Ayurveda is the medicines of future as was in past

हिताहितम् सुखम् दु:खमायुस्तस्य हिताहितम् |मानम् च तच्च यत्रोक्तमायुवेर्द: स उच्यते ||
Ayurveda, an ancient scientific system of medicine originated from India; the life science where the principles & methodology are described to know the quantum & status of social as well as personal health. All ancient civilizations have developed their own medicinal systems to cope up with illnesses which also reflect their social status, beliefs and practices. Some of them are practiced in their regions like Ayurveda, Chinese, Unani etc. among them Ayurveda and Chinese have worldwide presence.
According to the references available in Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata and all other literary work in India, Ayurveda was originated with the origin of life to improve the quality and span of life. It was initially taught in total residential schools by word of mouth along with practical training because in that era memory was too good. The documentation of Ayurvedic practices and facts starts from Rig-Veda in which a lot of description about disease symptoms and their treatments with different kinds of herbs and with some mantras are described. The detailed and most systemic description of Ayurveda is available in Atharvaveda [4000-6000 BC].
An Ancient famous Ayurvedic Physician Agnivesha, the disciple of Maharishi Atrey, did the first independent documentation of Ayurveda literature [3000-4000 BC]. The revised version of this work is available till today as CHARAKA SAMHITA that was revised and updated by Maharishi Charaka[2000 BC]; great physician of his era. In 120-chapters of Charaka Samhita, basics of health maintenance-improvement, disease prevention, prediction, etiopathogenesis, principles of treatment and formulations are described. The eight branches of Ayurveda are described in Charaka Samhita with more detail on Internal Medicine-
Kayachikitsa - Internal Medicine
Shalakya -Surgery of ENT, EYE, Dentistry, Cosmetology, Head& Brain
Shalya -Surgery –General, & super specialized
Agada Tantra- Toxicology & Forensic Medicine
Bhootavidhya- Psychiatry and Mantra Chikitsa
Kaumarbhritya-Pediatrics, Gynec –Obestratics
Rasayana Tantra-Preventive, predictive, rejuvenation& Geriatrics
Vazikarana -Endocrinology, Regeneration& Reproductive medicine
Great Ancient Surgeon Shushruta documented all the branches with main emphasis on surgical branches in 1000BC, which is available till today as revised and updated by a Surgeon Nagarjuna in 200AD. The procedures adopted and the instruments used are described in detail. Some of the procedures are done in the same way in modern day surgery also. Concepts of modern plastic surgery is developed from the Principles and techniques described in Shushruta Samhita. Stitch less, cosmetic, organ transplantation inter& intra species, surgery without anesthesia are another interesting topics covered in this great epic of Ayurveda.
Charaka Samhita & Shushruta Samhita are the most authentic work available on Ayurvedic medicine & surgery respectively and are an important part of syllabus in under graduate, postgraduate and research purpose till date. The undergraduate course [BAMS] is 5, 1/2years regular study & training after senior secondary school examination with Physics-chemistry& biology as compulsory subjects. Postgraduate; M.D. [Ayurveda] in various subjects is a three years specialized training programmes at various institutes IPGT&RA,GAU,Jamnagar; IMS,BHU,Varanasi;NIA,Jaipur are the best.
There were three great universities in India in olden days (1500BC to 200AD) with Astronomy, Mathematics, Yoga, philosophy, Economics, Political science including Moral education, Geometry, Vastu-Shastra, Ayurveda medicine and surgery as super specialized subjects. One was at Banaras on the bank of River Ganga in the east where head of medicine was Shushruta- followed by Nagarjuna where surgical techniques and principles were taught. The other was at Takshashila in the west on the bank of Jhelum River where medicine was taught under the leadership of Atrey- Agnivesha followed by Charaka. Third one great university was at Nalanda where Kashyapa was the head of medicine, pediatrics, and gynaec-obstratics were the specialties. A lot of references are available which indicate that the students from other region of the world also came here for study.
Ayurveda has so long golden period of time& its rich literature is available till date. During that period very few incidences of metabolic, life style & stress generated disorders are recorded. The practical aspect of awareness about the prevention of various disorders can be seen in the way and use of various species depending upon the environmental conditions. In 1600-1900th AD it has some neglected period but after the independence once again due its unique integrated approach it is gaining its lost ground not only in Indian but entering every home in the world in some or the other way.

AYURVEDA IN 21st ADThe reductionist approach of modern medicine treating the symptoms or treating a finding revealed by high tech, high cost investigations as against the integral approach of Ayurveda and secondly inability to treat life style generated diseases & other complicated disorders like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Cancer, Diabetes, Asthma, AIDS, Auto- immune disorders, & other life style generated disorders, Viral disorders, Genetic diseases& side effects of modern medicines lured the patients and compelled the scientists around the world to find alternate way from Ayurveda and other alike medicines.
Some of the life shaving, critical care & emergency drugs, used in modern medicine derived from Ayurvedic herbs-
Codeine [Papaver somniferum], Atropine [Hyoscyamuc muticus], Ephedrine [Ephedra spp], Bromohexine[Adatoda vasaka], Theophylline[Caffea arasica], Digitoxin, Digoxin, Digitalis[Digitalis lanata],Paperverine[Papaver SP],Colchicine [Colchinum actummode],Quinine [Cinchona],Taxol [Taxus brewifolia],Podophyllotxin [podophylum peltatum],Vincristine, Vinblastin [vincia rosa] .

There are 500 significant periodicals published in the world covering medicinal plants. A lot of patents are filed on herbal researches from about 48 countries claiming their basic researches but the source of information basically Ayurveda, WHO, UNESCO like agencies at have developed their faith in Ayurveda.
About 80% of prescriptions by practitioners of modern medicine include one or more preparation having herbal drugs.
International Trade Center- UNCTAD/ GATT Geneva show that trade of medicinal plants increased from $ 355m (1976) to $551m in 1980.
In USA ~ 20% of the world market with respect to drugs and pharmaceuticals, more than 25% prescriptions have one/ more plant origin compound/ constituent. This herbal market has a great potential in coming years.
But only some herb’s uses or their manufactured medicines do not form the soul of Ayurveda; but its approach towards the patient -life –environment- geographical influences as a whole unit in relation to cosmic environment because it treats a human being as a micro-unit of cosmic world.