VMMC and CARI Sign MoU to Pioneer Integrative Menopause Care via Ayurveda

The MoU signifies a shift towards validating and systematizing Ayurvedic interventions that work synergistically with allopathic practices, aiming to create integrated care protocols rooted in safety, scientific rigor, and cultural relevance.

In a transformative move to enhance integrative and patient-centric healthcare for women, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) & Safdarjung Hospital, one of India’s premier tertiary care institutions, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today with the Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush.

This landmark collaboration aims to advance evidence-based Ayurveda research, specifically targeted at improving the quality of life for women undergoing menopause, a physiological phase that brings complex physical, emotional, and hormonal changes.

Addressing the Silent Struggles of Menopause Through Holistic Care

Menopause, often termed the “silent transition,” affects millions of women annually, manifesting through symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, mood instability, memory decline, anxiety, and fatigue. While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and pharmaceutical interventions remain standard, there is a growing recognition of the need for complementary, safer, and holistic alternatives—a need Ayurveda is uniquely positioned to address.

The MoU signifies a shift towards validating and systematizing Ayurvedic interventions that work synergistically with allopathic practices, aiming to create integrated care protocols rooted in safety, scientific rigor, and cultural relevance.

Senior Medical Leadership Commits to Evidence-Based Integration

At the MoU signing ceremony, Dr. Sandeep Bansal, Director of VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, emphasized the emerging global trend of integrative medicine, where Ayurveda and allopathy function not as alternatives, but as collaborators in healing. “Ayurvedic interventions, when applied with precision and clinical oversight, can significantly enhance outcomes for menopausal women. This is especially vital in a healthcare ecosystem where women’s transitional health often remains under-discussed and under-treated,” he stated.

Dr. Bansal cautioned against indiscriminate use of Ayurvedic formulations containing bhasmas (metal-based preparations), stressing that such treatments should be administered only under professional guidance and backed by pharmacovigilance to ensure patient safety.

CARI and CCRAS: Elevating Ayurveda with Science

Dr. Hemanta Panigrahi, Institute Incharge at CARI, reiterated the role of CCRAS as the apex research institution of the Ministry of Ayush, with a legacy of rigorous clinical and pharmacological research in Ayurveda. He recalled the long-standing presence of the Ayurveda Unit at Safdarjung Hospital, which has been operational since 1996, providing an institutional foundation for integrative healthcare.

“This collaboration marks a new chapter in translational research. With menopause affecting women's lives at physical, emotional, and societal levels, it is imperative that we build health systems that are both comprehensive and culturally attuned,” Dr. Panigrahi noted.

He also highlighted the increasing international acceptance of evidence-based Ayurveda, pointing to global clinical trials, WHO endorsements, and growing collaborations between Ayush systems and mainstream academic medical centers worldwide.

Project Vision: Research, Validation, and Public Health Outreach

Presenting the project outline, Principal Investigator Dr. Shivshankar Rajput and Prof. Upma Saxena elaborated on the methodology, clinical protocols, and intended research outcomes. They emphasized the need to develop:

• Scientifically validated integrative treatment modules

• Protocol-based clinical trials on Ayurvedic formulations for menopausal symptoms

• Psychosomatic therapy models combining Ayurveda, yoga, and counseling

• Patient-centric outcome assessments to ensure usability and effectiveness

• Training modules for practitioners across both Ayurveda and allopathy to ensure cross-system literacy

They were joined by Dr. Charu Bamba (Medical Superintendent), Dr. Shweta Mata, and Dr. Ashima Jain, who underlined the institutional support for research, clinical trials, and dissemination.

Beyond Treatment: Reframing Women’s Midlife Health

This MoU carries broader implications for how midlife women’s health is framed within India’s healthcare discourse. Rather than treating menopause as a condition to be “managed,” this initiative seeks to holistically support women through education, lifestyle interventions, herbal care, and psychosocial resilience.

The collaboration also responds to the National Health Policy 2017’s call for integrative medicine, aligned with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, which envisions a whole-person, preventive, and promotive healthcare system for all age groups.

A Template for Future Public Health Partnerships

This initiative reflects the government’s increasing emphasis on mainstreaming Ayush into India’s healthcare framework, creating collaborative ecosystems where evidence, accessibility, and cultural heritage co-exist. It sets the stage for replicable models across other specialties such as geriatrics, oncology, mental health, and chronic pain.

By combining clinical excellence at Safdarjung Hospital with Ayurvedic research capacity at CARI, the collaboration could yield not only improved patient outcomes but also global models for menopause care, accessible through both public hospitals and community outreach.

Towards Integrative, Inclusive, and Informed Women’s Health

The MoU signing is a declaration of intent to reimagine women’s health through the lens of integration, compassion, and scientific rigor. As India walks the path of becoming a Viksit Bharat (Developed India), women’s health must remain at the center of national wellness strategies.

Through initiatives like this, VMMC–Safdarjung and CCRAS are laying the groundwork for a healthcare paradigm that is deeply Indian, profoundly scientific, and universally empowering.