Introduction

Over the last century the demography of human illness has changed dramatically. Currently the major killers and burden on healthcare system in the world are non-communicable diseases which are considered as stress related-lifestyle related psychosomatic diseases. There has been an unprecedented patient driven interest and use of traditional health systems such as Yoga, Ayurveda and Naturopathy. Medical community has now realized that traditional health systems would play a critical role in dealing with the challenges of the 21st century and hence moving towards integration of evidence based traditional health systems with the conventional medical care. This means there is a huge demand for professionally qualified traditional health physicians. In India. Yoga and Naturopathy physicians as well as Ayurveda physicians are filling this ever increasing demand. In this direction, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut, true to its professional and social commitment of providing comprehensive healthcare services is starting a professional Medical College in Yoga and Naturopathy from this academic year. Currently there are 12 such Colleges offering a professional Medical Degree in Yoga-Naturopathy. Subharti College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences would be first one of its kind in this part of the country.

Yoga and Naturopathy are the two major recognized systems of medicine from Indian culture which are drugless in nature. Together they form a comprehensive system of medicine where Yoga caters to the needs of the psyche (mind) and Naturopathy with its natural therapies takes care of the needs of the body (soma) thus forming a perfect psychosomatic medicine. Yoga and Naturopathy are founded with the basic principles of supporting body's innate power to heal and repair with the active support of natural elements and active life style. There is growing medical evidence in support of Yoga and Naturopathy in promotion of health, prevention of diseases, safe & effective management of diseases, medical & psychiatric rehabilitation and overall growth of human being. World over Yoga and Naturopathy are being integrated with conventional medicine leading to the emergence and practice of evidence based integrative medicine.