Journal of AYUSH: Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy · Vol. 15, No. 1 (2026)
Post-COVID Distress, AYUSH Use and Traditional Medicine Research: Journal of AYUSH 15(1)
By STM Journals ·
This issue of the Journal of AYUSH, which covers India's traditional, complementary and alternative medicine systems, brings together surveys, reviews and clinical papers. Topics include distress after COVID-19, unequal use of AYUSH care in North-East India, gender and alternative-medicine use in Punjab, epigenetics (chemical switches on genes) and AI for non-communicable diseases. Clinical papers include a single-arm Unani study, a blood-marker trial of Sudarshan Kriya and small Ayurvedic case reports.
What's in this issue
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Mental Health in the Post-Pandemic Era (COVID-19): Community-Based Interventions for Resilience and Well-Being
A cross-sectional, mixed-methods community study (March–June 2025) compared distress scores of people who did and did not take part in community mental health programmes after COVID-19. Cross-sectional means a single snapshot in time. Among 400 respondents, 71% showed some distress; participants averaged 4.1 on the GHQ-12 (a 12-question distress checklist) versus 6.3 for non-participants. A snapshot cannot show cause. Interviews pointed to stigma and shortages of trained staff.
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Socioeconomic Inequalities in Utilisation of AYUSH Systems of Medicine in North-East India: Evidence from NSS 79th (2022–2023) Round on AYUSH
Who uses AYUSH medicine? Using a national survey round from 2022–23 covering 64,211 adults aged 15 to 59 in North-East India, the authors measure how use differs by wealth. They report that use was concentrated among better-off groups, and that older adults and women had higher odds of use. In the authors' decomposition, age, gender and education accounted for a major part of the measured pro-rich inequality. The authors propose expanding services in rural and tribal areas.
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Alternative Medicine in Punjab: Gendered Patterns in Efficacy and Safety Outcomes
A mixed-methods, cross-sectional study of 620 adults (300 men, 320 women) from urban and rural Punjab asks how gender and region relate to the use of alternative medicine. Mixed-methods here means surveys plus interviews. Women reported more symptom relief than men (78% versus 64%), a self-reported measure rather than a tested outcome. The authors link self-medication and lack of trained support to higher risks among rural residents.
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Epigenetic Modifications in Health, Disease, and Precision Therapeutics (From Genome to Epigenome)
This review links epigenetic mechanisms, chemical tags on DNA and its packaging proteins that change gene activity without altering the DNA sequence, to personalised medicine and to Ayurvedic concepts such as Deha Prakriti and Janma Prakriti, which the authors equate with phenotype (observable traits) and genotype (genetic makeup). Epigenetic changes are implicated in diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration. The Ayurveda links are conceptual correlations drawn by the authors.
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Leveraging AI and Machine Learning for Early Prediction and Prevention of Non- Communicable Diseases in Resource-Limited Settings
This review surveys how artificial intelligence and machine learning (computer systems that learn patterns from data) are being applied to predicting and preventing non-communicable diseases (long-term conditions that do not spread between people) in places where health resources are limited. It describes mobile screening platforms and risk-ranking models, and discusses challenges including data representation, performance across different populations, ethics and patient privacy.
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Clinical Evaluation of Efficacy of a Polyherbal Unani Formulation (Mentioned in Makhzan-Ul-Ilaj) in the Management of Warm-e-Lauzatain-Haad (Acute Tonsillitis)
This open-label, single-arm study of 60 patients aged 16–25, with no control group, evaluates a polyherbal (multi-herb) Unani decoction for acute tonsillitis, inflammation of the tonsils, called Warm-e-Lauzatain-Haad. Open-label means everyone knew what they were receiving. The authors report that symptom scores and blood markers changed over 12 days and call for larger controlled trials. Without a comparison group, the study cannot show the formulation caused any change.
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Sudarshan Kriya Intervention and Rise of Protective Prostaglandins in Advanced-Stage Breast Cancer: Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial
A double-blind randomised trial of 147 women over 50 with stage 4 breast cancer receiving palliative care (care focused on comfort) reports a rise in one blood chemical, prostaglandin PGA₂, at three months after Sudarshan Kriya, a yogic breathing practice, was added to their care. Levels of two other prostaglandins (PGD₂ and PGE₂) did not differ significantly from baseline. The study measured blood markers, not clinical outcomes, so it cannot show benefit to patients. The authors describe PGA₂ as protective; that interpretation is theirs and is not a demonstrated clinical effect. Sudarshan Kriya is not a cancer treatment and was used alongside palliative care, not instead of medical care.
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Developing an Assessment Protocol in Ayurvedic Research for Hyperemesis Gravidarum with Special Reference to Garbhini Chardi
Hyperemesis gravidarum is severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, which the authors say affects about 1.66% of pregnancies. This paper proposes an assessment protocol for Ayurvedic research, adding measures such as haemoglobin, blood salts (electrolytes), blood glucose, urine tests and a dehydration scale to existing symptom scores. It describes a proposed research method rather than reporting patient outcomes.
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Management of Kosthasakhashrita Kamala W.S.R. to Hepatocellular Jaundice – A Case Study
This single-case report describes Kosthasakhashrita Kamala, an Ayurvedic condition the authors correlate with hepatocellular jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes linked to liver-cell injury). It covers classical features such as yellow eyes, skin and urine, and the Ayurvedic approach used. One case cannot show whether a treatment works, and jaundice needs medical assessment; this is not treatment guidance.
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Ayurvedic Management of Vātadhika Vātarakta – A Case Series
A case series of six patients with Vātadhika Vātarakta, an Ayurvedic disorder involving joint pain, dark skin discolouration and swelling that is often correlated with gout. The authors describe the Ayurvedic management used and the changes they observed over about a month. With only six patients and no comparison group, the series cannot show that the treatment was responsible for any change. Joint pain and swelling of this kind need medical assessment; this is not treatment guidance.
Previous highlights from Journal of AYUSH: Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy
- Skin Disorders, Herbal Reviews and More: Journal of AYUSH 14(1) · Vol. 14, No. 1
- Gut-Brain Axis and Classical Ayurveda: Journal of AYUSH 15(2) · Vol. 15, No. 2
- Herbal Medicine and AI in Ayurveda: Journal of AYUSH 14(3) · Vol. 14, No. 3