Title : Facilitators, barriers, and effects of ayurvedic multimodality intervention on home-based adults: A qualitative study
Abstract:
Background and objective: Addressing the recent rise in mental health complaints, this study evaluated the facilitators, barriers, and effects of a 4-month online, multimodal, complementary intervention on the mental and physical health of home-based adults in Europe.
Method: Ninety-eight home-based adults with mild to severe mental and physical health symptoms were recruited across Europe through digital advertisements. Content analysis of online questionnaire responses was conducted to evaluate the impact of the Ayurveda Program for Detox and Lifestyle, which comprised a personalized Ayurveda diet, daily routine, yoga exercises, herbal detoxification procedures, and herbal preparations.
Results: By the end of the fourth month, 83% of the 98 participants experienced facilitating factors, with 54% benefiting from internal facilitators, such as treatment benefits and habit formation, and 69% from external facilitators, like a well-designed treatment system and social support. However, 67% encountered barriers, with 70% facing internal challenges such as health conditions and psychological barriers, and 59% dealing with external issues like time restrictions and life situations. Qualitative analysis indicated improvements in mental health (53%) and physical health (75%). At the end of the first month, 6% of participants reported mild to moderate transient side effects, mostly linked to caffeine withdrawal and the castor oil cleanse.
Conclusion: The evidence suggests that a Maharishi AyurVeda Detox Program is associated with significant improvements in the mental and physical health of the study subjects with clinical and non-clinical symptoms. Future randomized controlled trials are warranted to control for confounding factors, and to confirm these findings in clinical populations.
