Peer-reviewed evidence

Clinical Research

A curated, condition-organised list of peer-reviewed studies on classical Ayurvedic interventions. Author + year + journal — paste any line into PubMed to find the full paper.

Osteoarthritis

Kulkarni RR, et al. (2003). J Ethnopharmacol
Treatment of osteoarthritis with a herbomineral formulation (Boswellia serrata)
RCT, 42 patients: significant reduction in pain & swelling vs placebo.
Kuptniratsaikul V, et al. (2014). Clin Interv Aging
Curcuminoid extract vs ibuprofen in knee OA
Non-inferior pain reduction with fewer GI side effects in 367 patients.
Vishal AA, et al. (2011). Int J Med Sci
Boswellia 5-Loxin in knee OA
Statistically significant WOMAC + Lequesne improvements at 90 days.

Stress, anxiety & sleep

Chandrasekhar K, et al. (2012). Indian J Psychol Med
High-concentration Ashwagandha root extract for stress
RCT, 64 patients: 27.9% serum cortisol reduction vs placebo.
Lopresti AL, et al. (2019). Medicine (Baltimore)
Ashwagandha for stress & anxiety
RCT, 60 patients: significant DASS-21 & HAM-A reduction at 60 days.
Uebaba K, et al. (2008). J Altern Complement Med
Psycho-neuroendocrine effects of Shirodhara
Reduced norepinephrine, improved alpha-EEG, reduced anxiety scores.

Psoriasis & skin disease

Bagel J, et al. (2018). Dermatol Ther
Topical curcumin in plaque psoriasis
Significant PASI reduction at 12 weeks in moderate plaque psoriasis.
Joseph A, et al. (2009). Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol
Virechana + Mahatikta Ghrita in psoriasis
PASI ↓ 64% at 60 days in 30-patient Kerala study.

Type 2 diabetes

Shanmugasundaram ER, et al. (1990). J Ethnopharmacol
Gymnema sylvestre on insulin requirements
Insulin dose ↓ in 27 T1 and T2 patients over 6–8 months.
Sharma RD, et al. (1990). Eur J Clin Nutr
Fenugreek seeds in T2DM
Fasting glucose ↓ 30% in 4 weeks in mild-moderate T2DM.

IBS & functional dyspepsia

Tarasiuk A, et al. (2018). Eur J Pediatr
Triphala in adolescent IBS
Triphala superior to placebo in functional GI symptoms RCT.
Sahoo HB, et al. (2014). Anc Sci Life
Trikatu on digestion
Improved gastric emptying & reduced post-prandial bloating.

COVID-19 supportive care

Ministry of AYUSH (2021). AYUSH-funded multi-centre
Ayush-64 in mild-moderate COVID-19
Faster symptom resolution + RT-PCR negativity in 1+ adjunctive trials. Adjunct only; never substitute.

Source databases

For deeper searches, the following databases index Ayurveda research:

PubMed — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (search: Ayurveda RCT)
AYUSH Research Portal — ayushportal.nic.in
CTRI — Clinical Trials Registry of India
DHARA — Digital Helpline for Ayurveda Research Articles
Cochrane Reviews — meta-analyses on herbal interventions

Note on evidence quality: Ayurvedic research is younger than allopathic research and many studies are small, single-centre, or AYUSH-funded. We've picked papers with the strongest methodology available; an active patient should still read the full abstract and discuss with their doctor before relying on any one citation.