CLINICAL EFFICACY OF MASTUDHARA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DEPRESSION

The study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Mastudhara in the management of Depression. Mastudhara is Anubhuta Panchakarma Chikitsa which resembles it appearance to herbal medicated Shirodhara .Mastudhara proves extremely beneficial as it can be performed on the OPD & IPD basis, gives significant relief in the symptoms e. g Dysphoric mood, loss of interest, insomnia, cognitive impairment etc. in considerably short duration of treatment. Mastudhara contains Sarpagandha (Rakshoghna, Nidrajanan, Hridaya Avasadak), Ashwagandha (Balya, Rasayan Shukrala, Nidrajanan), Vacha (Medhya, Budhivardhaka, Bhutaghna), Jatamansi (Medhya, Kanti-Balaprada ,Bhutaghna), Dhatura ( Madakari) & Mansyadi Kwatha along with Ksheerpaka. The Subjective Parameters like Dysphoric mood, loss of interest, Cognitive impairment, loss of appetite & loss of weight & Hamilton depression scale etc were used to score clinical outcome. The average clinical improvement was calculated by proper statistical treatment. Our experience with this modality has been encouraging as the response pattern is good in considerably short duration of treatment. The patient improves gradually after 3 weeks of treatment.