Increasing Public Awareness of Ayurveda in the United States

Introduction

Ayurveda is a system of medicine in South Asia grounded in holistic principles like mind-body balance, lifestyle, and herbal formulations. It is considered a form of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). The most common use of Ayurveda is in treating chronic diseases. Globally, there are around 43 million deaths from chronic disease per annum, and Ayurveda has the potential to prevent or delay many of these (World Health Organization, 2025). Despite being created around 5000 years ago, it has failed to spread to Western countries. In recent years, there have been pushes to rectify this, and try to bring Ayurveda to Western countries like the U.S. 

Literature Review

I. REGULATORY, STANDARDIZATION, & QUALITY-CONTROL BARRIERS:

The integration of Ayurveda into global healthcare systems has been significantly limited by regulatory standardization and quality control challenges. A recurring issue in the literature is the lack of consistent standards across practitioners and Ayurvedic products, which creates variability and treatment quality and outcomes (Challenges of Ayurvedic Practitioners, 2023).  Adding onto this idea this is a huge reason why the U.S. has largely been unable to trust Ayurveda. Standardization of practices among practitioners is a cornerstone of modern medicine in the U.S. This inconsistency is compounded by the limited availability of rigorous clinical trials and unclear evidence basis, slowing acceptance and expansion of Ayurveda beyond South Asia (Shinde, S. 2025).  Additionally, the lack of regulation can cause safety concerns with Ayurvedic medicines. Some studies have identified the presence of heavy metals, such as lead and mercury in certain Ayurvedic formulations, raising serious quality control, and public health concerns (Smith, 2024). Scholars emphasize that for Ayurveda to gain broader legitimacy, attention must be given to standardized practices, practitioner training, pharmacovigilance, ethical oversight, and stronger regulation. (Payyappallimana et al, 2016).  However, there is another deeper underlying issue. These roadblocks have been recognized for years, yet limited action has been taken to fix it. Nedungadi et al. states that despite these recognized needs, research, focused on regulation and commercialization, remains limited and lacking.

II. SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE & CLINICAL VALIDATION:

A major limitation to the broader acceptance and advancement of Ayurvedic medicine is the lack of vigorous scientific evidence supporting its clinical practices. Existing literature suggests that much of Ayurveda related research is based heavily on theoretical discussions, reviews, and interpretations rather than experimental validation. This results in a weak empirical foundation for evaluating safety, quality and efficacy (Patwardhan et al, 2014). Patwardhan et al. also believe that “Ayurveda needs to be studied and experimented with the help of new models based on modern science and biology.” Doctor research models grounded in modern biology and decided methodology are imperative to strengthen its credibility in clinical settings. Adding on to this argument, there's a clear need for increased transdisciplinary research, improved methodological approaches and enhanced funding for CAMs to support innovation and effective translation into healthcare systems that reflect public demand (Payyappallimana et al, 2016). Stemming from Payyappallimana et al’s findings, rather than positioning Ayurveda in opposition to Western Medicine, researchers emphasize the importance of reinforcing its core competencies, while preserving foundational principles, allowing for a scientific advancement without compromising traditional identity (Chauhan, 2015).

III. INTEGRATION CHALLENGES WITH WESTERN HEALTHCARE:

Integrating Ayurveda into Western Medicine comes with many possible challenges. These challenges include trust issues, education, and Ayurvedic identity. To start, Ayurveda is often viewed as separate from modern medicine, reducing its credibility. (Challenges of Ayurvedic Practitioners, 2023). There is an inherent bias when it comes to an unknown form of medicine from another country. The fact that most South Asian countries are 3rd world countries with a high mortality rate also augments this phenomenon. Adding onto this idea, because Ayurveda has this handicap, Ayurveda receives far less exposure in U.S. medical centers (Patwardhan, 2014). This is a major part of the reason why most Americans have never heard of Ayurveda. However, many researchers and professionals in this field have developed potential solutions to these problems. To start, collaborations between scientists and Ayurvedic practitioners are critical for global expansion (Gupta et al, 2024). However, solely collaborations with scientists is not enough. In order to effectively Integrate Ayurveda into U.S. medical systems U.S. clinicians must also be targeted. Stemming from the problems that Patwardhan and Challenges of Ayurvedic Practitioners described, American clinicians reported little knowledge of Ayurveda (Horrigan et al, 2012). However, Horrigan et al. also states that American clinicians are very interested in learning more about Ayurveda because it has been proven in other countries and has many tangible benefits as discussed previously. The problem of American practitioners not being aware of Ayurveda is a crucial barrier to overcome for effective integration of Ayurveda in the U.S. If practitioners do not have sufficient knowledge of Ayurveda, they will not be able to recommend it to patients. This is why public understanding of traditional medicine depends on media and education (Saini et al, 2015).  In the past decade, there has been a rise in research and awareness of Ayurveda in America. While the number of doctors and patients who know about it is still very limited, such research generated a lot of interest in researchers towards herbal medicines. Consequently, a demand for Ayurveda and other traditional medicines has increased in the medical world (Chauhan, 2015).

