Example alternative therapies dissertation topic 4:

Ayurvedic medicine – A rejoinder of faith and freedom.

Building upon the need for spiritual balance found in both Hindu and Buddhism, Ayurvedic medicine advocates the use of natural herbs and spices (in conjunction with spiritual balance) as a means of healing. However, toxic levels of lead, mercury, and arsenic have, in recent years, been found in some samples of Ayurvedic medicine within the United States. Noting the need for religious toleration and acceptance of cultural diversity, this dissertation questions whether, given the requirements not to discriminate on the grounds of culture, ethnicity, or religion, whether users of Ayurvedic medicine within the UK should be left to practise and dispense their medicines unhindered by the state, for to do otherwise might infringe their protected rights. A dissertation that combines alternative therapy, with issues of ethnicity and legal equality.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Newcombe, S. (2008). ‘Ayurvedic medicine in Britain and the epistemology of practising medicine in “good faith”‘. In, Wujastyk, D. and Smith, F.M. (eds), Modern and global Ayurveda: Pluralism and paradigms. Albany, NY: SUNY Press, pp. 257-284.
• Saper, R.B., Phillips, R.S., Sehgal, A., Khouri, N., Davis, R.B., Paquin, J., … and Kales, S.N. (2008). ‘Lead, mercury, and arsenic in US-and Indian-manufactured Ayurvedic medicines sold via the Internet’. Journal of the American Medical Association, vol. 300(8), pp. 915-923.
• Sarmukaddam, S., Chopra, A. and Tillu, G. (2010). ‘Efficacy and safety of Ayurvedic medicines: Recommending equivalence trial design and proposing safety index’. International Journal of Ayurveda Research, vol. 1(3), pp. 175-180.