Addressing clinical practice variability in Ayurveda: An urgent need for developing clinical practice guidelines

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Evidence-Based Healthcare
• Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM)

Background:

• Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are crucial for standardizing care and implementing research findings.
• The development and use of CPGs have significantly increased globally over the last two decades.
• While established in some Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) systems, CPGs in Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, Homoeopathy) are under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility and potential benefits of developing Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) for Ayush systems, with a specific focus on Ayurveda.
• To advocate for the exploration of CPGs as a research program within Ayurveda.
• To highlight the importance of integrating research with clinical practice for improved patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• This paper presents a conceptual framework and argument for the development of CPGs in Ayurveda.
• It reviews the current landscape of CPGs in other T&CM systems.
• It outlines potential areas for CPG implementation and discusses anticipated benefits.

Main Results:

• The utilization of CPGs within the Ayush systems of medicine, particularly Ayurveda, remains largely unexplored.
• There is a significant opportunity to develop robust CPGs that bridge research and clinical practice in Ayurveda.
• The integration of CPGs has the potential to reduce practice variation and enhance patient care.

Conclusions:

• Developing Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) for Ayurveda is a promising research avenue.
• Stakeholders must drive the creation of effective CPGs to integrate research and clinical practice.
• CPGs can significantly enhance patient care and standardize healthcare delivery within Ayurvedic medicine.