IV. Gap:

While previous research discusses barriers, such as lack of standardization, limited science of the evidence and regulatory challenges, most studies focus on these issues in a general or theoretical way. There's little research that directly reflects the experience and opinions of trained Ayurvedic practitioners. This study addresses this gap by surveying Ayurvedic doctors to better understand the practical challenges they face the steps needed to improve integration into the US health system. All of this begs the question: How can we effectively increase public awareness in Ayurveda to help integrate it into medical systems in the U.S. using practitioners perspectives?

Methods

Using a Qualitative survey, I analyzed the perspectives and ideas of Ayurvedic professionals all across India. This method was deemed acceptable by looking at the 2018 Survey of America’s Physicians by Merritt Hawkins. In this foundational study, over 700,000 American Physicians shared many opinions on many topics in healthcare. Conclusions were drawn on this topic using the practitioners’ opinions.

This study used Ayurvedic doctors in India to help get a better understanding of why Ayurveda has not spread to the U.S. Ayurvedic Doctors were used because they have the best firsthand point of issues surrounding their practice. Ayurveda is primarily used in India, and this is why doctors from India were chosen. In order to choose what sample of doctors to survey, I cold-emailed many national organizations like the National Ayurvedic Medical Association and Ayurveda Medical Association of India, and the All India Institute of Ayurveda. Unfortunately, none of them responded, so I had to look towards other options. 

One of my relatives in India has connections to many Ayurvedic doctors because he works in the field. Through him, I was able to access many doctors and survey their perspectives. Some of these doctors were private practitioners, so they did not have standardized and formal communication methods like email. I instead opted for WhatsApp because it is extremely popular in India. The use of WhatsApp increases the number of potential respondents by making my survey more accessible. 

Although this is not ideal because it does not ensure perspectives from all across the country, it was the next best feasible option. I told them that I am a college student because 11th grade in India is considered college. After contacting about 200 doctors, 12 had completed my survey. 

I made my survey using Google Forms because it is free and ubiquitous, making it an effective way to push out a survey that I want many people to respond to. I included a question asking for consent to use their response in my study. If they selected “No,” their response would not be included in the results. Additionally, all responses were not personally identifiable, and no personal information was asked. To ensure true anonymity, only I had access to the data, and all data was scheduled to be deleted on May 30th, 2026 (See Appendix A for more details). In order to create my questions, I had to look towards issues in the current Ayurvedic world, my research question, and future insights. Issues like standardization of practices, lack of clinical trials, and unvaried ethnicities of patients led me to create these questions:

Question Number	Question
Consent Question	"By writing "Yes" to this question you consent to being a participant in this study and to the anonymous usage of your responses as data. If you do not consent, please exit the survey.
1	Do you think that trust in Ayurveda will increase by increasing public awareness in Ayurveda?  (If "Other" , please explain )
2	What do you think are the best ways to increase public awareness of Ayurveda in the US?
3	Do you think that trust in Ayurveda will increase as public awareness increases? (Can be Yes/No/Other; Please Explain Other)
4	Do you have any non-indian/south asian patients? If so, how often do you see non-indian patients?
5	Do you see growth in clients from other countries in the future? Describe this
6	What factors do you think patients consider when choosing a source of medicine?
7	Do you think that there is enough research/studies/clinical trials surrounding Ayurveda?
8	What do you think is a potential barrier to integrating Ayurveda into mainstream U.S. healthcare?
9	How much do you think regulatory clarity (licensure, scope of practice, Government oversight of products and quality) affects patients’ comfort with Ayurveda?
10	In your experience, what clinical areas are best suited for Ayurveda to be integrated alongside conventional care? (Chronic disease management, pain management, mental health/stress, preventive care)
11	Why do you think other forms of medicine like yoga, acupuncture, and chiropracting have effectively spread to the U.S., but Ayurveda hasn't?
12	Do you think that the AYUSH (Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) ministry in India has helped the Development of Ayurveda in India? (If "Other", please explain)
13	What role do you think the U.S. government should take if Ayurveda is integrated into U.S. healthcare?
14	Why do you think Ayurveda has mainly been limited to India/South Asia?

