REVIEW article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Ethnopharmacology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1561688
This article is part of the Research TopicTraditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine – Opportunities for Managing and Treating Neurodegenerative Diseases and Ischaemic StrokeView all 10 articles
Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine in the Management of Ischemic Stroke: A Narrative Review
Provisionally accepted
- 1Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
- 2Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
- 3ACS Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, India
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Ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability worldwide, despite advancements in acute intervention and rehabilitation strategies. Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) systems; including herbal medicine, acupuncture, and mind-body interventions are increasingly being explored as adjunct therapies in stroke management. This narrative review evaluates the current evidence supporting TCIM approaches for ischemic stroke, highlighting their potential neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cerebrovascular effects. Particular emphasis is placed on well-studied botanical interventions such as Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge [Lamiaceae; Salviae miltiorrhizae radix et rhizoma], Ginkgo biloba L. [Ginkgoaceae; Ginkgo folium], and Panax ginseng C.A. Mey. [Araliaceae; Ginseng radix]. The review discusses the mechanisms of action, clinical trial outcomes, and integration challenges, while underscoring the need for standardization, quality control, and rigorous scientific validation. This work aims to support informed decisions regarding the integration of evidence-based TCIM practices into conventional stroke care protocols.
Keywords: ischemic stroke, Traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine, Neuroinflammation, Oxidative Stress, Complementary alternative medicine
Received: 16 Jan 2025; Accepted: 12 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 S, Begum, L.S, Rajendran, N and Singh S. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Rukaiah Fatma Begum, Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, GLA University, Mathura, 281406, Uttar Pradesh, India
Ankul Singh S, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, India
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.