{"title":"Aam assessment in the clinical practice of ayurveda: Outlining the process and predicting the outcomes","authors":"Sanjeev Rastogi, Preeti Pandey","doi":"10.1016/j.jaim.2025.101126","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaim.2025.101126","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine","volume":"16 3","pages":"Article 101126"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144169320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development and validation of Yogic Personal Excellence Inventory","authors":"Rudra B. Bhandari, Nidhi Chaudhry","doi":"10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101122","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101122","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In his <em>Yoga Sutras</em>, Patanjali delineates the principles, processes, practices, and impediments of personal excellence (PE). Unlike Patanjali's perspective, existing conceptualizations and measures of PE are centered on quantifying well-being, leadership effectiveness, professional competence, academic and sports performance, and motivation. However, no yoga-based operationalized model or measure of PE exists to date.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study aimed to develop and validate a novel self-report yogic personal excellence inventory (YPEI) with constructs derived from the PYS.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>The research was conducted in three rigorous phases to establish YPEI's reliability and validity. Firstly, the YPEI's items were framed and validated for their content by ten experts. Secondly, the first draft of the YPEI was administered to 721 participants for exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The YPEI was then administered to 364 participants to confirm the explored factor structure. Lastly, YPEI's inter-instrument convergent and discriminant validity were assessed by computing correlation with three criteria measures―the <em>vikruti subdosha</em> questionnaire, the <em>vedic</em> personality inventory, and the personal efficacy scale.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The model was a good fit with eight factors (psychic incompetence, attachment, despair, existential thinking, somatic illness, laziness, indulgence, and instability). As hypothesized, PE was positively associated with personal efficacy and <em>vedic</em> personality but negatively with <em>vikruti</em>. YPEI will be applicable to measure the psychic and physical morbidities and comorbidities of healthy/unhealthy individuals and prescribe the required personalized bio-psycho-socio-spiritual protocol to minimize them and maximize PE.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine","volume":"16 3","pages":"Article 101122"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144204583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ashwagandha, Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, for the prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2 infection: A multicentric randomized hydroxychloroquine controlled clinical trial in Indian health care workers","authors":"Renuka Kulkarni-Munshi , Deepti Talmohite , Anand More , Jaya Chakravarty , Sandhya Kamat , Akash Khobragade , D. Himanshu Reddy , Manish Patel , Divya Kajaria , Raju Singh , Sarita Kumari , Priyanka Mishra , A.K. Srivastava , Vivek Bhagat , Saurabh Pandey , Meena Yadav , Rahul Darnule , Shobha Bhat , Sangeeta Kansal , Sonali Munot , Arvind Chopra","doi":"10.1016/j.jaim.2025.101135","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaim.2025.101135","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The study was planned when, the hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was the only prophylactic agent approved by health authorities in several countries and no prophylactic COVID-19 vaccine was available.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The present study aimed to evaluate efficacy of <em>Withania Somnifera (L.) Dunal</em> (<em>WS</em>) as a chemoprophylactic and immunomodulatory agent against SARS-CoV-2 infection.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In a 12 week, randomized, open label, parallel group, two arm, comparative, multicentric, controlled trial compared <em>WS</em> with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in health care workers (HCWs). Total 400 HCWs were randomized in 1:1 ratio to receive either oral <em>WS</em> (500 mg for 12 weeks) or HCQ 400 mg (for 7 weeks). The primary outcome was to establish equivalence between <em>WS</em> and HCQ for the proportion of participants contracting SARS-CoV-2 infection.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Seven participants contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection: 5 in <em>WS</em> arm and 2 in HCQ arm. The equivalence between <em>WS</em> and HCQ was established for the proportion difference of participants contracting SARS-CoV-2 infection for per-protocol (PP) (1.6%, 95% CI: −1.08%–4.33%) and in subgroup analysis (ITT, mIIT, non-vaccinated and seronegative).</div><div>Notably, the immunomodulatory effect of <em>WS</em> stood scientifically validated by the statistically significant difference in cytokine levels (<em>p</em> < 0.0001) at 12 weeks compared to baseline for Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha, Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10, IL-17 and Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1).</div><div>Gastrointestinal-related AEs were most frequent (53 in <em>WS</em> and 58 in HCQ). Headache and sneezing were observed only with HCQ. Participant global assessment showed excellent tolerability with both treatment arms.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div><em>WS</em> was found equivalent to HCQ as a prophylactic against SARS-CoV-2 infection with no safety concern. <em>WS</em> is thus inferred to be an effective and safe Ayurvedic intervention for prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2 infection, and also as an immunobooster.