This is the first study conducted on the efficacy of Manasamitra Vataka in anxiety disorders. The results suggest that Manasamitra Vataka is effective in the management GAD with comorbid generalized social phobia. Add-on effect of Shirodhara reduced the daytime sleepiness. Further studies on Manasamitra Vataka need to be carried out to judge its potential as a first-line treatment modality.

This study demonstrates the clinical efficacy of Manasamitra Vataka and Shirodhara (Ayurvedic treatments) over clonazepam in preserving slow wave sleep and promoting sleep quality in patients of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) with co-morbid generalized social phobia. Whole night polysomnography was carried out to assess the sleep architecture and spindledelta dynamics. The study highlights the sleep promoting and preserving nature of Manasamitra Vataka and Shirodhara in GAD patients with co-morbid generalized social phobia. Ayurvedic treatments were helpful in improving the subjective quality of sleep and preserve sleep organization. Further studies are needed to confirm the potential of Ayurvedic interventions as a treatment of choice in the management of anxiety disorders.

This contribution aims to integrate findings of our recently reported three brain imaging studies on young narcolepsy-cataplexy patients [1][2][3]. All brain images were acquired using 3.0 Tesla MRI. In our prior study of a voxel-based morphometry [1], narcoleptic patients showed gray matter (GM) deficits in the hypothalamus and fronto-limbic areas. Hypothalamic GM deficits correlated with severity of narcolepsy. In our diffusion tensor imaging study that assessed global white matter (WM) integrity [2], narcoleptic patients had decreased WM integrity especially in fronto-limbic areas, which were associated with sleepiness and attention deficit. Prefrontal metabolite concentration was measured in a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy [3]. Narcoleptic patients had higher GABA levels in the medial prefrontal areas. This is potentially related to the compensation of nocturnal sleep disturbance. Hypothalamus seems to be a key structure in narcoleptic symptoms. However, both GM and WM abnormalities of fronto-limbic areas were also related to narcolepsy and its symptoms. Compensatory alteration of GABA was also found in the areas. Taken together, our reports suggest that fronto-limbic area, as well as hypothalamus, may be implicated in narcolepsy. References[1] Gray matter deficits in young adults with narcolepsy. Acta Neurol Scand 2009;119:61-7. [2] Decreased fractional anisotropy values in brains of young narcoleptic patients. 2009; presented in APSS. [3] Increased GABA levels in medial prefrontal cortex of young adults with narcolepsy.Two types of monoamine oxidase (MAO), type A (MAO-A) and type B (MAO-B), have been identified. Generally, MAO-A is highly expressed in noradrenergic/adrenergic neurons such as the locus coeruleus, whereas MAO-B is highly expressed in serotonergic and histaminergic neurons and distinct populations of glia such as tanicytes. On the other hand, it has been reported that non-catecholaminergic neurons also express MAOs in an adult rat brain. Extracellular serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine / epinephrine (NE/E), and dopamine (DA) appear to be removed by a reuptake mechanism; subsequently, they are metabolized by intracellular MAO activity. In the hypothalamus, 5-HT and DBHpositive varicosities densely distribute around hypothalamic nucleus, likely MAO activity affecting the neuronal functions. In the present study, we investigated the distribution of MAOs and the anatomical relation to the neuropeptide-expressing neurons in the rat hypothalamus. We performed enzyme histochemistry for MAO-A or MAO-B, and use specific antibodies for MAO-A and MAO-B. In the result, we found moderate MAO-A enzyme activities in the distinct neuronal populations, and strong MAO-B activity in some glial cells including tanicytes. MAO-A-immunoreactivities (IR) were found in the varicosities of noradrenergic/adrenergic neurons and in the cell bodies of some neuropeptides-expressing neurons in the lateral hypothalamus. Especially, orexin neurons robustly express MAO-A, but not MAO-B. Objective:We have elucidated the p...

In urban areas, especially in adolescents, there is an increasing trend to engage in activities, which are not in compliance with circadian clock and natural rhythm of light dark circle, turning them into a night owl chronotype. Research evidences highlight various health issues as a result of this chronotype. There are no research evidences of whether change of this night owl chronotype to lark shall correct these health issues. This is a unique case of a young unmarried lady, aged 22 years, from Lucknow, India, who visited OPD of Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Eye Disorders (RARIED), Lucknow, with complaints of scanty menstrual flow along with hormonal imbalance, which had no improvement even after 6-7 months of medication. On probing the cause of these complaints, it was found that the patient had a night owl chronotype since past few years along with untimely food habits. The patient was then counseled for shifting the chronotype to lark along with timely food habits, which is in compliance with Ayurveda Guidelines of Lifestyle (AGOL) without any medications. After that a remarkable improvement in menstrual health was observed. Menstrual flow reached back almost to normal and the hormonal profile was balanced, with an exception to anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), which had only a slight improvement.

Introduction:Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common clinical condition reported at psychiatric hospitals. Reasonable estimates for its one year prevalence range from 3 to 8%. It is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable and irrational worries about day to day events. Most of the features of GAD are similar with that of chittodwega in Ayurveda. Materials and Methods:This study is a prospective randomized open clinical trial conducted in GAD patients. One hundred patients fulfilling the selection criteria were enrolled from the out patient department (OPD) of the institute. They were randomized into two groups of 50 patients each. First group patients ware administered with Ashwagandha Churna tablets 1.5 gms (Withania Somnifera Linn), and Mandookaparni churna tablets 1.5 gms (centella asiatica) twice daily after food for 12 weeks. In the second group along with the same oral medications Shirodhara with Ksheerabala Taila was performed for 30 minutes daily for the initial seven days only. Outcome measures were improvement in total and individual constituents of hamilton anxiety rating (HAR) scale which were assessed at baseline and at 28th day, 56th day and 84th day. Paired sample t-test was used to compare mean change in hamilton rating scale (HRS) values from baseline to the 84th day. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered as significant.Results: At the end of 12 weeks compared with baseline statistically significant improvement was observed in Hamliton rating scale score (p-value < 0.001) in both the groups.The treatment was found to be safe and effective as all the safety parameters were in the stipulated range. No adverse drug reaction or event was reported during the trial period. Conclusion:Oral administration of Ashwagandha and Mandookaparni churna in tablet forms with or without combination of Shirodhara were found to be effective in the treatment of GAD patients.