Beyond Conventional Therapy: A Comprehensive Review of Herbal, Traditional, and Emerging Interventions for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common and multifactorial endocrine disorder that leads to significant changes in the reproductive, metabolic, and psychological domains of women's health in their reproductive years. In addition, the conventional therapies (lifestyle modification, metformin, oral contraceptives, and ovulation-inducing agents) that are the mainstay of management of the syndrome may still not be able to fully address the diverse pathophysiology of PCOS as well as the long-term risks associated with it. This narrative review highlights clinical and mechanistic data from studies on various complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities as first-line treatments for PCOS, in addition to conventional therapy. Correspondingly, herbal and botanical agents (berberine, cinnamon, licorice, Vitex agnus-castus, curcumin, and epigallocatechin gallate) modulate insulin signalling, androgen synthesis, inflammatory pathways, and oxidative stress, with initial clinical trials reporting improvements in metabolism and hormones to a similar extent as standard therapies in selected populations. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), both multi-herb prescriptions and acupuncture, provides tailored formulas that might not only regulate ovulation and endocrine parameters but also lower metabolic indices, despite the high variability across studies. Stress reduction, physical fitness, and the quality of life are among the achievements of mind-body interventions (yoga, tai chi, qigong, and mindfulness-based stress reduction). Improvements in hyperinsulinemia, hypolipidemia, ovulation, and hyperandrogenemia, along with the related insulinresistant and vitamin D-deficient phenotypes, have been steadily reported with the use of the nutraceutical combinations of inositols, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, Nacetylcysteine, coenzyme Q10, and resveratrol. New non-conventional methods, such as fecal and vaginal microbiota transplantation, platelet-rich plasma, and kisspeptin analogues, have been identified as potential therapeutic routes but are still in their infancy in terms of development. Although CAM therapies have multiple advantages in controlling many PCOS domains, the official integration into clinical practice would require standardization, rigorous randomized controlled trials, and continuous safety monitoring. If correctly and cautiously applied, CAM may be useful as an adjunct alongside established therapy, rendering PCOS management more holistic and personalized.