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine","volume":"16 3","pages":"Article 101135"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144231779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ayurvedic management of chemotherapy induced adverse effects in sigmoid colon carcinoma - a case report","authors":"P. Divya","doi":"10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101112","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101112","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Colorectal cancer is one among the leading causes of death in the present world. Either the adverse effects of the chemotherapeutic drugs force the patients to discontinue the treatment or the deteriorated health status due to progression of the disease may lead to death. This is the study of a case of stage 3 sigmoid colon cancer which was managed by an integrated approach and led to the heathy survival of the patient after five years. Ayurvedic management was done to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy and for the prevention of the recurrence of the disease. The patient was treated with adjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFOX regimen and the side effects were managed by Ayurvedic medicines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine","volume":"16 3","pages":"Article 101112"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144169319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Praveen Balakrishnan, Emy S. Surendran, Lisha S. Raj
{"title":"Ayurveda management of an acute intervertebral disc prolapse (IVDP): A case report","authors":"Praveen Balakrishnan, Emy S. Surendran, Lisha S. Raj","doi":"10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101113","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101113","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Intervertebral disc prolapse (IVDP) or disc herniation is a moderately common disorder in males during their third to fifth decade of life. Conservative treatments are limited and surgery is an effective treatment option, but without much benefits in the long-term follow-up. Many claims of effects of Ayurveda interventions for IVDP are made, but evidence of effects of Ayurveda interventions in acute cases is meagre. This case report highlights the effects of Ayurveda management (following a multimodal approach with <em>lepa, upanaha</em>, <em>pinda sweda</em>, and <em>vasti</em>) within a short period of time of 26 days, in an acute case of IVDP. The Oswestry Disability Index reduced from 45 to zero and Functional Rating Index from 40 to 2. There was a linear reduction in pain and numbness in weekly follow up using the visual analogue scale. This case report highlights the role of Ayurveda treatments in the management of acute cases of intervertebral disc prolapse to achieve result within a short span of time.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine","volume":"16 3","pages":"Article 101113"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144281169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Export of evidence-based wellness services: An opportunity to actualize India's demographic dividend","authors":"Rakesh Sarwal , Hemant Bhargav , Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan","doi":"10.1016/j.jaim.2025.101153","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaim.2025.101153","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>India's demographic dividend offers a critical opportunity to drive sustained economic growth over the next three decades, driven by increasing its share in global trade. Up until 1700, India had a thriving industrial manufacturing economy, producing about 25 % of the world's industrial output, making it the most important manufacturing centre in international trade. Based on recent trends, we argue that the service sector presents considerable growth potential. Within the service sector, despite a small share currently, the healthcare and wellness demonstrate particular promise. Leveraging India's vast pool of trained professionals and its established expertise in traditional systems of medicine, notably AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy), suitable governmental initiatives are needed based on a strategy and a road map to incentivize exporters, get international recognition of Indian certifications, particularly by developed nations. This is essential for the growth of the export of wellness services from India, but can also help reduce the burgeoning healthcare costs, inequity and address the needs of ageing populations in developed countries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine","volume":"16 3","pages":"Article 101153"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144106000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Integrated Yoga and Ayurveda therapy for negative symptoms in schizophrenia: A case series highlighting safety and synergistic value of integrative and personalized healthcare","authors":"Kavyashree Kulamarva , Varsha Karanth , Chandrasena Santosh , Chikkanna Umesh , Hemant Bhargav , Venkataram Shivakumar , Kishore Kumar Ramakrishna , Nishitha Jasti , Shivarama Varambally","doi":"10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101092","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101092","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Negative symptoms are a significant contributor to the psychopathology of schizophrenia, primarily affecting socio-occupational functioning. Though effective in managing positive symptoms, most pharmacological agents have limited effects on the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, especially the primary negative symptoms. We discuss five cases (4 males, one female, age range: 24–36 years) of chronic schizophrenia (diagnosed as per ICD-10 criteria) with duration of illness ranging from 2 to 18 years. All the cases had negative symptoms with moderate to extreme severity on the scale for assessment of negative symptoms (SANS) (scores 49 or above; range 49–82). Subjects underwent integrated yoga and