Most of the questions in the survey are intentionally qualitative so that I can analyze their opinions and pull certain ones to formulate solutions to fill the gap. In order to reduce bias and question misinterpretation, I avoided the use of unclear pronouns and figurative language. I also ordered the questions in a way that makes chronological sense: The simpler questions come before the more in-depth questions, and questions that build off of each other are listed one after the other. Also, I made the questions all long text answers to encourage respondents to share more ideas and not just make short “just for the sake of it” answers. After establishing an appropriate survey and collecting data, I did a qualitative analysis of the doctors' responses. Through qualitative analysis, I found and analyzed recurring themes, common patterns, and innovative ideas. I then compared it to the Literature Review to check for overlapping themes, and discarded them. (See Appendix B for common themes)

Results

The results of my data show a wide range of opinions from different practitioners. Many of the opinions expressed by the practitioners have already been researched upon and studied, however many of them are new. The majority of the responses that I will go through are new ideas not already covered in the literature review, but I will also touch on the others to ensure that I cover all perspectives. 

Question 1: Consent Question 

One of the practitioners did not consent, but still filled out the form. Their response was not included in the results. 

Question 2: Do you think that trust in Ayurveda will increase by increasing public awareness in Ayurveda? (If "Other" , please explain )

Question 3: Do you have any non-Indian or non-South-Asian patients? If so, how often do you see these patients?

Surprisingly, the majority of respondents said yes. One thing to note is that almost all Non-Indian patients used digital consultation services such as Docco360 (Respondent 9). Many doctors noted that these patients consult “periodically rather than regularly” (Respondent 10). This implies that “foreigners” use Ayurveda as an alternative care method for special cases rather than as a primary source of care. 

Question 4: Do you see future growth in clients from countries other than India? Please Explain.

The majority of respondents said yes. The one practitioner who said no thought that “not many travel to India at these times.” This travel issue can be overcome with the use of digital consultation like many other respondents thought. Additionally, many practitioners believed that Ayurveda aligns with the rise of wellness retreats and lifestyle programs. Because Ayurvedic medicine is “natural”, “not hazardous,” “preventative care,” and “holistic,” some practitioners believe that the best road to promote Ayurveda is to do it through wellness retreats and lifestyle programs, and not in clinics (Respondent 3). 

Question 5: Why do you think Ayurveda has mainly been limited to India/South Asia?

One of the main themes for this question was that Ayurveda is deeply rooted in India, and it would be hard to move it to other countries. Many treatments rely on “local ecology and seasonal rhythms.” Many treatments “depend on herbs, diets, and climate conditions that are naturally aligned with the Indian environment” (Respondent 9) Additionally, Ayurveda was traditionally transmitted orally. This makes it difficult to standardize internationally. Another big point was the lack of effective explaining and convincing patients to use Ayurveda as a treatment. 

Question 6: What factors do you think patients consider when choosing a source of medicine? (For example: choosing between Homeopathy, Ayurveda, Modern Medicine, Acupuncture, etc.)

Patients often consider the natural aspect of it. Some patients like to heal from the root level which Ayurveda is known for. Patients are also interested in the lifestyle benefits of Ayurveda because it "teaches them how to manage their health through diet, daily routines, and lifestyle awareness” (Respondent 9).

Question 7: Do you think that there is enough research/studies/clinical trials on Ayurveda?

All of the doctors except one said that there was not enough research surrounding Ayurveda. Many doctors raised a concern for the need for “more large-scale clinical trials and internationally recognized studies” (Respondent 8).  Many doctors support the “combination of traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods” when conducting research and studies on Ayurveda.

Question 8: Do you think more research/studies/clinical trials on Ayurveda will increase public awareness or trust? 

The majority of people believed that both Trust and Public awareness would be increased with more clinical trials, and studies. However, there is an issue with this claim. The doctors are more up to date with important studies, more than patients. This introduces bias in the opinions.

Question 9: What do you think is a potential barrier to integrating Ayurveda into mainstream U.S. healthcare?

