CONTRIBUTIONS OF AYURVEDIC PRACTICES TO THE GESTATIONAL PROCESS: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Objective: To identify, through scientific publications, the contributions of Ayurveda to the process of gestation. Method: This is an Integrative Literature Review, with data collection carried out from January to June 2024, using the Virtual Health Library of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicines (BVS-MTCI), Cochrane Library, CAPES Periods Portal, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus and UpToDate, with a time frame from 2019 to 2023. Results: Thirteen studies on Ayurvedic medicine in pregnancy were included, predominantly published in India (11 studies), Iran and Indonesia. The central themes addressed the contributions of Ayurveda to pregnancy, infertility treatments and aspects of labor, with a majority of case studies (six), followed by clinical trials and other experimental types. The year 2023 showed a significant increase in publications, reflecting the growing interest in this area, especially in Asia. Final Considerations: Ayurveda demonstrates effectiveness in managing conditions such as infertility, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and threatened miscarriage, in addition to improving the psychological well-being of pregnant women. The research highlights its complementarity to conventional obstetric care, emphasizing its contribution to healthy fetal development and support for comprehensive maternal health.