Concept of tonics in ayurveda and their unique place in today's healthcare

Human body is its own Master healer. Ancient healing systems like Ayurveda, recognized and utilized this fact in disease prevention as well as its management. Foods, herbs and herb formulations that augment this self-healing capacity of the body are called ‘Tonics'. Traditional use of tonics like ginseng, Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), for wellness as well as recovery from illness, are well documented.

Most modern drugs are based on an anti-action – antibiotics, antifungal, antiseptic and so on. There is little or no recognition of the critical role the body itself plays in its own recovery. Therefore there is no class of modern drugs congruent with the concept of tonics.

In a country with exponentially increasing burden of chronic illness, it is important to utilize all measures to prevent and combat diseases of lifestyle. The authors will talk about the use of general and system-specific tonics, with emphasis on Aurvedic tonics. They will also discuss the advantages of tonics and the potential for their inclusion in the current primary healthcare.