Three of the doctors had interesting insights about how to promote Ayurveda. They said that because “Ayurveda focuses on gradual correction of lifestyle and metabolic imbalance,”  Ayurveda needs to be promoted in lifestyle focused communities rather than in medical settings. Ayurveda “focuses on gradual correction of lifestyle and metabolic imbalance,” which is a common culture in the U.S. Additionally, Respondent 1 believed that “life-style disorders need Ayurveda medicine” in order for effective treatment to take place. 

Question 10: How much do you think regulatory clarity (licensure, scope of practice, government oversight of products and quality) affect patients’ comfort with Ayurveda?

Many doctors believe that “more clarity would help patients trust it more” (Respondent 7). Some doctors said that in their experience, more regulatory clarity makes patients more willing to try new options. Respondent 1 noted that the government should do clinical trials and research & development.

Question 11: In your experience, what clinical areas are best suited for Ayurveda to be integrated alongside conventional care? (Chronic disease management, pain management, mental health/stress, preventive care)

Almost all of the practitioners mentioned that Ayurveda is most helpful in more lifestyle related disorders; specifically, “metabolic disorders, digestive imbalances, sleep disorders, and stress-related conditions” (Respondent 9). Mental health conditions were also highly mentioned in the responses. Respondent 8 clarified that Ayurveda “focuses on long-term balance, diet, and lifestyle changes,’ and it would be most useful for conditions where these are apt treatments, 

Question 12: Why do you think other forms of medicine like yoga, acupuncture, and chiropracting have effectively spread to the U.S. but Ayurveda hasn't?

One point that respondent 7 brought up was that Ayurveda doesn't have the same fun factor that yoga, acupuncture, and chiropractic have. Yoga and acupuncture have become trends and social media famous. Additionally, some respondents stated that because Ayurveda requires diagnosis, diet, herbal medicine, detoxification therapies, and lifestyle practices, it requires a higher level of training and understanding to implement outside of India.

Question 13: What do you think are the best ways to increase public awareness of Ayurveda in the U.S.? (How can we get more people to know about Ayurveda in the U.S.)

A lot of respondents wanted to change the fact that Ayurveda does not have any social media presence. Presentations in community wellness workshops were also suggested (Respondent 10).

Question 14: Do you think that the AYUSH (Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) ministry in India has helped the Development of Ayurveda in India? (If "Other", please explain)

The 66.7% percent of respondents believed that the AYUSH ministry helped, and 11.1% believed that it didn’t. Respondent 7 believed that “while it has helped a little bit, the government isn't doing a great job promoting it in India.” They also suggested the formulation of a new committee in the US health organization promoting CAMs.

Question 15: What role do you think the U.S. government should take if Ayurveda is integrated into U.S. healthcare?

Many doctors agreed that the government should help fund Ayurvedic research initiatives, and encourage medical colleges and schools to teach about CAMs. Respondent 5 also suggested hosting seminars in schools about Ayurveda with “eminent healthcare persons” as speakers. 

Results Analysis and Discussion

The study revealed many important things about the potential future growth of Ayurveda in the U.S. A major theme that showed up throughout the responses was that Ayurveda is most often used by non-Indian patients as a secondary form of treatment rather than a primary form. Practitioners stated that many of their non-Indian patients use digital consultations and tend to seek Ayurvedic treatment only periodically. Upon closer inspection of the scenario, this makes sense. Most patients in the U.S. seek medical care in-person, and the U.S. simply does not have the infrastructure currently to support a large-scale Ayurvedic medical system. As long as this problem remains in place, increasing public awareness in Ayurveda would have little to no effect on the use of it in the U.S.

Another important finding from the survey is that many practitioners believe the nature of Ayurvedic care strongly matches the growing global interest in wellness, mental health practices, and lifestyle habits. Several respondents emphasized that Ayurveda focuses on correcting lifestyle habits, improving metabolic imbalance, and promoting long-term health. This is done through changes in diet, routine, and mental balance rather than providing immediate symptom relief. Because of this emphasis on lifestyle changes, Ayurveda will not fit easily within conventional medical systems. Though Ayurveda does diagnose and treat chronic diseases, it does so using methods that are seemingly unconventional to the West. Because of this discrepancy, it would be very difficult and resource intensive to convince patients to use it as a primary form of medical care. 

