Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Apr 22, 2026
Date Accepted: Jul 2, 2026
Evaluation of Vamana and Virechana as interventions to decelerate the aging process in healthy adult volunteers: A protocol for an exploratory single arm clinical trial.
ABSTRACT
Background:
Vamana (therapeutic emesis) and Virechana (therapeutic purgation) are the two major Biopurification procedures enlisted in Ayurveda. Explicit studies showcasing their clinical efficacy are documented in substantial numbers. However, their efficacy in healthy individuals targeting health span and decelerating their aging process is still a grey area. Hence this study is taken up with an objective to explore their effect in modifying the serum levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Telomerase activity.
Objective:
Primary
Objective:
To evaluate Vamana in Vasanta ritu (Spring season) and Virechana in Sharad ritu (Autumn season) in modulating systemic oxidative stress by measuring: • The reduction in serum levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA) • The enhancement of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity, from baseline to post-intervention. Secondary
Objective:
To determine the change in serum telomerase activity from baseline to post-intervention.
Methods:
The study prospectively registered under Clinical Trial Registry- India (CTRI) (CTRI/2024/02/062176), employs a pre-posttest study design, including fifty- three participants of age thirty- five to sixty years. Those with body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 25 kg/m2, with stable weight for 3 months immediately prior to the study and with madhyama koshta (medium nature of bowel evacuation- assessed as per questionnaire), who are Vamanarha (eligible for therapeutic emesis) and Virechanarha (eligible for therapeutic purgation) with proper exclusion will be included in the study. The interventions include emesis in Spring and purgation in Autumn season preceded by Snehana (oleation) and Swedana (fomentation) and followed by the Samsarjana karma (specialised menu of diets) depending on the measurement of purification. Trial duration will range from eighteen to twenty days for each participant, and the total study duration will be three years. The serum levels of MDA, SOD and Telomerase activity will be measured on the 0th day and on the next day of completion of Samsarjana karma (18th -20th day). The data gathered will be analysed statistically using paired t- test or Wilcoxon Signed Rank test depending on the normality of distribution. Moreover, the effect size will be also determined
Results:
Participants are being recruited in the study and the study is supposed to complete by the end December 2026.
Conclusions:
The study will provide hypothesis-generating evidence, and the data will serve as a necessary precursor to adequately powered, confirmatory trials on the aging process. Clinical Trial: CTRI/2024/02/062176
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