GAD is one of the most common anxiety disorders characterized by persistent worrying, anxiety symptoms, and tension. It is most frequent anxiety disorder in primary care and associated with a significant economic burden owing to decreased work productivity and increased use of health-care services.GAD is a highly disabling illness, often complicated by multiple comorbidities, most commonly depression and other anxiety disorders. Being an alarming disease, it requires effective management.
Ayurveda, with its holistic approach, can be helpful in such situation. In this direction, to assess the actual efficacy of different Ayurveda treatment modalities; few works have been carried out at Institute for Postgraduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (IPGT and RA), Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar. In the current attempt, it has been planned to review all such works done on GAD. Totally, six studies on GAD were done during 2001–2017 that were compiled and screened. Various ayurvedic treatment modalities such as Nasya Karma, Shirodhara, Medhya Rasayana, yogic practice are found to be significantly effective in GA
According to Ayurveda, the psychic factors are involved in almost all the disease processes along with physical disturbance as both of these are interdependent. In recent years, several synthetic drugs have been introduced for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Although these drugs are having better results, one cannot avoid major side effects such as drug dependence, drug resistance, and sedation. Ayurveda uses various dosage forms and treatment modalities in different disease conditions such as Shodhana and Shamana therapies, which have been found very effective in controlling GAD
In conclusion, The present study disclosed that many ayurvedic treatment modalities are found to be significantly effective in GAD. Nasya Karma followed by Shamana therapy is more effective than Jaldhara. No any adverse effect reported in any of these studies. Slight effect due to placebo drug shows the psychosomatic nature of disease. In nutshell, ayurvedic therapies provide promising results in GAD
reference:
Chaudhari, S., Galib, R., Jagtap, C., Patgiri, B., Prajapati, P., & Bedarkar, P. (2013). Review of research works done on Tamra Bhasma [Incinerated Copper] at Institute for Post-Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar. AYU (An International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda),34(1), 21. doi:10.4103/0974-8520.115440