Effect of a selected protocol in mild to moderate Alcohol Use Disorder – A Single Group Pretest- Posttest Trial

Abstract

Introduction: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a major global health challenge, with an estimated 3 million deaths annually attributed to harmful alcohol use. In India, approximately 17.4% of alcohol users suffer from AUD. Despite pharmacological options such as naltrexone and acamprosate, adverse effects and relapse remain concerns. Āyurveda identifies alcohol-related disorders as Madaātyaya, with management approaches based on tridoṣa theory including śodhana, śamana, and supportive therapies. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a selected Āyurvedic protocol in managing mild to moderate AUD and improving the quality of life. Methods: A single-group clinical trial was conducted with 14 participants (aged 18–50) diagnosed with mild to moderate AUD at VPSV Ayurveda College and Government Ayurveda Research Institute for Mental Health and Hygiene, Kottakkal. The intervention included Ajamodārka, Kṣīrabala nasya, snehapāna, vamana, followed by Drākṣādi Phāṇṭa and Aśvagandhā–Aparājitā–Vacā cūrṇa for 45 days. Assessments were made using the CIWA-Ar, Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS), and QLES-Q-SF for quality of life. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test. Results:The protocol was statistically significant in the three key areas: managing alcohol withdrawal symptoms at P < 0.001 with 83.28% of relief, reducing alcohol dependence at P < 0.001 with 92.14% of relief, and improving the quality of life at P < 0.001 with 39.54% of improvement in scores. The selected protocol was having statistically significant effect in AUD. Conclusion: The selected Āyurvedic protocol appears effective in the integrative management of mild to moderate AUD. Further studies with larger samples and control groups are recommended for validation.