It is not uncommon to encounter the health benefits of traditional remedies. Each of our blog posts and published books highlight the scientific support for wellness activities. So is there scientific support for herbal medicines, and more narrowly Ayurveda?
This is a complex subject, and readers are encouraged to read our background report, here. There is a considerable body of evidence, accumulated in India over the centuries. Whilst not to RCT standards, it is currently available only in Sanskrit, and is largely offline, i.e. not digitalized.
The reasons for a general dearth of RCT-based scientific research include:
- Ayurveda medicines have no patent protection, reducing the value of research findings.
- RCT studies are expensive.
- Ayurveda is more than a medicine, involving broader therapies, and it can become a way of life.
Testing a way of life is challenging.
However, the last twenty years have seen extensive research into the ingredients used in either classical, granthas products or proprietary Ayurvedic medicines (PAM), i.e. the Ayurvedic herbs.
In conclusion, there appears to be extensive evidence in India which will become progressively available in English and online over the coming years. In combination with more RCT-based studies, Ayurveda is expected to remain a topic of considerable interest.