Legal status of ayurveda in the healthcare system

Aim: To determine the legal status of Ayurveda within traditional healthcare systems, to assess the regulatory classification of Ayurvedic medicinal products, and to identify and evaluate the potential health risks and benefits associated with the use of non-conventional treatment methods, with a particular focus on Ayurveda.

Materials and Methods: Based on an extensive review of literature, international and national regulatory documents, scientific studies, and expert opinions, this article offers guidance for understanding the influence of Ayurveda and traditional systems on the current concept of patient rights and freedoms in healthcare. The research is grounded in dialectical, comparative, analytical, synthetic, and comprehensive methodologies. A total of 302 PubMed-indexed articles on Ayurveda published in the past five years were analysed. It was concluded that the majority of positive assessments of Ayurveda came from researchers of Indian ethnic origin. The article also draws attention to the aggressive marketing of Ayurveda's implementation across Europe. The most significant research has been conducted in the last five years. The research used keywords such as Ayurveda, Ayurvedic products, Ayurvedic remedies, and Phytopreparations.

Conclusions: The study concludes that there is a pressing need to harmonise the Indian Pharmacopoeia with the Pharmacopoeias of the USA and the EU, as well as to further integrate Ayurveda into the framework of modern evidence-based medicine. The role of the World Health Organization in standardising Ayurveda and in defining core knowledge requirements for Ayurvedic practitioners is also discussed.