Volume 14 | Issue 5
Volume 14 | Issue 5
Volume 14 | Issue 5
Volume 14 | Issue 5
Volume 14 | Issue 5
Drawing on a case study in the Indian southern state of Kerala, where Ayurveda is deeply entangled with everyday life, this research explores how effective is Ayurvedic intervention in female reproductive health. Ayurveda is a holistic science employed since immemorial times in treating reproductive disorders, including infertility, and thus offers an alternative to the recent modalities of medicine. This study investigates the impact of Ayurvedic treatments such as herbal medicines, dietary modifications, and lifestyle changes on female reproductive health. The knowledge, acceptability, and effectiveness of these strategies among female patients in Kerala are also evaluated. Data were collected by conducting semistructured interviews with Ayurvedic practitioners and patients, as well as through clinical records (mainly Case Sheets) of the selected study participants and secondary literature. The studies mostly cover general reproductive health problems discussed in Ayurveda, e.g., menstrual disorders and symptoms of menopause or infertility based on pcos. The findings suggest that Ayurveda therapies, especially those using natural herbs like Ashoka and Shatavari, provide good acceptability and effectiveness while dealing with reproductive health-related issues without any or fewer side effects compared to allopathic treatments. On the other hand, it puts forward challenges such as dearth of clinical trials and standardisation in therapies for effective integration with modern healthcare. The authors suggest that more research is needed to look at the effects of Ayurveda therapies during pregnancy on female reproductive health and modern medical procedures.