EFFECT OF RASAYANA ON MENTAL HEALTH - A REVIEW STUDY

Since the creation of mankind, human beings are affected by various types of diseases such as sharirikvyadhi (Jwar, Raktapitta, Rajyaksma, etc.) and manshikvyadhi (Unmada, Apasmara etc.). For their remedy, Ayurvedahas advocated various types of medicines and therapies. Rasayanain Ayurveda, is one of the most highly recommended rejuvenating, promoting and preventive therapies which can cure the above diseases. The mental diseases (anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia etc) are increasing very rapidly nowadays. The major causes must be unhealthy life style, foods and drinks. The World Health Organization reported in 2001 that about 450 million people worldwide suffer from some form of mental disorder or brain condition. In India, epidemiological studies based on the data published from 1960 to 2009, report that prevalence rates for psychiatric disorders are varying from 9.5 to 370/1000 population in India. Under such circumstances, rasayana drugs such as bhramhi, sankhapuspi, guduchi, yastimadhu, mandukaparni and their preparations as well as achararasayana can prove effective in curing these mental diseases. Moreover, rasayana drugs can work on the hypothalamus ? pituitary -adrenal axis and normalize the secretion of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine and thus can improve the mental function.