Ayurveda-Forums.Org

[Bambi]

I am an ayurvedic practitioner working for a clinic in London, my director is offering online consultations on our website and has asked me to oversee this. However I am reluctant as physical examination (pulse, tongue and observation) is critical in ayuveda to make an accurate differential diagnosis, he is of the opinion that this should be compromised for the progress (and sales of medicine) of the company.
Does anyone have any ethical practise guidelines from an ayurvedic body or has come across any experiences both good or bad of online consultations that can back my case? I wish to present a case to him as to why this is (in my opinion) compromising good practise, he is under the impression I am being obstructive and unsupportive.

Distressed Practitioner

[jasmine]

Dear Bambi,
What an interesting project. Of course I understand your worries regarding the guidelines to such a remote approach to a traditionnal medicine.
If not already done, maybe a good start would be to consult a local association, such as the Ayurvedic Practitioners Association at http://www.apa.uk.com

The Ayurvedic Practitioners Association has been established to achieve the following key aims and objectives:

* To establish Ayurveda as a distinct, credible and relevant system of traditional medicine in the UK
* To help create a regulatory environment in which the full range of Ayurvedic healthcare modalities can be authentically, safely and effectively practised
* To empower Ayurvedic practitioners to deliver best practice solutions via a continuous programme of professional development

To deliver this, the APA is currently focusing on the following:

1. Statutory Regulation
* Statutory regulation of Ayurveda as a distinct traditional system of medicine with access to a wide spectrum of healthcare modalities
* Establishing “Ayurvedic Practitioner” as the statutorily protected title of a fully qualified Ayurvedic healthcare professional
2. Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia
* Extension of the Medicine Act 1968 Section 12(1) to permit the use of non-herbal ingredients in traditional Ayurvedic medicinal preparations
* Re-assessment of presently banned or restricted Ayurvedic herbs
* Preserving the Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia by promoting sustainable harvesting practices
3. Education and Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
* Encouraging and supporting UK Ayurvedic educational institutions to comply with, and to maintain, highest standards of education and training in order to produce competent Ayurvedic professionals in the UK
* Providing CPD programmes that enable Ayurvedic practitioners to maintain their registration with the regulatory council and to achieve the level of knowledge and professional expertise necessary to deliver best practice solutions in the prevention and treatment of disease
4. Promotion of Ayurveda
* Educating key target audiences (regulatory policy-makers and consultation partners, media opinion leaders, existing and potential practitioners, existing and potential patients) about the safety and efficacy of the Ayurvedic system of medicine
* Highlighting Ayurveda’s unique philosophy and the need for preservation of its authenticity in education and practice
* Promoting the relevance of Ayurvedic healthcare in helping to improve the health and well-being of people in the UK.

[morgan]

Maybe you should try to see the existing online consultation like:
http://www.chakrapaniayurveda.com/freeconsultation.html

Do you plan to make it free or will it be paying?