Comparative Analysis of Classical Ayurvedic Antidotes versus Modern Therapeutic Agents in the Management of Heavy Metal Poisoning: A Critical Review on Traditional Wisdom and Contemporary Medicine

Abstract

Heavy metal poisoning remains a significant global health concern due to industrialization, environmental contamination, and occupational hazards. While modern medicine has developed effective chelation therapies to counteract the toxicological burden of metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury, classical Ayurvedic texts offer a holistic yet less-explored repertoire of antidotal therapies. This paper attempts a comparative analysis of classical Ayurvedic antidotes and modern therapeutic agents in heavy metal poisoning. It reviews classical Ayurvedic references, phytochemical mechanisms, and their possible correlation with contemporary toxicological management. The study highlights challenges in validation, standardization, and integration of traditional remedies into modern frameworks while evaluating their therapeutic potential. Through a multidisciplinary lens, this analysis explores the scope of combining ancient wisdom with modern biomedical advances for safer, sustainable, and effective management of heavy metal toxicity.

KEYWORDS: Ayurveda, heavy metal poisoning, antidotes, chelation therapy, Rasashastra, toxicology, integrative medicine.