Integrating AYUSH & Ethno-Veterinary Knowledge in One Health for Rural India
An Indigenous Pathway to Global Health and Sustainable Development
Dr. Gagan Chawla and Manisha Choudhary, ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana
Introduction: Reclaiming Indigenous Wisdom for a Healthier World
In a world plagued by pandemics, climate disruption, antimicrobial resistance, and food insecurity, the call for a holistic, inclusive, and interdisciplinary approach to health has never been more urgent. The COVID-19 crisis alone caused a global reawakening to the reality that diseases do not recognize boundaries—neither geographical nor species-based.
As we commemorate World Zoonoses Day 2025 and reflect upon the legacy of Rudolf Virchow, it becomes clear that the pathway to sustainable global health lies not in fragmented biomedical silos, but in integrated systems that unite human, animal, and environmental well-being—a philosophy Virchow articulated over a century ago.
In the Indian context, the integration of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) and ethno-veterinary knowledge into the One Health framework is not just a scientific innovation—it is a cultural renaissance. It is the reclamation of millennia-old wisdom rooted in our villages, forests, farms, and sacred groves. It holds the potential to transform rural health, prevent zoonotic diseases, and fulfill India’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
Zoonotic Threats in India: The Rural Frontline
India, with its enormous livestock population (536 million) and over 65% rural residents, sits at the epicentre of the human-animal interface. This makes it one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to zoonotic disease outbreaks. The burden of neglected zoonoses—like brucellosis, leptospirosis, bovine tuberculosis, rabies, and Japanese encephalitis—is especially high in rural states like:
- Uttar Pradesh (high bovine-human interaction)
- Odisha and Jharkhand (forest-based tribal livestock systems)
- Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh (intensive poultry farming zones)
The 2020 outbreak of Nipah virus in Kerala, the emergence of avian flu in Haryana and lumpy skin disease in Gujarat and Rajasthan all highlight one truth: India’s villages are ground zero for zoonoses, and they deserve a customized, community-based health strategy.
One Health: A Framework for Holistic Resilience
The One Health concept acknowledges that human health is deeply interconnected with the health of animals and the environment. In the Indian context, this approach becomes especially potent when it includes:
- Ancient traditional medical knowledge
- Agro-ecological wisdom
- Community-based animal husbandry practices
- Spiritual respect for all life (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam)
The One Health model goes beyond disease management. It embodies a philosophy of coexistence, embedded in Indian ethos—from the Vedas to the Panchatantra, from the practices of tribal healers in Bastar to the cow-care traditions of the Bishnoi community.
AYUSH Systems: An Undervalued National Treasure
India’s AYUSH systems, with their roots in plant-based medicine, preventive health, and mind-body balance, have historically treated not just individuals but communities and herds. With over 8 lakh registered AYUSH practitioners and an estimated 80% rural familiarity, AYUSH is not an “alternative”—it is the mainstay of health for a large rural and urban population.
Key Applications in Zoonoses Prevention
- Rasayanas like Ashwagandha and Guduchi: proven immune boosters for frontline workers, farmers, and cattle owners
- Ayurvedic Panchgavya therapy: including cow urine and dung used as disinfectants, parasite repellents, and antiseptic agents
- Unani decoctions (Joshanda) and Siddha plant extracts: used to prevent febrile illnesses and respiratory syndromes in humans and animals
- Homeopathic nosodes: effective in controlling outbreaks like swine flu, rabies, and leptospirosis
Ethno-Veterinary Medicine (EVM): Healing the Herds Naturally
Ethno-veterinary medicine refers to indigenous, community-based practices used by livestock keepers to maintain animal health. In India, these include:
- Herbal dewormers made from areca nut, papaya seeds, garlic
- Turmeric-lime-cow dung paste for treating mastitis in cattle
- Ash-soil-bran mixture to prevent flystrike in sheep
- Smoke therapy using neem leaves to repel ticks and mites
These remedies are not superstitions—they are survivor science born of centuries of empirical knowledge, especially among tribal and pastoralist communities like:
- Toda and Kurumba tribes of Nilgiris
- Van Gujjars of Uttarakhand
- Rabaris and Maldharis of Gujarat
Scientific Validation & Practical Impact
Institutes like ICAR-NIVEDI, NIHSAD, CSIR-NEIST, and National Institute of Ayurveda are actively validating EVM and AYUSH formulations.
Notable Success Stories:
- Tamil Nadu: Under TANUVAS, ethno-veterinary treatment packages reduced mastitis and repeat breeding cases by over 40%.
- Rajasthan: ICAR-CAZRI validated the use of ajwain and methi-based tonics in improving digestion in camels and goats.
- Chhattisgarh: Tribal healers in Bastar region trained under NABARD-supported programs to share herbal veterinary practices via audio-visual tools.
- NICRA Villages (Andhra Pradesh): Adoption of herbal wound healing pastes and udder care oils led to 35% reduction in antibiotic usage.
Integration into Policy and Practice
India is already a global leader in institutionalizing AYUSH. With the Ministry of AYUSH, National AYUSH Mission, and AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) under Ayushman Bharat, the infrastructure exists. What’s needed is:
- Policy Convergence: Inter-ministerial coordination between AYUSH, Health, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Tribal Affairs
- Veterinary-Ayush Convergence Clinics in rural blocks
- Livestock health volunteers trained in basic EVM
- Digital documentation of community practices via mobile apps
- Public-Private-Community partnerships (PPCPs) to scale local innovations
Contribution to SDGs and Global Health Equity
| The integration of AYUSH and EVM directly advances at least 10 SDGs: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Conclusion: A Call to Action Rooted in Indian Soil
As we step into the next phase of global health transformation, it is time to recognize that India’s future lies not in discarding tradition, but in refining and reapplying it. The integration of AYUSH and ethno-veterinary knowledge into the One Health framework is not only relevant and research-worthy, but also culturally respectful, environmentally sustainable, and globally significant.
By empowering rural India with this synergy of science and tradition, we:
- Honor the legacy of Rudolf Virchow
- Uplift the spirit of “One World – One Health”
- Lay the groundwork for a zoonosis-resilient Bharat
- Move decisively toward the realization of SDGs by 2030
Let us build a future where Neem and Nadi, Cow and Clinic, Forest and Formulation, Tribal Wisdom and Technology come together for a healthier planet—beginning with rural India, rising to global impact.
“Between animal and human medicine there is no dividing line—nor should there be.”
– Rudolf Virchow.
