What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is considered by many scholars to be the oldest healing science. In Sanskrit Ayurveda means “The science of life”. Ayurvedic knowledge originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and often called the “Mother of All Healing”. It stems from the ancient vedic culture and was taught for many thousands of years in an oral tradition from accomplished masters to their disciples.
The Ayurveda medicine system basically deals with the healing of the medical conditions using the medicinal herbs and medicines prepared using medicinal plants. The Ayurveda is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body and spirit. Its main goal is to promote good health, not fight diseases. But treatments may be geared towards specific health problems.
A brief introduction to Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS)
Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) is a 5-years long graduate degree that covers the study of the integrated system of modern medicine and traditional Ayurveda. The main aim of the course is to provide students the basic education in Ayurveda and its related fields. The course also prepares the students with the basic education and knowledge in Ayurvedic Science and its application for different health studies and problems.
Ayurveda is considered as one of the oldest systems of medicine and the roots from its traces are indicated from vedic times. It includes the study and application of natural herbs and its medicine in the field of health science. The course aims to provide professional excellence in Ayurveda through practical training to become an efficient practitioner, teacher, researcher and competent Ayurvedic Physician and Surgeon.
Eligibility for Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS)
The basic eligibility for the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) is that the students should have completed their PUC or 10+2 with English, PCB or CBZ with 50% aggregate in all the subjects from the recognised board.
The eligible students should apply and qualify the NEET entrance exam to get admission to BAMS programmes.
Admission Process
There are two modes of admission procedures for BAMS courses. The first one is Merit based admissions and second one is Direct admissions.
1. Merit Admissions
The first mode of admission is called a merit admission procedure. The students who are interested to join the BAMS degree should mandatorily appear for the NEET entrance exams and undergo counselling to choose their desired colleges for merit seats. The merit seats are allotted to the students according to their rankings and marks obtained by them in their PUC or 10+2 classes
There are two types of counselling for the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) course
1. Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) Counselling
The students who are interested to join the government ayurvedic colleges and other ayurvedic colleges affiliated to the government should undergo the counselling procedures of Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA).
The students who intend to join for the merit seats under government quota are required to complete the counselling procedures and join for BAMS courses in their chosen colleges. The Ayurvedic colleges under the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) are affiliated to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS). The fees are fixed by the government for merit admissions.
2. Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) Counselling
The students who are interested to join the private Ayurvedic colleges and deemed universities that are affiliated to the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) are required to apply for the MCC counselling procedures. The students should qualify the MCC counselling procedures to get admission to their desired private ayurvedic educational institutions for Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) programme.
2. Direct Admission
The eligible students who have appeared for NEET exam can also get admission to BAMS programme through direct admissions. The students under direct admissions can choose their desired colleges for their study. The students interested to get direct admission can contact Galaxy Educational Services for more details about direct admissions. The fees are slightly higher for direct admissions.
Course Curriculum for Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS)
The students of BAMS will be studying the following subjects in their course duration:
| Sl. No. | Subjects of Study |
|---|---|
| 1 | History of Ayurveda |
| 2 | Sanskrit and Samhita |
| 3 | Padartha Vigyana (Ayurvedic Philosophy) |
| 4 | Rachna Sharira (Anatomy) |
| 5 | Kriya Sharira (Physiology) |
| 6 | Rasa Shastra Avam Bhaisajya Kalpana (Pharmaceuticals of Ayurveda) |
| 7 | Dravyaguna (Materia Medica of Ayurveda) |
| 8 | Agadtantra, Vyavahar Ayurveda and Vidhi Vaidyaka (Toxicology and Jurisprudence) |
| 9 | Nidan/Vikriti Vigyan (Pathology) /Nadi Pariksha (Pulse diagnosis) |
| 10 | Swasthavritta Yoga (Personal and Social Hygiene Including Dietetics) |
| 11 | Charaka Samhita (A classical text of Ayurveda) |
| 12 | Kaya Chikitsa (General Medicine including Panchakarma, Rasayana and Vajikarana) |
| 13 | Shalya tantra (General surgery and Para Surgical Techniques) |
| 14 | Shalakya Tantra (ENT, Eye and Dentistry) |
| 15 | Prasuti Tantra Avam Stri Roga (Gynaecology and Obstetrics) |
| 16 | KaumaraBhritya (Paediatrics) |
| 17 | Medical Ethics |
| 18 | Health Regulations |
| 19 | Yoga |
Career Scope
The BAMS students can practice as Ayurvedic Doctors in communities. They can join Ayurvedic hospitals and Ayurvedic wellness centres. They can join as physicians in spas, health and wellness centres. If interested in higher studies they can join MD Ayurveda after BAMS.
They can join as professors in ayurvedic medical colleges and start teaching ayurvedic subjects. They can even start their own clinics and start practicing.
Specialisations available for MD Ayurveda
Some of the Specialisations available for BAMS students are:
- MD Padartha Vigyan
- MD Sharir Rachana
- MD Sharir Kriya
- MD Swasthavritta
- MD Rasa Shastra
- MD Agad Tantra
- MD Rog & Vikriti Vigyan
- MD Charak Samhita
- MD Prasuti and Stri Roga
- MD Kaumarbhritya
- MD Kayachikitsa
- MD Shalya Tantra
- MD Shalakya Tantra
Job Roles available after BAMS course
Some of the job roles available after BAMS course are:
- Ayurvedic Physician
- Ayurvedic Doctor
- Ayurvedic Therapist
- Lecturer
Top Recruiters hiring BAMS students
Some of the top recruiters hiring BAMS students are:
- Dabur
- Patanjali
- Baidyanath
- Himalaya Drug Company
- Ayurvedic Resorts
- Ayurvedic Spa and Wellness Centres
Conclusion
The Ayurveda is one of the oldest forms of medicine that was followed by our ancestors. The demand for Ayurvedic doctors has been increasing day by day. With many foreign countries changing their treatment dimensions for various diseases towards ayurvedic treatments the demand for BAMS students is growing in abroad countries.
The students who are interested in knowing ancient medicine and their techniques can choose to join the BAMS course and can explore good avenues in the field of Ayurveda and earn good money by practicing the ancient medicine and techniques.