Role of Ayurveda intervention in the management of schizophrenia: An experience of three cases

Abstract

Schizophrenia, affecting thoughts, perception, emotions, and social relationships, impacts approximately 20 million people globally. Schizophrenia can be effectively managed by understanding ayurvedic clinical concepts, including evaluation of Sharirika evam manasika dosha (~somatic and psychological defects) and the cause and severity of symptoms, as discussed in Unmada (~insanity). This paper presents three cases of schizophrenia efficiently managed using Ayurveda principles. The first case is a 46-year-old female with altered behavior, poor daily living, irritability, negative thoughts, disturbed sleep, and suspicion. The second case is of a 14-year-old boy with increased anger, reduced concentration, confidence, and irrelevant speech. The third case features involve a 42-year-old female displaying strange hand gestures, crowd fear, racing thoughts, and odd behavior. Therapeutic management such as Shodhananga snehapana (~therapeutic intake of unctuous substance), Vamana (~therapeutic emesis), Virechana (~therapeutic purgation), Basti (~medicated enema), Nasya (~medication through nasal route), and Shamana aushadha (~palliative treatment) were chosen based on the presence of vitiated Dosha (~regulatory functional factors of the body) and Lakshana (~symptoms). Panchakarma (~five internal bio-cleansing therapies) procedures, in combination with ayurvedic medications, yielded promising results and reduced the readings of positive and negative syndrome scale score. These cases demonstrate safe and effective management approaches of Ayurvedia in schizophrenia, warranting further research.