Rao Vibhuti S, Gupta Sabrina, Armour Mike, Cheema Birinder S, Smith Caroline A, Moran Lisa, Baranwal Vandana, Ee Carolyn
NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia.
School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Integr Med Res. 2025 Sep;14(3):101184. doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101184. Epub 2025 Jun 19.
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) use traditional medicines such as Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine) to manage their symptoms. Dietary and lifestyle advice is one of the major components of Ayurveda treatment, however, it remains unexplored. This study aimed to understand the perspectives of Ayurveda clinicians regarding PCOS and excess weight, and its management through diet and lifestyle.
A qualitative methodology was implemented using online focus group discussion. The data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using content analysis. Ayurveda clinicians who fulfilled the predefined eligibility criteria were included.
Ten eligible Ayurveda clinicians participated in the focus group. Five categories with relevant sub-categories were identified: characteristics of women visiting Ayurveda clinicians; Ayurveda clinical toolkit for understanding clinical presentations; Ayurveda dietary approach to managing excess weight; advice related to dietary adjustments; and advice related to eating and lifestyle behaviours. Overall, most clinicians agree that an Ayurveda dietary approach is personalized, and tailored to the health needs, primarily based on Ayurveda assessment and the clinical presentation of an individual with PCOS and excess weight.
Consistent with 'Recommendations from the 2023 international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of PCOS' Ayurveda clinicians advocate for a cultural-specific, lifelong healthy lifestyle for optimum management of PCOS beyond weight reduction. Ayurveda lifestyle counselling provides extensive insights into holistic food and lifestyle practices that individuals may adapt to their day-to-day lives. Further research may utilize consensus methods to explore potential dietary interventions and assess their effectiveness and adaptability in women with PCOS.
多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）女性使用阿育吠陀（传统印度医学）等传统药物来管理症状。饮食和生活方式建议是阿育吠陀治疗的主要组成部分之一，然而，这方面仍未得到充分探索。本研究旨在了解阿育吠陀临床医生对PCOS和超重问题的看法，以及通过饮食和生活方式进行管理的情况。
采用在线焦点小组讨论的定性方法。数据逐字转录并使用内容分析法进行分析。纳入符合预定义资格标准的阿育吠陀临床医生。
10名符合条件的阿育吠陀临床医生参加了焦点小组。确定了五个类别及相关子类别：就诊于阿育吠陀临床医生的女性特征；用于理解临床表现的阿育吠陀临床工具包；管理超重的阿育吠陀饮食方法；与饮食调整相关的建议；以及与饮食和生活方式行为相关的建议。总体而言，大多数临床医生一致认为，阿育吠陀饮食方法是个性化的，根据健康需求进行调整，主要基于对患有PCOS和超重的个体的阿育吠陀评估和临床表现。
与“2023年PCOS评估和管理国际循证指南的建议”一致，阿育吠陀临床医生主张采用特定文化的终身健康生活方式，以实现PCOS的最佳管理，而不仅仅是减重。阿育吠陀生活方式咨询为个人可融入日常生活的整体饮食和生活方式实践提供了广泛见解。进一步的研究可利用共识方法探索潜在的饮食干预措施，并评估其在PCOS女性中的有效性和适应性。
