MANAGEMENT OF OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER THROUGH AYURVED AND YOGA

Presented By

Guided By

P.G. DEPT. OF DRAVYAGUNA NIA JAIPUR

INTRODUCTION:

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety

disorder characterized by uncontrollable unwanted

thoughts and repetitive, ritualized behaviors one feels

compelled to perform.

Obsessions are involuntary, seemingly uncontrollable

thoughts, images, or impulses that occur over and over

again in one’s mind.

Conti….

Compulsions are behaviors or rituals that one feels

driven to act out again and again. Usually, compulsions

are performed in an attempt to make obsessions go away.

In fact, the obsessive thoughts usually come back

stronger. And the compulsive behaviors often end up

causing anxiety themselves as they become more

demanding and time-consuming.

A few examples of compulsions are: cleaning,

repeating, ordering, arranging, checking, mental

compulsions.

The possible cause of OCD is the abnormally low levels of

serotonin.

Family history: having family members with the disorder can

increase the risk of development of OCD.

Environmental factors: brain injuries, infections etc.

Stressful life events.

ETIOPATHOGENESIS:

CORELATION WITH AYURVEDA:

OCD can be correlated with Attavabhinivesh.

It can be due to unhealthy diet, veg vidharana etc. leading to

tridosh prakopa & raj tama pravritti.

Channels affected- buddhivaha srotas

Cardinal features- impairement of intellect (buddhi bhrama).

It is also called Mahagad.

In World: Recently it has been found that 2-3% of people have OCD.

In India: 2,44,96,623 are affected by OCD.

It strikes men and women in roughly equal numbers and usually appears in childhood; adolescence, or early adulthood.

OCD is highly prevalent and more prevalent than the schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Conti….

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic

antidepressants, benzodiazepines are used for OCD

treatment.

But they have metabolic side effects & are habit forming.

So to find out Ayurvedic treatment and Yoga therapy

which can prove to be beneficial in OCD without

producing any metabolic side effect or habit making is the

purpose of this study.

METHODS:

Review of Ayurvedic literature, research papers, journals for-

1. OCD

2. Attavabhinivesh

3. Ayurvedic herbs

4. Concerned Yoga therapy & meditation

Ayurvedic herbs for OCD:

Mandukparni:

Latin name: Centella asiatica (Linn.) urban

Family: Umbelliferae

Habit: slender herbaceous creeper

Ras – tikta, anuras- kashaya, vipak- madhur, virya- sheet, guna-laghu, prabhav- medhya, kapha pitta shamak.

Chemical constituents: hydrocotyline, asiaticoside,vallerine

Pharmacological action: the alcoholic extract & glycoside shows mild tranquilising effect. It improves mental fatigue rate. It improves general ability & behavioural pattern. Centella asiatica has anxiolytic activity in humans.

Parts used: whole plants and leaves.

CONTI…..

Jatamansi:

Latin name: Nordustachys jatamansi DC.

Family: Valerianaceae

Habit: shrub

Guna –laghu,snigdha, rasa-tikta, madhur, kashaya, vipaka-katu, virya-sheet, prabhav- bhootghna, manasdosh har & tridosh har

Chemical constituents: volatile oils, jatamansik, jatamansone

Pharmacological action: nervine tonic, sedative. It directly acts on manas dosha.

Parts used: root

Brahmi:

Latin name: Bacopa monnieri (Linn.) Pennel

Family: Scrophulariaceae

Habit: creeping herb

Guna-laghu, rasa-tikta, vipaka-katu, virya- ushana, prabhav- medhya, kapha vata shamak

Chemical constituents: Brahmin, herpestin alkaloid, hersaponin, betulic acid, stigmasterol

Pharmacological action: hersaponin, mainly exhibits sedative action. bacosides showed anxiolytic activity in animals. It also shows GABA-ergic activity. Brahmi not only enhances memory, it also shows anti stress effect.

