Herbal Remedies For Schizophrenia
Abstract
There is an increasing rate of mental disorders among both men and women and also there is a high rate of criminality and violence among those who are suffering from mental disorders. Mental disorders are the health conditions in which there is an alternation of the mood, thinking, and behavior that are associated with distress and impaired functioning. There is a term called mental illness that refers collectively to all mental disorders. These mental illnesses include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors. Many people have mental health problems from time to time. But it may become a mental disorder when the signs and symptoms cause frequent stress and affect your health and ability to function. In this article we are going to discuss schizophrenia which is a mental disorder and its Ayurvedic management.
Introduction
Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder. It is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, etc. This is a serious mental disorder in which a person behaves abnormally with reality. This chronic brain disorder affects the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality, etc. It is not as common as other mental illnesses. Schizophrenia can be the most chronic and disabling. Patients of this disorder might feel frightened and withdrawn and could also have lost touch with reality. This is not a split or multiple personality but it involves a psychosis which means a person can not differentiate between what is real from what is imagined. There is a jumble of confusing thoughts, images and sounds.
Ayurvedic Aspect
In Ayurveda we can correlate this disease with Unmaada. Unmaada is defined as the illusion of mana (mind), Budhi (wisdom), Sangya (senses), gyan (knowledge), bhakti (Devotion), sheel (habits and temperament), chesta (psychomotor activities) and aachar (conduct). In other words we can say the illusion of mind is called Unmaada1.
Etiology/Causes
There is no exact cause of schizophrenia. But researchers thought that a combination of genetics, brain chemistry and environmental factors contributed to the development of this disorder. Also certain naturally occurring brain chemicals such as dopamine and glutamate that are neurotransmitters may contribute to schizophrenia.
Nidana/Causes
The causes of Unmada are
Intake of improper food, intake of stale food, insult to god, teachers and brahmin. Mental shock due to excessive fear and over-excitation and doing exercises in bad postures are the causes of Unmada.
Clinical Features/Causes
The most common symptom of schizophrenia is hearing voices that are not real. Other symptoms of this disease include
- A change in grades
- Social withdrawal
- Trouble concentration
- Hallucination
- Delusions
- Catatonia
Disorganized symptoms of schizophrenia include
- Talking in sentences that do not make any sense
- Shifting quickly from one thought to another without any logical connections between them
- Moving slowly
- Writing excessively without meaning
- Repeating movements or gestures
- Forgot the things after every episode
Lakshna/Signs And Symptoms
Lakshna of unmada are
Dhibibhram (Illusion in the mind), Vyagra mann (anxious and unstable thoughts), netra vyakulta (restless eyes), dhairya hrasa (impatient), Avadhvaktwam (inappropriate words), confused mind are the symptoms of Unmada.
Types Of Schizophrenia
There are several types of schizophrenia. Some of the types of schizophrenia are
- Paranoid schizophrenia: This type of schizophrenia is common and it may develop later in life. This includes hallucinations or delusions but speech and emotions may not be affected.
- Hebephrenic schizophrenia: This is also called disorganized schizophrenia and it develops in the age of 15-25 years old. This type includes disorganized behaviors and thoughts, short lasting delusions and hallucinations and also disorganized speech patterns in this type of schizophrenia.
- Catatonic schizophrenia: In this type, a person shuts down emotionally, mentally and physically. Patient appears to be paralyzed. When this condition lasts for hours then it becomes a medical emergency.
- Undifferentiated schizophrenia: In this type of schizophrenia, a person has various vague symptoms. A person may not talk or express much and he/she may not bother to take care of themselves.
- Schizoaffective disorder: the person having delusional thinking and they also have one or more symptoms like depression, mania or hypomania.
- Residual schizophrenia: in this type of schizophrenia a person has a history of psychosis and has symptoms like slow movement, poor memory, lack of concentration and poor hygiene.
Risk Factor
Some of the triggering factors for this disease are
- Family history
- Birth complications
- Intake of psychoactive or psychotropic drugs
Complications
If left untreated then it may show the following symptoms
- Suicidal thoughts
- Depression
- Homelessness
- Social isolation
- Anxiety disorders
- Aggressive behavior
- Differential diagnosis
- Bipolar borderline personality disorder
- Substance intoxication
- Drug withdrawal syndromes
- Social anxiety disorder
- Epilepsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Brain lesions
Diagnosis
There is no objective test or biomarker to confirm the diagnosis of schizophrenia. A doctor diagnosed this disease through examination and proper medical history.
To differentiate this disease from other medical conditions the following tests may be performed
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Computed Tomography scan (CT scan)
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment For Schizophrenia
Planet Ayurveda is a leading private limited company. This company manufactures their own herbal products and provides medicine not only in India but also to other parts of the world. It is a GMP certified company. All the medicines are made from 100% pure herbs without any preservatives, additives and chemicals. Each herbal medicine is made under the supervision of an MD Ayurvedic physician and also clinically tested with ancient time tested formulas.
