substantial room for growth.
Beyond trade, collaboration in sustainable harvesting practices and conservation efforts would not only ensure the long-term viability of traditional medicine, but also contribute to global environmental conservation efforts.
As India and Taiwan look to strengthen their economic ties and people-to-people linkages, they find in their traditional medicine systems a bridge not just of knowledge, but of common worldviews. This collaboration promises more than mere medical advancement; it stands as a cultural conduit, fostering deeper understanding and mutual appreciation.
In this symphony of ancient traditions, we might just find the healing harmony that our fragmented world so desperately needs.
Manharsinh Laxmanbhai Yadav is director-general of the India Taipei Association.
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