Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Background: Ayurveda’s concept of Prakriti (constitution)—the unique constitutional makeup of an individual—forms the foundation of personalized medicine within traditional Indian healthcare systems. This framework emphasizes biological individuality through the tridoshic model (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), aligning closely with modern notions of genetic variability and phenotypic expression. Nadi Pariksha (pulse diagnosis) (pulse examination), a classical diagnostic method, is traditionally used to infer Prakriti (constitution) and disease states, yet its clinical reliability and correlation with molecular data remain underexplored.
Objective: This review critically examines classical Ayurvedic literature and contemporary empirical studies to evaluate diagnostic correlations between Prakriti (constitution), Nadi Pariksha (pulse diagnosis), and emerging genomic and phenotypic data. It further aims to identify gaps, assess diagnostic reproducibility, and propose directions for standardization and integration into global personalized medicine frameworks.
Methods: A structured literature review was conducted using data from PubMed, Scopus, AYUSH Research Portal; and Google Scholar (1994-2024). Sources included classical Ayurvedic texts (Charaka Saṃhitā, Suśruta Saṃhitā), clinical studies on Prakriti (constitution)-genomics; and technological analyses of Nadi Pariksha (pulse diagnosis). Studies were included if they demonstrated measurable correlations between Prakriti (constitution) or Nadi and physiological, genotypic, or metabolomic parameters. Data synthesis employed descriptive and concordance analyses to assess diagnostic validity.
Results: Evidence from 33 studies revealed consistent correlations between Prakriti (constitution) types and selected genomic and physiological markers (p < 0.05), supporting Ayurveda’s biological plausibility in personalized medicine. However, Nadi Pariksha (pulse diagnosis) demonstrated only fair-to-moderate diagnostic agreement (κ = 0.3-0.5) with questionnaire-based Prakriti (constitution) assessment, indicating subjectivity and lack of methodological standardization. Instrument-assisted pulse analysis improved reproducibility, suggesting that digital integration could bridge classical diagnostics and modern biomedical validation.
Conclusion: Prakriti (constitution)-based personalized medicine offers a promising framework for integrating Ayurveda with genomic science. While Prakriti (constitution) classification shows emerging molecular substantiation, Nadi Pariksha (pulse diagnosis) requires further standardization, digital augmentation; and multicentric validation to function as a reliable front-end diagnostic tool. A hybrid diagnostic model combining Nadi, structured Prakriti (constitution) assessment; and molecular profiling could redefine evidence-based integrative medicine, supporting Ayurveda’s global repositioning as a scientifically grounded, personalized healthcare system.