Here is the list of herbal medicine that is provided by Planet Ayurveda for this disorder
- Unmad gaj kesari ras
- Neuro plan syrup
- Brahmi capsules
- Saraswatarishta
- Ashwagandha capsules
- Kalyanaka ghrita
Products Pescription
1. Unmaad Gaj Kesari Ras
This is a classical Ayurvedic formulation in a tablet form. This formulation is used in many mental disorders. This formulation helps in the conditions that directly or indirectly affect the mood, behaviour and thinking. It contains the herbo-mineral ingredients that are shuddha Parada (Purified Mercury), shuddha gandhak (Purified Sulphur), shuddha manahshila (Purified Realgar), Datura (Datura metel), Vacha (Acorus calamus), Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata). These ingredients help in enhancing the proper circulation to the nervous system. It is used in mental illnesses like anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia, OCD and eating disorders.
Dosage: 1 tablet to be chewed twice a day with plain after meals
2. Neuro Plan Syrup
This is a herbal formulation of Planet Ayurveda in liquid form. It helps with anxiety, stress, restlessness, insomnia, depression, and sadness. This product is made from the standardized extracts of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Mandukaparni (Centella asiatica), Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Jyotishmati (Celastrus paniculata), Bhurjpatra (Betula utilis), etc. The extracts of these herbs give strength to the nerve cells and help in their internal coordination. It balances the tridoshas i.e. vata, pitta and kapha. It improves neuronal function, boosts memory, improves concentration. It treats hallucination, disorganized speech, etc.
Dosage: 2 tsp twice daily after meals
3. Brahmi Capsules
This is prepared from the extracts of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri). It relieves the symptoms of schizophrenia such as delusion, hallucination, disorganized speech, confused thoughts, etc. It is the most effective memory boosting herbal supplement. This herb increases the coordination between the brain neurons and thus improves the short and long term memory. It is also used in the treatment of many other ailments like vertigo, anxiety, stress and blood pressure. It improves the overall health of the brain.
Dosage: 1 capsule twice a day with plain after meals
4. Saraswatarishta
This is a herbal nervine tonic used in the treatment of many mental disorders. This is a fermented medicated alcohol preparation used in Ayurveda for centuries. It has 3-5% of self generated alcohol. It contains the wonderful ingredients that are useful in managing mental and digestive diseases like Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Vidari (Pueraria tuberosa), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Saunf (Foeniculum vulgare), usheera (Vetiveria zizanioides), Pippali (Piper longum), etc. They are helpful in treating epilepsy, memory weakness, schizophrenia, etc. Moreover this herbal liquid formulation helps in clear voice and improves digestion. The herbs in this formulation acts as a nervine tonic and helps to balance the central nervous system functioning.
Dosage: 2 tsp twice with an equal amount of water after meals
5. Ashwagandha Capsules
This is the best stress reliever herbal supplement. This is prepared from the extracts of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). This herb effectively acts as a nerve tonic and provides proper nourishment to the tissues of the nervous system. It maintains the proper circulation and functioning of the central nervous system. This herb balancing the Vata dosha in the body as vata is the main cause of neurodegenerative disorders. So it is very helpful in schizophrenia. Ashwagandha is useful in debilitating conditions, fatigue, stress, anxiety, palpitations, aging and nervous breakdown.
Dosage: 1 capsule twice a day with plain water after meals
6. Kalyanaka Ghrita
This is an Ayurvedic medicine in herbal ghee form. Kalyanaka ghrita is prepared from the herbs with the base of ghee.This ghrita is used in the procedure called snehakaram (oleation therapy) for the treatment of cough, anemia, epilepsy, psychosis, schizophrenia, OCD, lack of memory, etc. this formulation is prepared from the ingredients such as Triphala (Three myrobalans), Vishala (Citrullus colocynthis), Devdaru (Cedrus deodara), Elavaluka (Prunus avium), Sariva (Hemidesmus indicus), haridra (Curcumin longa), Prishnaparni (Uraria picta), etc. It promotes a healthy brain function by boosting memory and improving concentration.
Dosage: 1 tsp twice a day with warm milk after meals
Contact my assistant to provide you the costing / ordering and delivery information at – costing.planetayurveda@gmail.com or call at +91-172-5214030 Or Check Website – www.PlanetAyurveda.com
Conclusion
We concluded at last that this disease is not treatable with allopathic medications. They have no exact treatment for this disease. In Fact in modern medicine, they said that this is a lifelong disease and only manageable symptomatically. But herbal treatment shows very good results on this disease. Above mentioned herbal medicines manage this disease from its root cause and also they have no side effects on the body.
References
- Charak Samhita nidana sthana 7/5
- Charak Samhita chikitsa sthana 9/4
- Charak Samhita chikitsa Sthana 9/6
Dr. Vikram Chauhan
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