BAMS Full Form (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) What it is & More

BAMS full form in medical terms stands for Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery. It is a special kind of degree that students can undertake to become practitioners in the line of medical doctors who apply Ayurveda in their practice. The application of Ayurveda-which began many thousands of years ago in the land of India-is originally based on the belief in balancing the body, mind, and spirit to create health and well-being.

What is Ayurveda?

Having known the BAMS full form, let us learn more about Ayurveda, before going into the specifics of BAMS. The word "Ayurveda" is derived from two Sanskrit words: "Ayur" means life, and "Veda" means knowledge or science. Thus, Ayurveda quite literally means "the science of life." It represents one of the oldest medical systems in the world and is still practiced today, especially in India.

According to Ayurveda, everything in this universe is made up of five basic elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether. These five elements combine to form three energies or doshas in the human body: Vata-air and space, Pitta-fire and water, and Kapha-earth and water. Each individual has a unique balance of the doshas, influencing physical, mental, and emotional health.

Accordingly, the mode of treatment carried out by Ayurvedic physicians, also referred to as Vaidyas, is non-invasive by nature, adopting the use of herbal medicines, dietary changes, and other practices in conduct of life to bring balance back into individuals and help them lead a healthy life.

What Do Students Learn in the BAMS Course?

Students that take up the BAMS course study varied subjects that help them to become proficient Ayurveda physicians. The duration of the course is normally five and half years, which includes one year of internship for practical exposure.

Here is a sneak peek into the curriculum of BAMS students:

1. Ayurvedic Principles:

 Students are introduced to the basic aspects of Ayurveda, that is, the three doshas and five elements constituting everything in nature, their interaction, and how balance between these energies promotes health.

2. Herbal Medicine: 

One of the most active aspects of Ayurveda is treating diseases with the help of plants and herbs. BAMS students study the different properties of various medicinal plants and how to prepare them, with what to prepare them, and for what purpose they should be used for healing.

3. Anatomy and Physiology: 

In structure and function, much as in other courses, the study pertains to the human body. This forms the very basis for understanding how the human body succumbs to disease and how Ayurvedic treatments can help bring it back into balance.

4. Pathology: 

Students learn about various diseases, their causes, and effects on the body. This is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.

5. Pharmacology: 

During this course, the students study various drugs in Ayurveda and their actions. Students learn the formulation of medicines, their interaction with body systems, and safe prescription practices.

6. Surgery: 

Ayurveda also has its surgical science, known as Shalya Tantra. The BAMS students will learn the major surgical techniques practiced in Ayurveda along with the modern surgery concepts.

7. Community Medicine: 

This subject deals with the health aspect of the people along with the prevention of diseases in the society. The majority of graduate BAMS doctors are sent to rural areas, where they play a major role in spreading health awareness to all people.

8. Clinical Training: 

Students are exposed to actual patients while working as interns under expert practitioners of Ayurveda. It is an important experience for the building up of skills and confidence in practice.

Why choose the BAMS course?

The BAMS full form in the medical field is Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery. It is admitted as one of the recognized degrees among the field of medicine. After completing BAMS, the graduate now becomes eligible to be able to know both in case of Ayurvedic practices or modern medicine.

Ayurveda is considered to be a complementary and alternative medicine system, complementing or serving as an alternative to the modern allopathic system of medicine. In India, the BAMS physician is licensed to practice as a medical professional, and thus has full rights to diagnose and treat many general health conditions based on Ayurveda. Why Choose BAMS? There are several reasons students choose to study BAMS:

1. Interest in Natural Medicine:

Some students have an avid interest in maintaining health through natural and holistic remedies. BAMS provides an excellent opportunity to understand herbal medicine, diet, and way of life that may help in the healing process and good well-being.

2. Cultural Connection:

Ayurveda is deeply rooted in Indian culture and tradition. Students who culturally relate to Ayurveda opt for BAMS in order to preserve and promote this age-old system of medicine.

3. Holistic Approach:

Ayurveda treats the whole individual, not just one symptom of an ailment; it is very holistic in its approach toward health. Students who consider health as an issue that has to be viewed in relation to the greater scheme of life opt for BAMS.

4. Career Opportunities:

After getting the BAMS degree, there opens up a huge avenue for getting employed. They can practice as Ayurveda practitioners in various clinics and hospitals. They also have the opportunity to open their private practice or get into working on research, education, or the Ayurveda pharmaceutical industry.

5. Ayurveda- the up-and-coming trend:

The science of Ayurveda is spreading its wings and gaining popularity in almost every part of the world. It thus needs more and more trained doctors to know about Ayurveda, hence making it a shining career option in the eyes of a student interested in this field.

What does BAMS Doctor mean?

What, after all, does a doctor with a BAMS mean? The person is trained in Ayurveda. They will have the ability to diagnose and prescribe the treatment of diseases according to the Ayurvedic principle, including medicinal herbs, dietary prescriptions, and lifestyle practices.

A BAMS doctor also can practice certain surgical activities, as Ayurveda has its own technique of surgery. Apart from the treatment of diseases, a B AMS doctor works toward health care and health promotion as well.

