The Convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Ayurveda: A Transformational Approach to Healthcare

Introduction

Originating in India, Ayurveda is an ancient medical system grounded in the principles of holistic healing, emphasizing the balance between mind, body, and spirit [1]. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), new possibilities have emerged to merge this traditional knowledge with modern technological advancements [2]. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025 highlights the importance of AI in strengthening health systems through its diverse applications. It particularly emphasizes addressing the needs of patients, healthcare professionals, service providers, and the healthcare industry, with the ultimate goal of empowering individuals and realizing the vision of universal health coverage [3]. While the idea of artificial intelligence dates back to the 1950s, its potential to transform global healthcare has become increasingly evident in recent years. AI has made notable contributions in areas such as drug development, genomics, medical imaging, pathology, disease prevention, early epidemic detection, and broader health research [4].

Artificial Intelligence

The Council on AI of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) defines an AI system as “A machine-based system that gives a set of human devices objectives to make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments” [5]. AI is any software technology with at least one of the following capabilities: perception – including audio, visual, textual, and tactile (e.g., face recognition), decision-making (e.g., medical diagnosis systems), prediction (e.g., weather forecast), automatic knowledge extraction and pattern recognition from data (e.g., the discovery of fake news circles in social media), interactive communication (e.g., social robots or chatbots), and logical reasoning (e.g., theory development from premises) [6].

Role of AI In Ayurveda

The adoption of AI is rapidly growing within modern healthcare, and efforts are now underway to incorporate AI into traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda. In the context of Ayurveda, the three core data sources—known as the Trisutra—that can support AI applications include human physiological data, Ayurvedic treatment data, and disease-related information.

1. The Use of AI in Therapeutic Ayurvedic Treatments

The central concern in personalized Ayurvedic care is whether treatments can be adapted to suit an individual’s distinct constitution and specific imbalances. An additional question is whether such personalized approaches enhance treatment effectiveness while remaining true to Ayurvedic philosophy. Ayurveda is based on the fundamental principle that every individual is unique, and therefore, their treatment should be tailored to their specific needs. AI-powered systems can analyze patient data, genetic information, and lifestyle factors to generate personalized treatment recommendations based on Ayurvedic principles [7].

1. The Use of AI-Powered Wearables in Ayurvedic Health Monitoring

Progress in artificial intelligence has enabled the creation of smart wearable devices that can continuously monitor essential health indicators. These gadgets gather real-time data on metrics such as heart rate, blood pressure, and sleep quality, offering meaningful insights into an individual’s general health status. When combined with Ayurvedic principles, AI-driven wearables have the potential to deliver personalized health recommendations, targeting specific concerns based on a person’s Prakriti (constitutional type) and existing imbalances [8].

1. The Use of AI-Enhanced Research and Evidence-Based Practice

AI-powered data analytics can facilitate large-scale research on Ayurvedic treatments and their outcomes. By aggregating and analyzing vast amounts of clinical data, AI can contribute to evidence-based practice in Ayurveda, validating traditional remedies and strengthening the integration of Ayurveda with modern healthcare systems [9]. Robotics is a key domain within artificial intelligence (AI), involving artificial agents that interact with and respond to real-world environments. These agents are essentially man-made machines designed to simulate human thought processes—machines that exhibit human-like intelligence. AI offers several benefits, including error reduction, enhanced computational power, improved labor efficiency, better problem-solving capabilities, advanced user interfaces, and more effective information management [10].

To enhance the scientific credibility of Ayurvedic medicines, it is essential to revise and expand the Indian Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia. Currently, many herbal ingredients commonly used in formulations are not included in the official pharmacopeia. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop a supplementary or updated version that includes therapeutic plants currently omitted from the existing records [11].

Optimizing AI can help tackle major challenges in the Ayurvedic pharmaceutical industry. These include ensuring the wide availability of medications, improving quality control, standardizing formulations for better taste and consistency, determining appropriate dosages for various combinations, extending shelf life, maintaining a steady supply chain, and ensuring both the safety and efficacy of treatments [12].

AI is increasingly being used in complementary and alternative medicine. To fully harness its potential, it is important to digitize and expand the database of traditional medicinal knowledge for applications in ethnopharmacology. This approach can support drug discovery and investment in network pharmacology. Ultimately, integrating AI with ethnopharmacological research can lead to significant advancements in drug discovery and the understanding of Ayurvedic practices.

