Integrating Ayurveda with Modern Medicine for Enhanced Patient Care

Abstract

Modern or Western medicine is often the first-line healthcare option due to a strong evidence base, a scientific, systematic approach, and well-defined generalizability of therapies to certain populations. However, this disease-focused model has several limitations, such as no cure for all diseases and the high cost of care. On the other hand, Ayurveda, an ancient system of medicine originating in India, has a holistic approach that emphasizes prevention and lifestyle modification, offers a low-cost model, encourages patient empowerment, and promises significant benefits for generalized healthcare. The integration of the two systems can lead to better patient care. However, Ayurveda also has limitations, and the integration with modern medicine faces barriers such as a lack of rigorous scientific research, standardisation and quality control issues, regulatory hurdles, cultural differences or prejudices, and a paucity of trained practitioners in the West. To overcome these barriers, this paper proposes strategies such as promoting rigorous research, developing stringent standards for Ayurvedic practices and products, regulatory reforms, education and training, and promoting integrative medicine. These strategies aim to bring together the best of both worlds for enhanced patient care.