Assessing the Role of Ayurvedic 'Bhasms' as Ethno-nanomedicine in the Metal Based Nanomedicine Patent Regime

Abstract

The traditional medicine system is gaining wider popularity in the present times leading to increase in its commercialization at an international level. The present study is an attempt to analyse various facets of the patent regime of metal-based contemporary nanomedicine, with focus on Ayurvedic ‘Bhasms’ (alternative traditional medicine) used for various disease treatments. The study proposes a new dimension of understanding of Ayurvedic Bhasms as ethnonanomedicine in the surging era of nanomedicine. The study proposes to have organized open-sourcing of the knowledge associated with Ayurvedic Bhasms, so that both, the ethno-nanomedicine as well as the emerging metal-based nanomedicine systems can co-exist symbiotically, thereby preventing misuse of traditional knowledge and promoting cumulative benefit to mankind.