The potential of Ayurvedic medicine

The development of therapeutics and drugs has been a continuous aspect of humanity since prehistoric and ancient times, with many of these discoveries still in use today. Ayurveda, for example, is a holistic traditional medicine system in South Asia, still heavily practised in India and Nepal. The therapies include lifestyle modification (including diet), yoga and ingredients like herbs. However, in this region, there has been much movement towards western practices over recent centuries.

In a recent study led by Dr Kaushik Chattopadhyay, Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham, UK, researchers found that several Ayurvedic medicines are effective in maintaining blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Ayurvedic medicine and diabetes

In their study, which was published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, the researchers outline that in Ayurveda, the equivalent term for diabetes is madhumeha (madhu means ‘‘sweetness’’ and meha means ‘‘excessive urination’’). Classical Ayurvedic texts have described this condition and how to manage it in detail. The individualised approach is used to manage the disease through lifestyle, detoxifying and purifying therapies and Ayurvedic plant, animal or mineral-based medicines. It is thought that many of these medicines work through pancreatic and extra-pancreatic effects. Type 2 diabetes is one of the primary diseases for which patients seek advice from Ayurvedic practitioners and therefore use this type of therapy. According to the researchers, patients commonly use Ayurveda as it fits with their health beliefs and culture and prefer not to use western medicines due to the associated side effects, cost and method of administration – for example, through injections.

A systematic review of Ayurvedic medicine

Previous systematic reviews have shown the potential for managing type 2 diabetes with Ayurvedic medicines, however many need updating and none have provided a comprehensive summary of all the medicines evaluated for managing the condition. Therefore, the researchers conducted an in-depth systematic review highlighting that Ayurveda can effectively control type 2 diabetes.

As part of this review, the team searched various sources, including 18 electronic databases. The study included 219 articles, which represented 199 randomised controlled trials (21,191 participants) and 98 Ayurvedic medicines.

The review found that blood glucose levels were reduced by using different South Asian plants such as Aegle marmelos, Boswellia serrata and Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Momordica charantia, Nigella sativa, Plantago ovata, Tinospora cordifolia, Trigonella foenum-graecum, and Urtica dioica compared to controls. Similarly, fasting blood glucose (FBG) was reduced by 4mg/dl to 56mg/dl for a range of Ayurvedic medicines.

In an exclusive interview with Drug Target Review, Chattopadhyay explained that in their review, the research team aimed to “bring together different studies conducted that just focused on Ayurvedic medicines for type 2 diabetes, be it herbs or herbal mineral preparations, or some patent Ayurvedic medicines manufactured by current pharmaceutical companies.”

Reporting issues

Despite the evidence highlighting a positive light on Ayurvedic medicine, Chattopadhyay also emphasised the issues with the studies that were reviewed in the study—many of the articles were not properly reported, therefore resulting in poor methodological quality scoring. “We do not know whether they have done it properly or have not reported it properly,” he explained.

Despite reporting issues, Chattopadhyay is quite hopeful that further studies will show the effectiveness of Ayurveda in treating type 2 diabetes. “The current evidence suggests the benefits of a range of Ayurvedic medicines in improving glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes patients. Given the limitations of the available evidence and to strengthen the evidence base, high-quality randomised controlled trials should be conducted and reported. As part of the funded project, we have developed a clinical guideline for managing type 2 diabetes by Ayurvedic practitioners based on this evidence and will be evaluating it.”

Future for Ayurvedic medicine

Chattopadhyay has noted the interest in this study around the globe, especially in western countries. He therefore hopes that the pharmaceutical industry will be interested and carry out robust studies. As part of the funded research project, Chattopadhyay and the team have developed a clinical guideline for managing type 2 diabetes by Ayurvedic practitioners which will be evaluated in Nepal.