A Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Brahmi Ghrita and Shankhapushpi Panak in the Management of Chittodvega with special reference to Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Ayurveda, the science of life, is the supreme theory with unerring factors based on Tridosha and Panchabhautic principles. This system, with its eight divisions, encompassed every angle of a person’s health, ailments and treatments which were highly comprehensive. Ayurveda, though ancient, but still contemporary and potential enough to deal the diseases of present era. Chittodvega is Manas Roga and develops due to vitiation of Raja and Tama. Chittodvega can be defined as a Chitta (mind) + Udvega (anxiety) i.e. ‘Anxious status of a mindâ€. Nidana Sevana aggravates Raja, which further aggravates Tama along with Vata and Pitta.  Chittodvega is one of the minor psychological disorders (no disorientation as the patient can perform his/her day to day activities without much difficulty i.e. neurosis) and neurosis may develop psychosis. It can be correlated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder on the basis of etymology of Chittodvega (anxious state of mind), type of psychological disorder (neurotic Disorder) and symptomology (both are psychosomatic disorder). Generalized Anxiety Disorder  present with persistent, excessive, and/or unrealistic worry associated with muscle tension, impaired concentration, autonomic arousal, feeling "on edge" or restless, and insomnia . In present era, the occurrence of many diseases has increased and one of them is mental disorder, which is mentioned as 3rd health burden in India according WHO survey. Current estimate suggest that 6.8 million adult worldwide suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder. According to a survey in India of total sample sample size of 33,572 yielded an estimated prevalence rate of 20.7% for all neurotic disorders, the weighted prevalence rate of Generalized Anxiety Disorder is 5.8% (ref an overview of indian research in anxiety disorders).  The modern medical treatment of this disease requires long term use of sedative, hypnotic and anxiolytic drugs, which may lead to various side effects and affects the quality of life of the patient. But the treatment should cure the disease without developing any other disease. So, there is a need of better treatment with less complications.In Chittodvega, there is a vitiation of Vata and Pitta along with Rajas and Tama. The treatment should be of Vatahara and Pittahara  along with  Medhya Prabhava. Therefore, the drugs with the above said qualities are needed for alleviating the symptoms of Chittodvega. Keeping all above points in mind, the two compound drugs Brahmi Ghrita and Shankhapushpi Panak have been selected to know their effect in treating Chittodvega (Generalized Anxiety Disorder). Brahmi Ghrita is described in Bhava Prakasha under ‘Apasmaradhikara ’; contains Brahmi, Shankhapushpi, Vacha, Kustha and Goghrita. Brahmi is Tridoshshamaka and has Medhya Prabhava, Secondly; Shankhapushpi Panak is described in Ayurveda Sara Sangraha, under ‘Panak Kalpana’, containing Shankhapushpi, Brahmi and Sharkara. Shankhapushpi is Tridoshshamaka especially Vata-Pittashamaka and has Medhya Prabhava.The drugs are to be administered orally. The contents of the drugs are cheap and easily available so the treatment cost is minimal and can be afforded even by poor patients.