5. Use for Personalized Treatments and Panchakarma

AI-driven advancements in personalized medicine can lead to tailor-made treatment plans, including Panchakarma therapies. AI algorithms can analyze an individual’s Prakriti (constitution) and Vikriti (imbalances) to recommend the most appropriate Panchakarma procedures, like Vaman, Virechan, Vasti, Raktmokshan, and Jaloka, optimizing their effectiveness in restoring health and balance.

6. Use for Drug Discovery

Data from various sources such as research articles, patents, clinical trials, patient records, and classical texts like the Samhitas can be integrated into an AI-powered platform. This system can offer insights into both practical applications and traditional medicines already documented in ancient literature. The result is a cloud-based representation of over a billion known and disrupted interactions among biological elements—such as genes, symptoms, diseases, tissues, species, and potential treatments.

Using this platform, users can query information in a way similar to using a search engine, generating knowledge graphs. When asked about a particular disease, the system can suggest multiple treatment options, including alternative or more potent drugs. This facilitates the development and evaluation of these alternatives through clinical trials, driven by advanced pattern recognition techniques. A groundbreaking example of this approach was the discovery of monoamines in Rauwolfia serpentina, which opened new perspectives in Ayurvedic pharmacology [13].

7. Virtual Health Assistants (VR)

AI-powered virtual health assistants or chatbots have the potential to function as personalized health advisors, granting immediate access to Ayurvedic insights and guidance [14]. These virtual assistants can guide individuals in adopting healthy lifestyle practices, understanding their Prakriti, and making informed choices about Ayurvedic treatments and remedies [15].

8. Prakriti Assistance Kiosk

The Prakriti Assistance Kiosk holds significant potential and importance in Ayurveda due to its role in personalized healthcare. Here’s an overview of its importance in the Ayurvedic context:

1. Personalized Ayurvedic Assessment:

In Ayurveda, Prakriti refers to an individual’s unique body constitution, formed by the balance of the three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. A kiosk can help quickly assess a person’s Prakriti through questionnaires, biometric sensors, or AI tools, making personalized health advice more accessible.

1. Enhanced Public Awareness:

Placing such kiosks in hospitals, wellness centers, or public spaces can help spread awareness about Ayurvedic principles, helping people understand their natural constitution and how it affects diet, lifestyle, and disease susceptibility. By identifying one’s Prakriti, the kiosk can suggest tailored preventive measures such as lifestyle changes and diet recommendations.

Discussion

The future of AI in Ayurveda is highly promising, offering the potential to transform traditional healthcare through advancements in diagnostics, personalized treatment, drug discovery, and preventive care. By blending modern technology with Ayurvedic wisdom, AI can enhance holistic healing. However, challenges arise due to Ayurveda’s personalized approach, such as dosha-based diagnoses and lifestyle considerations, which are difficult to standardize in AI models. To overcome these challenges, diverse and rich datasets are essential. AI can enhance drug development by predicting therapeutic effects, optimizing dosages, and identifying drug-target relationships. Despite progress, issues like data privacy, algorithm transparency, and validation of AI outcomes must be carefully managed.

Conclusion

The World Health Organization’s Global Strategy on Digital Health (2020–2025) highlights the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance healthcare systems across various sectors, including consumers, healthcare professionals, providers, and industry. The goal is to empower patients and work toward achieving universal health coverage. In today’s globalized world, one key challenge is adapting Ayurveda to be competitive in the international market. Before integrating AI into Ayurveda, it is essential to standardize its diagnostic methods, treatment procedures, and therapeutic approaches.Technology should be used not only to enhance Ayurveda’s potential but also to preserve the integrity and expertise of Ayurvedic physicians (Bhishakas), who are central to its ethical treatment principles [17].
AI is rapidly advancing in the medical field, including complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). To better understand its role, interdisciplinary collaboration between AI and Ayurveda can lead to groundbreaking developments in disease prediction, prevention, and personalized treatment [18]. To achieve long-term health security and universal health coverage, AI must be integrated into the broader digital health ecosystem. This integration should be driven by a strong strategic framework, ensuring the system is people-centered, efficient, inclusive, and sustainable.

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