Exploring Ayurveda's Potential in Parkinson's Disease: A Comprehensive Narrative

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a protracted and progressive neurodegenerative disorder, bearing a notable semblance to the Ayurvedic construct of kampavāta (trembling or shaking, often meaning a neurological disorder such as PD). This comprehensive review endeavours to offer insight into the Ayurvedic comprehension of PD and subsequently appraise the available clinical literature, explicitly investigating the utilization of Ayurvedic approaches in PD management. The methodology involved scrutinizing classical Ayurveda texts and meticulously examining pertinent scientific databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and the AYUSH Research Portal. This quest employed MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms and keywords to identify clinical trials employing Ayurvedic medicine/therapy as an intervention within the context of PD. The eligibility encompassed clinical trials published from January 2000 to December 2020; exclusions comprised review articles, conceptual papers, editorials, and studies published in languages other than English. A total of 126 studies were screened for selection criteria, and seven were included after removing duplicates. Among the seven included studies, six showed the beneficial effects of an herb called Mucuna pruriens, either as a stand-alone or in combination with other herbs, and one trial highlighted the significance of bio-cleansing along with M. pruriens. Duration of intervention ranged from assessment of acute effects to 56 weeks. The synthesis of the reviewed data showed that M. pruriens exhibited an extended ON state, effectively ameliorating motor symptoms even among individuals afflicted with advanced PD while manifesting a favourable side effect profile. Nonetheless, it is imperative for future investigations to scrutinize Ayurvedic interventions in concordance with classical texts, incorporating longer follow-up periods and objective parameters to enhance the comprehensiveness and rigor of the evidence base for Ayurvedic interventions for PD.