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Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is not a single disease but a clinically important cluster of central obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and disturbed glucose regulation. Its growing prevalence reflects major changes in diet, physical activity, sleep, and psychosocial stress. Contemporary research links the syndrome with chronic low-grade inflammation, oxidative stress, altered adipose-tissue signaling, and impaired insulin action. Ayurveda approaches comparable metabolic disturbances through the interrelated concepts of impaired Agni, formation of Ama, and vitiation of Medo Dhatu. From this perspective, unsuitable food habits and an inactive or irregular lifestyle weaken digestion and tissue-level transformation, allowing poorly processed metabolic material to accumulate and normal tissue function to deteriorate. This narrative review brings modern pathophysiology into dialogue with descriptions from the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya, and Bhava Prakasha Nighantu, together with literature identified through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The comparison suggests useful conceptual parallels between insulin resistance and Agni Dushti, between persistent inflammatory burden and Ama Sanchaya, and between abnormal lipid handling and Medo Dhatu Dushti. Measures such as individualized dietary correction, regular activity, Langhana, Deepana-Pachana, Lekhana, selected herbal medicines, and Rasayana therapy may have a supportive role. These parallels should, however, be treated as interpretive models rather than direct biomedical equivalences. Carefully designed clinical studies are required before standardized integrative protocols can be recommended.