International Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

EFFECT OF 5- DAY GAYATRI MANTRA SADHANA ON DASS-21 SCORE- OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

2026-04-10T12:56:33+0530

Introduction: Psychological distress, specifically symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress (DAS), is a widespread global health concern. Traditional practices such as the Gayatri Mantra (GM) are hypothesized to offer therapeutic potential through physiological and cognitive modulation. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the impact of a short-duration GM practice on these psychological parameters using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21).

Methods: A quasi-experimental, pre-post design was employed using a convenience sample of 28 healthy individuals at a Sadhana center in Rishikesh. Participants underwent a 5-day structured Gayatri Mantra chanting intervention. Psychological well-being was measured using the DASS-21 both immediately before and immediately after the intervention period. Data were analyzed using a paired t-test to determine the statistical significance of changes in mean DASS scores.

Results: Statistical analysis yielded a highly significant reduction in overall DASS scores. The mean DASS score dropped substantially from 12.46 ± 8.40 (Pre-intervention) to 4.00 ± 3.96 (Post-intervention). The calculated t statistic (t = 6.303895, df = 27) significantly exceeded the critical value, and the P-value was substantially below the alpha=0.05 threshold. Therefore null hypothesis is rejected.

Conclusion: The findings provide strong empirical evidence that a 5-day regimen of Gayatri Mantra chanting serves as an effective, rapid, and non-pharmacological intervention for significantly reducing self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in healthy individuals. While statistically robust for the studied population, the results warrant further confirmation through rigorous randomized controlled trials to better isolate the specific effects of the practice.

Role of yoga in alleviate musculoskeletal pain and balancing hormones in women with early menopause: a case study

2026-01-25T20:37:46+0530

Early menopause, defined as the cessation of menstruation before the age of 45 years, affects up to 16.2% of Indian women and is linked to hormonal imbalance, musculoskeletal pain, psychological distress, and increased risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Yoga has emerged as a potential non-pharmacological approach for managing menopausal symptoms. This case study evaluated the effectiveness of a structured yoga therapy protocol in managing hormonal imbalance and musculoskeletal pain in a 42-year-old woman experiencing early menopause. The patient underwent a six-month yoga therapy program consisting of 50-minute sessions, five days a week, with practices adapted from the “Yoga Protocol for Women of Reproductive Age” and modified during active menstruation. After six months, oestradiol levels increased by 25.41% while follicle-stimulating hormone levels decreased by 39.28%. Pain reduction was observed in multiple joints, including the lower back (75%), hip (44.4%), knee (37.5%), heel (44.4%), and shoulder (28.6%), though no improvement was noted in elbow pain and body mass index showed only minimal change (1.49%). These findings suggest yoga therapy may serve as a safe, effective, and cost-efficient intervention for early menopause management, particularly for improving hormonal balance and alleviating musculoskeletal discomfort. However, as this is a single case report without a control group, further research with larger, controlled trials is necessary to confirm these results.

Homeopathy in chronic disease management: a critical review of the evidence

2026-04-10T12:56:39+0530

Homeopathy remains one of the most widely practiced complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities worldwide, particularly among individuals with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) who seek safe, holistic, and personalized therapeutic options. Despite its global popularity, controversy continues regarding its mechanisms of action and clinical effectiveness. This review critically evaluates the current evidence on the role of homeopathy in chronic disease management. A comprehensive review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published between 2000 and 2025 was conducted. Studies were included if they examined homeopathic interventions in chronic conditions such as asthma, arthritis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, depression, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia. Data were synthesized thematically to assess efficacy, mechanistic plausibility, methodological quality, and safety outcomes. Mechanistic hypotheses suggest that hormesis, nanoparticle-mediated signaling, immune modulation, and neuropsychological or psychosocial mechanisms may contribute to the therapeutic effects of homeopathy. Meta-analytic evidence demonstrates modest but statistically significant improvements in subjective measures such as pain, fatigue, and quality of life across several chronic diseases, with standardized mean differences ranging from 0.18 to 0.25. However, objective clinical outcomes, including spirometry and HbA1c, rarely show consistent benefit. Methodological challenges, including small sample sizes, heterogeneous interventions, limited follow-up durations, and a high risk of bias, continue to constrain the reliability of existing findings. Importantly, homeopathy exhibits a favorable safety profile, with no serious adverse events reported across chronic disease studies. Current evidence indicates that homeopathy may provide modest adjunctive benefits for symptom relief and improved patient satisfaction among individuals with chronic illnesses, although its specific therapeutic mechanisms remain uncertain. Integration of homeopathy into evidence-based, patient-centered chronic disease management frameworks may enhance holistic care. Future research should emphasize large-scale, multicenter randomized trials with standardized outcome measures and mechanistic endpoints to better define clinical relevance and biological plausibility.

Role of homoeopathy in leukemia: an updated holistic review

2025-12-26T14:22:56+0530

Leukemia is a common malignancy in children and adults that occurs when alterations in normal cell regulatory processes cause uncontrolled proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. It is a clonal proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. The four broad subtypes most likely to be encountered by primary care physicians are acute lymphoblastic, acute myelogenous, chronic lymphocytic, and chronic myelogenous. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia occurs more often in children, whereas the other subtypes are more common in adults. This review summarizes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and conventional management of leukemia, and provides an updated overview of homoeopathic philosophy, miasmatic understanding, reportorial guidance, therapeutic indications, and available research related to leukemia. When it comes to providing a secure and efficient method of treating leukemia, homoeopathy can be a crucial component of integrative medicine.

A critical study and a review perspective of ayush

2026-04-08T00:00:21+0530

AYUSH, encompassing Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy, represents a holistic healthcare paradigm rooted in India’s rich cultural and medical heritage. This review critically examines the evolution, philosophical foundations, and modern institutionalization of AYUSH systems, tracing their journey from Vedic origins to contemporary national and global recognition. Key areas explored include comparative diagnostics, therapeutic approaches, integrative healthcare models, and personalized medicine strategies, highlighting the convergence of traditional wisdom with evidence-based practice. The article also evaluates research and development initiatives, policy frameworks such as the National AYUSH Mission, and the integration of AYUSH services into primary healthcare. Challenges such as limited clinical validation, quality control, and global standardization are analyzed alongside opportunities in wellness promotion, preventive health, and international collaborations. By synthesizing historical, philosophical, clinical, and policy perspectives, this review underscores the potential of AYUSH to contribute meaningfully to preventive, personalized, and integrative healthcare. The study emphasizes that the future advancement of AYUSH depends on strategic research, rigorous validation, and informed policy support, positioning it as a vital bridge between ancient medical wisdom and modern scientific innovation.