Does Ayurveda work?

Ayurveda includes many types of therapies and is used for many health issues. A summary of the scientific evidence is beyond the scope of this Backgrounder. You can consult the PubMed? database on the Internet or contact the NCCAM Clearinghouse for any research results available on a disease or condition. However, very few rigorous, controlled scientific studies have been carried out on Ayurvedic practices. In India, the government began systematic research in 1969, and the work continues.

Are there concerns about Ayurvedic medicine?

Health officials in India and other countries have expressed concerns about certain Ayurvedic practices, especially those involving herbs, metals, minerals, or other materials. Here are some of those concerns:

• Ayurvedic medications have the potential to be toxic. Many materials used in them have not been thoroughly studied in either Western or Indian research. In the United States, Ayurvedic medications are regulated as dietary supplements (a category of foods; see box below). As such, they are not required to meet the rigorous standards for conventional medicines. An American study published in 2004 found that of 70 Ayurvedic remedies purchased over-the-counter (all had been manufactured in South Asia), 14 (one-fifth) contained lead, mercury, and/or arsenic at levels that could be harmful. Also in 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received 12 reports of lead poisoning linked to the use of Ayurvedic medications.
  
• Most Ayurvedic medications consist of combinations of herbs and other medicines, so it can be challenging to know which ones are having an effect and why.
  
• Whenever two or more medications are used, there is the potential for them to interact with each other. As a result, the effectiveness of at least one may increase or decrease in the body. For example, it is known that guggul lipid (an extract of guggul) may increase the activity of aspirin, which could lead to bleeding problems.
  
• Most clinical trials of Ayurvedic approaches have been small, had problems with research designs, lacked appropriate control groups, or had other issues that affected how meaningful the results were.