Significance of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Systems in India: Some Issues of Its Continuity and Re-Emergence

This paper attempts to examine the significance of 'Complementary and Alternative Medicine' (hereafter CAM) systems in India. Following questions have been raised and discussed in the paper: (i) as the very idea of CAM systems came from west, it's significance in the context of Indian Society needs re-examination; (ii) how the CAM systems with it's strong tradition in the history of India responding to the challenges of other systems in the era of Globalization?; (iii) which sociological theories and concepts are useful to understand this emerging phenomenon?; (iv) what has been the response of the patients to the claims of CAM systems?; (v) how does sociology of professions get strengthened with the studies of CAM systems? Following are the main conclusions of the paper: (i) the CAM systems need to be seen and analysed in the wider context encompassing other competing systems as well; (ii) Talcott Parsons' theoretical and conceptual formulations particulary 'belief-system'  are relevant to understand CAM systems; (iii) the process of globalization has strengthened the continuity and re-emergence of CAM systems; (iv) in the era of globalization the CAM systems have attracted patients from upper classes along with middle and lower classes; and (v) the patients have been using both the CAM systems and allopathic medicines for the treatment of the same diseases.