"Exploring the role of Lasunadya Ghrita Pana & Nasya in case of Primary Depression:A non randomized open clinical study".

Mental health is given foremost importance in ayurveda.Depression as a disease has many peculiarties.It may begin early at the age,may have multifaceted causes of which many may belong to the life style stressors,may results in huge personal, interpersonal, social and economical losses and may end up in suicidal attempts.It is in this purview,we are proposing to sceen Lasunadya ghrita for its therapeutic potential in cases of primary depression.Lasunadya ghrita is identified as a potential drug to unmad, a mental condition refered in ayurveda and having some resemblance to depression in context to it’s kaphaj subtype. Lasunadya ghrita is recommended to be used in such cases as an oral medication as well as in the form  of instillation.For the purpose of present study we propose to have an enhanced effect on depression.The study is proposed to be non randomized open clinical trial having comparison of ayurvedic protocol with that of current psychiatric protocol.This clinical trial consisting of two groups namely interventional group and active comparator group.Intervention group is proposed to be given lasunadya ghrita nasya for 20 sitting comprising of approximately 5 sitting in a week.In addition to nasya this group is also recommended for lasunadya ghrita pana in a dose of 5 gram in a day in two divided with warm milk before meal for 4 weeks.Active comparator group is proposed to be given conventional pharmacotherapy for depression (Escitalopram 10 mg HS) as recommended by department of psychiatry kgmu Lucknow.In the study the total sample is considered to be 72 with approximate 36 sample in each group.For outcome assessment a significant reduction in HAMD score (less than 7) will be considered as remission to an individual patient.