The results also identified several roadblocks to the wider adoption of Ayurveda. Practitioners noted that Ayurveda is deeply rooted in the environmental, cultural, and ecological conditions of India, which can make it difficult to standardize and transfer internationally. Medicines often need local plants and herbs to be created which can be expensive to import to the U.S. Also, many parts of Ayurvedic medicine are related to the culture of India which most Americans wouldn’t understand. Finally, respondents pointed out that there is still a large gap in terms of large-scale clinical trials and credible research. As discussed previously, this limits trust among patients and healthcare institutions. While increasing research could improve credibility, the results suggest that research alone may not be sufficient to make Ayurveda widely accepted in the U.S. healthcare system. There are deeper, more fundamental problems with the Ayurveda that are much harder and resource intensive to fix when trying to bring it to the U.S. market. 

Additionally, Ayurveda doesn't have a fun factor like so many other CAMs do. It has not gone social media viral yet, and there are little to no Ayurvedic influencers dominating internet audiences. A large part of American culture nowadays is the rise of social media and digital lives and in order for Ayurveda to set its presence on the stage,  it needs to evolve to take advantage of social media to captivate audiences. 

All things considered, a particularly important insight revealed from the data is that Ayurveda may be more effectively spread when introduced in settings where people are already looking for a change in their medical treatment or lifestyle. Many practitioners suggested that Ayurveda should be promoted and advertised in lifestyle focused groups rather than medical settings. After all, as discovered previously, Ayurveda isn’t a very feasible option for a primary source of care. This idea seems promising because its philosophy centers on changes in diet, routine, stress management, and overall balance. Lifestyle changes are also what many wellness movements are centered around. This also addresses the responses indicating that Ayurveda is especially useful for medical conditions like metabolic disorders, digestive issues, stress, and sleep problems, all of which are closely connected to lifestyle.

These findings suggest a new understanding of how Ayurveda could expand internationally. Instead of focusing primarily on hospitals or medical clinics, Ayurveda may be more successfully introduced through lifestyle programs and wellness retreats, where individuals are already seeking preventative health practices and holistic approaches to well-being. In these environments, people may be more open to learning about Ayurvedic principles such as daily routines, dietary balance, and natural healing practices. 

Conclusion:

From this research we can ascertain the new understanding that in order to effectively increase public awareness in Ayurveda, it should be promoted in wellness retreats and lifestyle programs. 

This fills the gap in the research, because it considers the perspectives and ideas of practitioners in order to promote public awareness of Ayurveda in Western Medical Systems. This is an appropriate solution because it addresses, and bypasses most of the issues uncovered by the survey. Firstly, there would be less of an issue convincing patients to use it because patients would already be looking for a new/alternative option. Next, the increased cost of importing medicines from India would be less of an issue for patients because people who go to wellness retreats are already very invested in health and well being, and willing to spend more on it. And lastly, If Ayurveda were to be promoted at wellness communities where other CAMs like chiropracting yoga and acupuncture will also be promoted, Ayurveda will also be in the social media spotlight and more people will be aware of it.

This differs significantly from the current literature because what researchers have mostly focused on so far, is the lack of publications and credible research surrounding Ayurveda. However, according to the practitioners, this isn't the best way to increase public awareness of Ayurveda. Authors like ________________ believe that increasing trust in Ayurveda will increase public awareness but my results contradict this. 

Additionally, the practitioners did not have too much of a concern for regulatory concerns and standardization like many of the researchers in the Literature Review did. 

Finally, most researchers up until this point have looked through a restricted viewpoint, and considered a clinical setting as the only way to integrate Ayurveda into Western medical systems. The practitioners like Respondents ___________ thought of non-clinical settings instead. 

Limitations:

My most prominent limitation was in my sample. Although I had contacted major organizations of Ayurvedic practitioners to ask them to fill out my survey, none of them responded. This did not leave me with many options as to who I should contact for data collection. Although I knew it would introduce bias, I had to contact a family member in India who works at an Ayurvedic pharmacy. This was the only way I could get enough responses to formulate a meaningful new understanding. 

Additionally, I only considered the doctor’s perspective, when in reality, there are so many more perspectives to be studied. Patients of traditional medicine, patients of Ayurveda, pharmacists, and Ayurvedic business owners all have varying views and perspectives about how public awareness in Ayurveda can be increased effectively. 

