Need for reporting guidelines in Ayurveda research

Abstract

Traditional medicines have become progressively popular worldwide. The world apprehended the significance of Ayurvedic medicine during the COVID era. The surging exports of Ayurvedic herbs are indications of its rising popularity. Although the potency of pharmaceuticals is undeniable, Ayurvedic stakeholders still lag in terms of research quality. Basic requirements for quality research include a predetermined protocol and the dissemination of results as per appropriate reporting guidelines. Medical research studies have been categorized in a hierarchical manner, and every study design has distinct reporting standards. Reporting guidelines are the bare minimum set of details that research articles should constitute. The Equator network provides access to over a hundred reporting guidelines. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), PRISMA-P (for protocol) for systematic reviews of Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs), Meta-analyses Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) for systematic reviews of observational studies, Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT), Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials [SPIRIT (for protocol)] for RCTs, and STROBE for observational studies are a few important guidelines. On the basis of the extent to which the research articles adhere to their respective reporting guidelines, their veracity, transparency, and precision can be evaluated. To establish the credibility of Ayurvedic clinical management, researchers should be encouraged to adhere to it and one's adherence should be carefully reviewed.