Agreement among Ayurvedic practitioners in the identification and treatment of three cases of inflammatory arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a preliminary investigation into the consistency of approach between three Ayurvedic medicine experts on treatments for inflammatory polyarthritis.

METHODS

A convenience sample of three experienced Ayurvedic practitioners was recruited. These practitioners independently assessed three subjects with inflammatory polyarthritis for health status, treatment history, and lifestyle, conducted a physical examination, and then independently determined the treatment plan. The treatment plan was recorded on standardized collection forms. The subject examination order was randomized for each practitioner. Following completion of the assessments, a facilitated discussion among the practitioners permitted each to discuss all aspects of the recommended therapies. Proceedings were audio-taped and the content analyzed.

RESULTS

All three practitioners agreed upon a unified concept of Ayurvedic disease origin, disease diagnosis, and treatment approach for each patient. Seven specific treatment groupings (i.e. modalities) emerged: diet, exercise, relaxation, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, immune-enhancing, and detoxification/cleansing. Based on the single visit, the practitioners agreed upon 17 of 21 treatment groups for the three patients.

CONCLUSION

Despite Ayurvedic medicine's individualized approach, considerable agreement existed among the practitioners studied. The identified Ayurvedic treatment approaches require investigation in a controlled clinical setting.