Integrative Approaches to Chronic Pain Management: Insights from Ayurveda and Modern Medicine

Chronic pain is a major global health problem that reduces quality of life and strains healthcare systems. Conventional treatments often provide limited relief and cause side effects, highlighting the need for better therapeutic options. Integrative medicine, especially ayurveda, offers complementary solutions through herbal therapy, panchakarma, yoga and meditation. A brief comparative review was conducted on ayurvedic and modern medical approaches for chronic pain. Literature on pain pathophysiology, treatment mechanisms and patient-centered care strategies was analyzed. Barriers to integrating both systems were also evaluated. Integrating ayurvedic therapies with modern medicine offers improved pain relief, reduced inflammation and better emotional well-being. Combining herbal medicines, detoxification practices and yoga with conventional treatments provides more holistic and sustainable outcomes. Challenges include limited clinical standardization and lack of unified treatment guidelines. Ayurveda combined with modern medicine provides a promising, holistic strategy for managing chronic pain. This integrative approach enhances long-term relief, reduces medication burden and supports patient-focused care, though further research and stronger clinical integration are needed.