The Journey to Becoming a BAMS Doctor

The journey to becoming a BAMS doctor is tough but definitely fulfilling in the long run. Here are some of the steps one could expect in a course program:.

1. Eligibility: 

In general, students seeking admission into the BAMS course must have passed higher secondary education in the science stream with principles of biology, chemistry, and physics. Sometimes, passing an entrance test is also a criterion for eligibility, although this varies from country to country and even the college.

2. Duration of Course: 

Normally, the BAMS course has a duration of five and a half years. In the course, the first four and a half years involve the class covering theoretical knowledge and laboratory practicals, while in the last one-year's duration, one goes for internship, which is practical.

3. Subjects Covered: 

As touched upon earlier, BAMS students study a wide range of subjects, from the principles of Ayurveda right up to clinical training. Students receive such well-rounded education that they are accordingly qualified to diagnose and then treat patients through the use of Ayurveda.

4. Examinations: 

The entire duration of the course, the students have to appear for and pass different examinations to get promoted to the next level. These examinations test the student's knowledge about the subjects studied during the course work and their application capability in field performance.

5. Internship: 

This is one important curriculum in the BAMS full form program. In this year, students are interned within the hospitals or clinics where they get a chance to treat real patients themselves under the guidance of doctors with experience. This hands-on experience is essential in building confidence and competence in the practice of Ayurveda.

6. Graduation and Licensure: 

After successful course completion and internship, students are graduated with a BAMS degree. In other countries, there may be additional requirements in the form of licensing exams that one has to take before starting practice as an Ayurvedic doctor.

7. Early Career Start: 

Graduates who hold a BAMS degree can smoothly practice as Ayurvedic doctors. Many can work as health company employees while others can set up private clinics. Research, education, and the Ayurvedic pharmaceutical industry are also possible employment sectors.

Physicians with a BAMS degree are of main use in the health care provided, majorly in India. They offer an alternative way of healing for the body, mind, and spirit that is natural and holistic. The following are some ways in which BAMS doctors contribute to healthcare:

1. Natural and Holistic Care: 

BAMS doctors provide remedies to cure pathologies using herbs, changes in diet, and lifestyle practices. Also, with this, this kind of treatment goes harmlessly with the body and is much more effective for patients.

2. Supports Chronic Ailments: 

Ayurveda supports a wide range of chronic ailments, such as diabetes, arthritis, and asthma. This way, BAMS doctors can enable their patients to lead a healthy life for an extended period by identifying and curing the underlying causes of chronic illnesses in the patient's body.

3. Promoting Preventive Care:

Promotion of preventive health care is one of the basic tenets of Ayurveda. BAMS practitioners focus on preventing the illness of the people through the promotion of healthy behaviors such as consuming a balanced diet, doing regular exercises, and managing stress.

4. Serving Rural and Underprivileged Populations: 

Most BAMS graduates are usually placed in the rural environment, where access to modern health facilities may be minimal. They deliver basic medical attention in these communities that also possibly would not have had quality health care otherwise.

5. Contribution to Research and Education: 

Some BAMS passouts go into research, contributing to the building of new treatments in Ayurveda and thus expanding our knowledge about this millennium-old system of medicine. Others turn into educators of the next generation of Ayurvedic doctors.

Facts About Ayurveda

1. Ancient Wisdom

Ayurveda is amongst the oldest methods of treatment hailing from the Indian subcontinent with roots that are over 5000 years old. Even today, it survives as one of the most relevant and widely practiced forms of medication.

2. Customized Care

Treatment in Ayurveda essentially involves a design tailored to the needs of an individual patient. BAMS doctors constantly keep in mind the uniqueness regarding the balance of dosha with each patient one at a time before diagnosing or offering treatment so as to suit only him or her best.

3. Connection of the Mind to the Body: 

Ayurveda focuses on the inter-relationship between the mind and the body. Apart from physical fitness of a person, BAMS doctors often use techniques related to meditation and yoga so as to bring equilibrium in the mental and emotional state of a patient.

4. Natural Ingredients: 

The constituents of Ayurvedic medicines are all natural ingredients. 

FAQs

1. What is the basic knowledge of BAMS?

The curriculum of this course includes the complete syllabus of anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, surgery, obstetrics, and gynecology for both Ayurveda and modern medicine, including Sanskrit, history of Ayurveda, principles of Ayurveda, diagnostics, therapeutics, and preventive medicine.

2. Is BAMS called a doctor?

The Ayurvedic doctor, an examinant BAMS graduate in a hospital setting, gives consultations and treatments according to Ayurvedic principles. Working in such a setting provides wide-sweep experiences for an Ayurveda graduate, and a scope to apply Ayurveda is visible in almost all aspects in practice and patient care.

BAMS full form in the medical sector is Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery and is a full-time five and a half years long degree program which includes a course of study and a year of internship. 

3. What is the age limit for BAMS?

The candidate must be NEET qualified. The Age Limit is 17 to 25 years

4. What is the highest degree in BAMS?

No, the BAMS course is an undergraduate course. The BAMS course does not include any doctorate; it's a sort of graduate degree. After studying BAMS, one can perform post-graduation, namely MD (Doctor of Medicine) in Ayurveda, and also pursue a doctorate in Ayurved medicine.

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