Dr Punniamurthy Natesan: A Trailblazer in Scientific Ethno-Veterinary Medicine
Dr Punniamurthy Natesan is a distinguished veterinary scientist from Tamil Nadu, India, whose lifelong commitment to livestock healthcare and traditional medicinal knowledge has transformed animal treatment practices both within India and internationally. He has been recognized with one of India’s highest civilian honors, the Padma Shri, in 2026 for his pioneering work in scientific ethno-veterinary medicine—an innovative field bridging ancient indigenous animal healthcare wisdom with modern scientific validation.
Born and raised in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, Dr Natesan pursued his early education in veterinary science at the Madras Veterinary College, earning his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. He then went on to achieve a Ph.D. with research focused on disease management in livestock and the use of plant-based therapies. His academic foundation laid the groundwork for a career that would challenge conventional, drug-dependent veterinary practices and offer natural, sustainable alternatives grounded in traditional knowledge.
The Genesis of Ethno-Veterinary Medicine (EVM)
Ethno-Veterinary Medicine (EVM) refers to the body of traditional livestock healthcare practices developed over generations by farmers, healers, and rural communities. Such knowledge, largely oral and localized for centuries, includes the use of herbs, minerals, and non-conventional remedies to treat common livestock ailments. While ethnoveterinary knowledge existed across India’s diverse agrarian regions, it had remained largely undocumented and outside the scope of mainstream veterinary education and research until Dr Natesan’s interventions.
Dr Natesan recognized that traditional herbal treatments could offer effective, cost-efficient, and environmentally sustainable remedies for livestock diseases—a critical consideration in rural India where access to professional veterinary care and expensive pharmaceuticals is limited. More importantly, he saw in these traditional practices a solution to one of modern animal husbandry’s biggest challenges: antimicrobial resistance. Excessive use of antibiotics in livestock contributes to drug resistance, antibiotic residues in milk and meat, and increased healthcare costs for farmers. EVM’s plant-based methods emerged as a practical and scalable alternative.
Academic and Institutional Leadership
Dr Natesan served as a professor and researcher at the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) in Thanjavur, where he led the Ethnoveterinary Herbal Research and Training Centre. There, he documented traditional veterinary practices, researched their efficacy, and translated them into structured curricula and scientifically validated treatment protocols.
He founded and directed the postgraduate diploma course in Ethno-Veterinary Medicine—offered in collaboration with TANUVAS and the Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), Bangalore. This course trained numerous veterinarians in herbal and antibiotic-free livestock care, promoting ethno-veterinary practices within mainstream veterinary education.
As an emeritus professor at The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU) in Bangalore, Dr Natesan further strengthened the academic integration of traditional animal science with modern research methodologies. His work emphasized interdisciplinarity, blending veterinary science with ethnobotany, pharmacology, rural field studies, and public health.
Scientifically Validating Tradition
What sets Dr Natesan apart is not only his deep respect for indigenous knowledge but also his commitment to scientific validation. He and his collaborators documented hundreds of herbal formulations, participated in clinical trials, and published research demonstrating the efficacy of ethno-veterinary treatments for common livestock diseases such as mastitis, hoof infections, digestive disorders, and parasitic infestations.
A major thrust of his work involves reducing antibiotic residues in milk, meat, and eggs—crucial for public health and food safety. Through ethno-veterinary interventions, livestock can be treated effectively without conventional antibiotics, thereby decreasing the risk of antimicrobial resistance and ensuring healthier animal products for consumers.
Impact on Livestock Farming and Public Health
Dr Natesan’s methods have been adopted by state governments, national institutions, and non-governmental organizations across India. Initiatives led by him and his colleagues have trained thousands of veterinarians and empowered tens of thousands of farmers with knowledge of herbal livestock care. Such training has helped rural livestock owners reduce dependency on expensive drugs, promote animal welfare, and increase farm sustainability.
Notably, his ethno-veterinary protocols have been implemented in collaboration with organizations such as the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Reports indicate that using these herbal practices has helped treat livestock diseases effectively in numerous dairy cooperatives and communities, contributing to safer milk production and improved livelihoods for rural families.
Global Recognition and Outreach
Beyond India, Dr Natesan’s expertise has drawn international interest. He has served as a consultant and trainer for projects across continents, sharing ethno-veterinary knowledge as part of global dialogue on sustainable livestock production and antimicrobial resistance mitigation. His educational forums, webinars, and cross-cultural collaborations illustrate the universal relevance of traditional plant-based veterinary medicine.
Legacy and Future Directions
Dr Punniamurthy Natesan’s journey reflects a rare fusion of traditional wisdom and contemporary science. By emphasizing documentation, clinical validation, and mainstream education of ethno-veterinary practices, he has created systems that future generations of veterinarians, farmers, and policymakers can build upon. His work helps safeguard biodiversity, preserve cultural heritage, and enrich scientific understanding of natural therapeutics.
Awarded the Padma Shri in 2026 by the Government of India, Dr Natesan joins the ranks of transformative leaders whose work serves both scientific innovation and social good. The honor recognizes not just his accomplishments but the broader vision of an animal healthcare model rooted in sustainability, affordability, and community empowerment.
Today, as the world grapples with drug resistance, environmental degradation, and inequities in healthcare access, Dr Natesan’s work offers a powerful model: one that values indigenous knowledge, upholds scientific standards, and reimagines healthcare for both humans and animals. His legacy continues to inspire veterinary scientists, rural practitioners, and advocates of traditional knowledge systems, reaffirming that solutions to modern challenges often lie in wisdom that has endured through centuries.
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