Parts used: panchang

Shankhpushpi:

Latin name: Convolvulus pluricaulis Chois

Family: Convolvulaceae

Habit: shrub

Guna- snigdha, pichhil, rasa- tikta, vipak- madhur, virya- sheet, prabhav-

medhya, vata pitta shamak

Chemical constituents: shankhpushpin alkaloid

Pharmacological action: it acts as nervine tonic and has medhya property. It

also pacifies vata pitta, so it will lower down raja tama pravritti. The herb

induces a feeling of calm and peace, good sleep and a relief in anxiety,

stresses, mental fatigue, producing a significant reduction in the level of

anxiety, neuroticism arising due to various levels of stresses. The herb

appears to produce its action by modulation of neurochemistry of the brain.

Parts used: whole plant

Kushmand:

Latin name: Benincasa hispida(Thunb.)

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Habit: climber

Guna-laghu, snigdha, rasa-madhur, vipak- madhur, virya-sheet,

prabhav medhya, tridosh shamak

Chemical constituents-cucurbitine, resin, protein, vitelline,

sugar, alkaloids, seed contains fixed oils.

Pharmacological action: brain tonic, improves memory.

Methanolic extract of Benincasa hispida fruit exhibited anti-

compulsive effect.

Parts used: fruit, seeds, seed oil

Guduchi:

Latin name: Tinospora cordifolia Willd.

Family: Menispermeaceae

Habit: climber

Guna- guru, snigdha, rasa-tikta kashaya,

vipaka-madhur, virya-ushna, tridosh har

Chemical constituents: berberine, giloin, starch,

magnoflorine,tinosporide

Pharmacological action: it is a medhya rasayan &

pacifies tridosh.

Parts used: kaand

Yashtimadhu:

Latin name: Glycirrhiza glabra Linn.

Family: Paplionaceae

Habit : perennial herb

Guna- guru snigdha, rasa- madhur, vipaka-

madhur, virya- sheet, vata pitta shamak

Chemical constituents: glycirrhizine, isoliquirine,

liquritine, asparagines

Pharmacological action: it is a medhya rasayan. Due to its sheet

virya, guru snigdha guna & pacification of vata pitta property,

it will lower down raja tama pravritti. It is a nervine tonic also.

Parts used: root

Yoga & meditation:

Some of yoga & Asan which can help in OCD patients are:

Kundalini yoga, Shanmukhi

mudra, Pranayam, Bhastrika, Shirsasan, Shavasan, Meditation

.

Yogic meditation, asanas and relaxation techniques depend on

breath control.

During periods of intense anxiety, breathing becomes

shallow, restricted and rapid; rapid breathing exacerbates

nervous agitation and anxiety.

Pranayama, or yogic breathing exercises, deepen and slow the

breath to calm the nerves and soothe anxiety.

With regular yoga practice, OCD patients can manage anxiety

with breath control.

Conclusion:

In Ayuveda, OCD is to related with Attavabhinivesh.

Acharya caraka describes various treatments forattavabhinivesh like snehan, svedan, panchkarma &shaman chikitsa. In shaman chikitsa, carakaprescribes use of aashvasan karma which is actuallybehavioural therapy.

Caraka recommends to use of medhya drugs & rasayanfor attavabhinivesh chikitsa as these drugs have directeffect on brain & psychological disorders.

Medha is term used to denote acuity of mind. Most ofthe medicine are explained under this group, found usedin Ayurvedic psychiatry.

Under rasayana group of medicine a separate subgroup isdealt for promoting the acuity of mind (medhyarasayana) which have drugs like Mandookparni,Yashimadhu, Guduchi and Shankhapushpi.

Besides these, other drugs have also medhya propertylike Kooshmanda & Jyotishmati etc. These drugs areadvised in obsessive psychosis (Atatva abhinivesh).

Yoga meditation can help OCD patients learn to

recognize obsessive thought patterns, a key

component of cognitive behavioral therapy.

Yoga asanas and relaxation techniques provide

anxiety relief.

Asanas strengthen and stretch the muscles to

relieve stress and tension.

Yoga therapy can reduce intrusive thoughts and

compulsive behaviors, making obsessive-

compulsive disorder a much more livable

condition.

THANK YOU