Another limitation in my data was the fact that some responses were not in coherent English. I had forgotten that many of the doctors are from rural villages where they might not know fluent English. When I tried to decode their responses, there may have been bias in the way I interpreted it versus the way they intended to come across. Although most of the errors were merely spelling, grammar, and punctuation, it may have made a difference in the meaning they intended to communicate with me. However, this issue did not affect all responses, it was certainly a problem nonetheless.

Lastly, I can only accurately correlate these data to Southern India. Because of the use of a family contact who is based in Southern India, I am assuming that they sent the survey to people in close proximity to them. Again, because my survey was anonymous and I don't have data on where the doctors are from, I cannot generalize this to Ayurvedic Doctors from all across India. 

Implications:

By promoting Ayurveda in wellness retreats and lifestyle programs, Ayurveda will be more recognized in those communities. With this as a baseline, word of mouth can be relied on to promote it further in wellness communities, as well as other communities. Additionally, lifestyle programs and wellness retreats are known for having a substantial social media presence, and attracting health influencers. This would help give Ayurveda that fun factor that Respondent 7 was referring to in the survey responses. This fun factor would help it spread further and appeal to audiences who use social media, especially younger people. 

A broader implication of this new understanding is that the average American would have an affordable and accessible alternative form of treatment that they would only use on a need based routine. Just as someone would book a yoga class or a chiropractor appointment, they would be able to book an Ayurvedic checkup to ensure that their lifestyle patterns and choices are optimal for their health and goals. 

This would also address the culture of Informed Refusal in the medical industry. Many times patients refuse to get medication because of an allergy, or they are simply not comfortable putting something unnatural into their body. A greater access of Ayurveda would provide an alternative for patients under such scenarios to still access the care that they need while still being comfortable with it. 

Future Research: 

There are a lot of questions opened up by my research. For instance, as discussed in the limitations section, there are many other populations that can be looked at when collecting data. Therefore, further research should be conducted surveying the opinions of other stakeholders in this area. 

Secondly, the landscape of clinical trials in the field is always changing. Because there is a rise in awareness of the fact that Ayurveda lacks clinical research and credible studies, many can and will be conducted over the next decade. This study should be repeated and reevaluated to see if the amount of formal research conducted on Ayurveda changes the way that public awareness of it is increased in the U.S.

In regards to the responses not being in coherent English, this study should be conducted again with various language options so that the practitioners are comfortable with speaking freely and are able to express their ideas. An extension of this idea is to interview doctors on video call so that more ideas can be expressed easily in a language of the practitioners' choice.

Finally, this study should be conducted with a greater diversity of doctors from different parts of Southern Asia, and possibly even from around the world. Most of my practitioners came from southern India, specifically from the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh because that is where my family members had connections to. However, the practitioners from other states in India, other countries in southern Asia, and other countries might have differing opinions about my topic. So, this study should be conducted again, with a broader range of practitioners from different geographic areas around the world.

Appendix A: 

Here is the consent form that I used on my survey: 

“In the 21st century, there are many different forms of medicine/treatment that patients can choose from. In South Asia, a common choice is Ayurveda. Ayurveda is natural, tends to be inexpensive, and is trusted among the South Asian Population. This survey is intended for Ayurvedic professionals who want to increase public awareness in Ayurveda, and help spread it to the U.S. 

If you are uncomfortable with any of the questions being asked, feel free to leave them blank. If you do not wish to complete the survey, you may stop at any point. Responses are fully anonymous, and all data will be deleted on May 30th, 2026. Please contact my AP Research teacher with any questions at michelle.a.hanson@mcpsmd.net OR brett.t.bentley@mcpsmd.net. It should take no more than 15 minutes to complete this survey.

Thank you for your participation!”

Appendix B

This was my Coding Chart for analyzing my responses. On the left were common themes that I found among the responses. If a practitioner responded with one of these topics in their answers, I put their identifier in the column on the right.

Recurring Themes	Respondent
Lifestyle Communities
Wellness Retreats
Lack of Social Media Presence
Patient Clarity
Large Scale/Credible Clinical Trials

I sent out the survey with a caption; this way respondents have a better idea of what I am doing, and are less likely to ignore it as spam. Here is my caption: 

Namaste Dr. [Insert Name], my name is Sreeyan Nampally, and I am a college student in Maryland, USA. I am conducting a research project on the "Future of Ayurveda in America," and I would be thankful for you to be a part of my data collection! I was referred your contact from Oshadhi Wellness Centre, Vanasthalipuram Hyderabad.

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