ayurveda (IYA) intervention for 12 weeks. Ayurveda intervention included systematic detox <em>(Panchakarma Shodhana)</em> and pacifying herbs <em>(Shamana),</em> whereas yoga involved the practice of a previously validated yoga module. For all the subjects, anti-psychotic medications were stable for the last eight weeks and did not change during the 12-week IYA intervention and eight weeks after. Post-intervention SANS scores were reduced in all the subjects. The reduction of SANS scores ranged from −15 to −43 (average: −35.6), corresponding to CGI-I ratings of ‘much improved’ in three subjects and ‘minimally improved’ in two subjects. Clinical assessments by an independent psychiatrist at baseline, during IYA (4 weeks), immediately post-IYA (12 weeks), and eight weeks post-IYA did not reveal any new potential side effects due to IYA or worsening of other clinical symptoms or exaggeration of side effects of antipsychotics. This needs further scientific exploration through systematic clinical and mechanistic trials in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine","volume":"16 3","pages":"Article 101092"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144115148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessing the work-related health and well-being of yoga and naturopathy professionals: A cross-sectional study from India","authors":"Pradeep M.K. Nair , Karishma Silwal , Prakash Babu Kodali , Gulab Tewani","doi":"10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101089","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101089","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><strong>Background:</strong> Health workers face significant hazards in their occupational settings. While many studies document the health risks of conventional healthcare workers, CAM health workers encounter unique challenges, including physical strain from repetitive tasks and psychosocial stressors from intensive patient interactions. Despite the widespread practice of yoga and naturopathy in India and globally, there is a lack of reports on the occupational health and well-being of yoga and naturopathy health workers. <strong>Objectives:</strong> This study aims to fill this gap by exploring the occupational health issues and well-being of yoga and naturopathy professionals, providing valuable insights to improve their work environments and support systems. <strong>Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional study was conducted in a yoga and naturopathy-based lifestyle medicine hospital in India. Participants included doctors, interns, therapists, drivers, and administrative, kitchen, and housekeeping staff with at least one year of work experience. Data on general well-being, quality of life, fatigue, and work-related burnout were collected using validated questionnaires. Data analysis involved univariate and multivariate approaches to compute prevalence and identify factors associated with burnout, pain, and occupational symptoms. <strong>Results:</strong> Among 138 participants, 68.1% were female, and 34.1% were therapists. Most participants were overweight or obese. High burnout levels were reported by 29%, with eye strain (41.3%) and sleep disturbances (26.8%) being prevalent occupational health issues. Females and those with up to six years of experience had higher odds of occupational symptoms and burnout. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> The majority perceived the workplace as safe, with no reports of sexual harassment. This study highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve the occupational health and well-being of yoga and naturopathy health workers. Future research should include larger, more diverse samples across multiple settings to validate and expand upon these findings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine","volume":"16 3","pages":"Article 101089"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143922719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Multimodal Ayurvedic intervention provided 15 years of progression free survival to a female patient with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of tongue - A case report","authors":"Sadanand Sardeshmukh, Vineeta Deshmukh, Vasanti Godse, Shrinivas Datar, Swapna Kulkarni, Sneha Dalvi, Sushama Bhuvad, Shweta Gujar, Sandeep Chavan","doi":"10.1016/j.jaim.2024.100984","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaim.2024.100984","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of oral cancer, accounting for 90%–95% of all cancers in the mouth. It is typically noted in individuals over the age of 40, especially men between 60 and 80. However, there has been a recent increase in oral cancer cases among women and younger individuals. We present a case of a 49-year-old female diagnosed with Stage III, moderately differentiated Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue in August 2005. The patient underwent radiation therapy (35 fractions/70 Gy) and received adjunct chemotherapy (6 cycles of Inj. Cisplatin – LD on October 21, 2005). Despite these treatments, residual induration on the tongue persisted, leading to a Knife biopsy in April 2007 that confirmed the presence of squamous carcinoma infiltrating the lingual muscles. Further, she underwent Wide Excision Glossectomy with Left Supra-Omohyoid Neck Dissection in May 2007 and Total Glossectomy with Hemi mandibulectomy with Left Supra-Omohyoid Neck Dissection in August 2011. In addition to conventional cancer treatments, the patient opted for Ayurvedic treatment at our center, which included a combination of oral Herbo-mineral metallic medicines and detoxifying <em>Panchakarma</em> procedures. The 12-year progression-free survival achieved in this case highlights the potential benefits of combining conventional cancer treatment with personalized adjunct Ayurvedic therapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine","volume":"16 3","pages":"Article 100984"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144098592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}