Knowledge, attitude, perception and satisfaction level of Ayurveda and allopathy in India: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Objective

Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical system, remains integral to India's healthcare despite the dominance of allopathy. The lack of scientific validation, standardized regulations, and clinical trials has hindered its integration into modern healthcare. The Ministry of AYUSH has played a key role in promoting Ayurveda, though regional disparities persist in its implementation. The COVID-19 pandemic revived interest in Ayurveda, highlighting its preventive aspects but also raising concerns about misinformation. A balanced, integrative approach combining Ayurveda and allopathy can enhance healthcare by leveraging the strengths of both systems. This study aimed to decipher the knowledge, attitude, perception, and satisfaction levels of Ayurveda and Allopathic, and/or integrative system of medicine, among the Indian Population.

Methods

The search for eligible studies for inclusion was conducted via the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Original research, review, early access, open/early access articles, and meeting abstracts were eligible for inclusion.

Results

This search generated 10,690 articles published between 2004 and 2024, and of these, 24 were assessed for eligibility. This included 20 original research and 4 review article. Only the research articcles were considered for the present review, with a collective total of 7952 participants. The manuscript revealed that the preference for Ayurveda was driven by perceptions of naturalness, safety, cultural familiarity, and affordability, rather than scientific validation. Additionally, while patients viewed it as a low-risk alternative, it was revealed through the included studies that there is limited awareness of proper dosage, risks, and potential interactions with Allopathy, leading to unsafe practices. Moreover, the gap between public interest in Ayurveda and the healthcare system’s ability to provide regulated, evidence-based services was highlighted as one of the key issues in the adoption of Ayurvedic system of medicine. Thus, despite increased government support, integration remains weak due to operational barriers, professional hesitancy, and regional disparities in AYUSH services. Additionally, the private sector has not significantly incorporated Ayurveda, limiting urban access to integrative care.

Conclusions

The review highlights the preference for Ayurveda in chronic disease management and Allopathy for acute care, driven more by perceptions of safety and affordability than scientific validation. However, a lack of awareness about proper usage and herb-drug interactions leads to unsafe practices like unsupervised dual-use. Despite government efforts, integration remains limited due to operational barriers, professional hesitancy, and uneven AYUSH service distribution. The private sector has not meaningfully adopted Ayurveda, restricting urban access to integrative care. Advancing integrative medicine requires rigorous research, regulatory frameworks, and institutional reforms to ensure the safe, evidence-based coexistence of both systems.