Role of Panchakarma in the Management of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Evidence-Based Analysis

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (pcos) is a common endocrinological and metabolic disorder affecting women of reproductive age, often presenting with irregular menstrual cycles, hyperandrogenism, anovulation, insulin resistance, infertility, and metabolic disturbances. conventional treatments provide symptom relief but may not address root imbalances. ayurveda's panchakarma, a set of five therapeutic purification procedures, is traditionally used to detoxify, balance doshas, improve metabolism, and restore homeostasis. mechanisms proposed include ama elimination, hormonal balance, improved digestion, and systemic detoxification. emerging clinical reports and observational studies suggest potential benefits of panchakarma, particularly vamana (emesis) and basti (medicated enemas), in regulating menstrual cycles, enhancing follicular maturation, and improving endocrine parameters. however, existing evidence is limited by small sample sizes, lack of randomized controlled trials, and methodological heterogeneity. this review synthesizes classical ayurvedic rationale, recent clinical findings, and proposed mechanisms, highlighting the need for rigorous, standardized research to validate panchakarma's role in pcos management and to integrate it with contemporary therapeutic strategies.