Health informatics — Introduction to Ayurveda informatics

Ayurveda, known as the ‘science of life’, incorporates the concepts of health and disease. It aims to treat a patient and also maintain the wellbeing of a healthy person by balancing the body, mind, and spirit.

Today, more than 90 World Health Organization member states have reported use of Ayurveda. The globalisation of Ayurveda calls for standardisation in terms of terminology; clinical examination; diagnosis; maintenance of health records; interventions in form of herbs, herbal/ herbo-mineral formulations, diet and lifestyle; pharmaceuticals as well as pharmacovigilance specific to Ayurveda.

This document seeks to establish a baseline understanding of the Ayurvedic medicine system. It introduces various elements and processes inherent and integral to Ayurvedic diagnosis and treatment. It establishes concept models for Ayurvedic analysis of a subject which can potentially form the basis of system models.

Main sections:

· Semantic links

· Concept models

· Road map for standardisation in Ayurveda informatics

· Annex A: Fundamental principles of Ayurveda