Abstract
Abstract
Background
Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine originating in the Indian subcontinent more than three millennia ago, has gained increasing global visibility due to rising interest in holistic, preventive, and integrative healthcare. While its practice has expanded across South Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, its level of formal recognition and integration into national healthcare systems varies widely. Understanding the current global status, scope, and limitations of Ayurveda is therefore essential for informed policy formulation and research planning.
Methods
A narrative integrative review was conducted synthesizing peer-reviewed literature, World Health Organization (WHO) reports, and policy documents related to traditional and complementary medicine. Publications indexed in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar from 2008 to 2025 were screened, prioritizing those from the past five to ten years to capture contemporary trends. Governmental and international health agency documents were also incorporated to provide regulatory and policy context.
Results
Ayurveda is practiced globally in three major forms: as a formally recognized medical system in a limited number of countries, as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in many regions, and as a wellness-oriented preventive healthcare approach worldwide. The scope of Ayurveda is particularly evident in health promotion, lifestyle modification, chronic disease management, wellness tourism, and integrative medicine research. However, significant limitations persist, including lack of uniform regulatory frameworks, limited high-quality clinical evidence, variability in product quality, inadequate professional recognition, and challenges in aligning Ayurvedic epistemology with conventional biomedical research paradigms.
Discussion and Conclusion
The global expansion of Ayurveda reflects a broader shift toward personalized and preventive healthcare. Despite its conceptual strengths and growing public acceptance, systemic challenges hinder its deeper integration into mainstream healthcare systems. Addressing methodological gaps in research, harmonizing regulatory standards, strengthening education and accreditation, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration are critical for enhancing Ayurveda's global credibility and long-term sustainability.

Key words: Ayurveda; Global health; Integrative medicine; Traditional medicine; Complementary and alternative medicine; Regulation; Wellness tourism