Evaluation of a virtual Ayurvedic whole-systems lifestyle intervention for quality of life in breast cancer survivors: An exploratory randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Advances in early detection and treatment have improved survival among individuals with breast cancer; however, many survivors experience persistent treatment-related symptoms that affect quality of life during survivorship. This exploratory study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a personalized Ayurvedic Daily Routine Protocol (ADRP), a whole-systems lifestyle approach, and explored patterns in quality of life (QOL), digestive health, and sleep among breast cancer survivors (BCS).

METHODS

This randomized controlled pilot study evaluated a 12-week, virtually delivered, personalized ADRP among breast cancer survivors who had completed conventional treatment at least three months prior to enrollment and reported no active disease. Participants were randomized to either an intervention group receiving a personalized ADRP tailored to individual vikriti (current psychosomatic imbalance) or a waitlist control group. Patient-reported outcomes assessing QOL, sleep disturbance, gastrointestinal symptoms, and digestive balance were collected at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Between-group comparisons at 12 weeks were explored using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusting for baseline values, and within-group changes were examined using repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM ANOVA). Analyses were conducted to identify preliminary trends to inform the design of future studies.

RESULTS

Fifteen participants were randomized (intervention n = 8; waitlist control n = 7), with a mean age of 61 years. Feasibility outcomes were favorable, including a 100% consent rate and 93% retention at 12 weeks. Within the intervention group, trends toward improvement were observed in psychological QOL, sleep disturbance, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Between-group comparisons suggested greater improvement in psychological well-being and gastrointestinal outcomes in the intervention group. Measures of digestive strength (agnibala) within the intervention group demonstrated a shift toward more balanced digestion (sama agni) over the 12-week period.

CONCLUSIONS

This exploratory pilot trial demonstrates the feasibility and acceptability of a virtually delivered, personalized Ayurvedic lifestyle intervention for breast cancer survivorship. The virtual format enhanced accessibility and participant engagement, highlighting the potential scalability of whole-systems lifestyle approaches. Observed trends support further investigation of personalized Ayurvedic interventions in larger, adequately powered trials within integrative survivorship care.