Ayurveda, Yoga, and Homeopathy: Exploring the Changing Landscape of Alternative Medicine

Abstract

Ayurveda, yoga, and homeopathy occupy distinctive and increasingly visible positions within the changing landscape of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine. In India, these practices are connected with cultural heritage, wellness, patient preferences, and public healthcare policy, while internationally they are increasingly discussed within evidence-based traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine. A 2025 analysis of India's National Sample Survey 2022–23 examined awareness, preference, and utilization of AYUSH across rural and urban populations, reflecting continuing policy interest in integration with mainstream healthcare. WHO's Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 calls for stronger evidence, appropriate regulation, safe and effective integration, and community empowerment. Recent Indian research also reports high patient interest in Ayurveda but identifies gaps in knowledge, regulation, and understanding of herb-drug interactions. This paper explores nine dimensions of the changing landscape, including historical and cultural relevance, wellness, patient preferences, contemporary healthcare integration, scientific evidence, safety, regulation, digital transformation, and future prospects. The paper emphasizes that Ayurveda, yoga, and homeopathy should not be treated as clinically equivalent simply because they are grouped under AYUSH; each practice requires separate evaluation of evidence, safety, quality, and appropriate use.