[The Indian Ayurveda medicine-a meaningful supplement to psychiatric treatment?]

Abstract

Ayurveda is a traditional Indian system of medicine that is more than 3000 years old, consisting mostly of a specific diet, oily infusions mainly in the area of the head, enemas, medicinal plants and yoga. It is based on a naturopathic and anthropological belief in association with the hinduistic religion. Ayurveda has been practiced very successfully in India but so far it has only been insufficiently appreciated by western medicine, especially psychiatry. An exception is Scharfetter from Zürich who wrote a review article on this topic in 1976. Nevertheless, it is probable that particularly the immunological mechanisms of psychotic and affective disorders can be influenced by the application of ayurvedic methods; however, the empirical data source, particularly with respect to randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses regarding psychiatric disorder symptoms is limited. Even if Ayurveda is applied in a highly individualized manner, this should be rapidly improved for further evidential assessment. First positive experiences in the neuropsychiatric field in Germany are already available.

Keywords: Depression; Diet; Medicinal plants; Schizophrenia; Yoga.