BACKGROUND: Ayurveda Samhita's has documented nootropic drugs, which may play crucial role in brain development during infancy and early childhood. Any deviation in brain development can affect the overall personality and result in low IQ, poor cognitive function, defective learning, impairment in memory, language, speech, and social communication in later life of child. As a result, knowledge of nootropic medicines is critical for dealing with memory-related symptoms in children. Objective: The present review is to explore the therapeutic domain of Medhya Rasayana (nootropic drugs) mentioned by Acharya Kashyapa in the light of recently reported contemporary evidence. Materials and Methods: Kashyapa Samhita was reviewed in terms of description of Medhya Rasayana or Medhya drugs including single and compound drugs. The electronic database such as PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for relevant literature published from time of their inception to 2020, with results restricted to report in English language and information was extracted from different published articles as per the search criteria. Results: Important nootropic drugs mentioned by Acharya Kashyapa are Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst.), Mandukaparni (Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.), Triphala (Phyllanthus emblica L., Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb., Terminalia chebula Retz.), Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica L.), Vacha (Acorus calamus L.), Trivrut (Operculina turpethum (L.) Silva Manso), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus Willd.), Shatapushpa (Anethum graveolens L.), Nagabala (Grewia hirsuta Vahl.) and Danti (Baliospermum montanum (Willd.) Müll.Arg.), Brahmi Ghrita, Kalyanaka Ghrita, and Pancha-Gavya Ghrita, etc. These herbs/drugs have a positive effect on memory; improve the intellect, learning, memory, language, and speech of a child. Moreover, these drugs have shown potential therapeutic actions like cognitive function, antiepileptic effect, antianxiety effect, sedative, tranquilizer, antidepressant, antioxidant, antistress, and adaptogenic effect. Specific medicinal herbs like Triphala, O. turpethum, and P. zeylanica under nootropic drugs are found to act through “gut-brain” axis. Conclusion: Nootropic drugs mentioned in Kashyapa Samhita is very unique contribution and in recent times these drugs are scientifically validated in pre-clinical and clinical trials, which plays an important role for brain development in pediatric age group. These drugs are clinically tested for promoting mental health since ancient times. Moreover, most of the pre-clinical/clinical studies have proved that nootropic herbs/drugs are useful in many diseases like epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, speech disorders, etc. Clinical studies may be planned on pediatric psychological/mental health issues taking leads from the available anecdotal evidence as well as pre-clinical evidence to generate robust empirical evidence which can be used to promote better physical and mental health in a child. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Nootropic herbs/drugs are unique drugs mentioned by Kashyapa Samhita, which are having evidence for providing better mental health as well as in the treatment of many neurological disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are high-risk individuals in the management of epidemics caused by highly contagious disorders such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Standard of care (SOC) for the prevention of exposure can be greatly supported with SOC measures to improve the immune response. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of combining Chyawanprash, an Ayurvedic formulation, with SOC for prevention versus SOC alone among frontline HCWs through assessment of the proportion of COVID-19 cases among the trial participants during the trial period. METHODS: This open-label, randomized controlled trial was conducted from June 13, 2020 to September 21, 2020 in an Ayurvedic hospital that was functioning as a COVID-19 care center in New Delhi during the pandemic. HCWs between 25 and 60 years of age working in an environment with the possibility of direct exposure to COVID-19 cases were enrolled and observed for 30 days. The interventions compared were SOC as per institutional guidelines and based on their roles (Group I) and SOC in addition to Chyawanprash 12 g twice a day for 30 days (Group II). RESULTS: Out of the 193 participants who completed the study, no participant in both groups was COVID-19 positive at the end of one month. No adverse drug reaction or any serious adverse event was reported during the study. No clinically significant change in the safety parameters were observed. A statistically significant rise in serum IgG level was seen in Group II, but other inflammatory and immune markers did not show any statistically significant difference. In the post-intervention follow-up, four subjects in Group I and two subjects in Group II reported to have developed COVID-19 disease after 2 months of completion of the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Chyawanprash has an immunomodulatory effect in the intervention group, but a longer-term clinical trial with a bigger sample size is needed to confirm its adaptogenic and preventive efficacy as an add-on to standard prophylactic guidelines for prevention of disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials Registry of India: CTRI/2020/05/025275 [Registered on: 20/05/2020].

BACKGROUND: The scheduled caste (SC) population of India, especially women and children, lags behind others in the health scenario and the problem should be addressed with emergency concern. AIM: The aim of this article is to describe the health-related demography of women and children of SC population in selected areas of Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala state, India during the year 2019. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Reproductive and Child Health project team of Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Lifestyle-Related Disorders, Thiruvananthapuram conducted health camps at four village panchayaths (village councils), namely, Maranalloor, Venganoor, Vilappil, Poovachal, and Neyyattinkara municipality of Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala through 240 tours during the period January to December 2019 through a door-to-door household survey for collecting the information on socio-economic and health status. Medical aids were also provided to needy individuals. RESULTS: A total of 5145 individuals were surveyed, which includes 3662 women and 1483 children. In the survey, 62 disease conditions in women and 25 various disorders in children were diagnosed. The most common clinical manifestation found in women and children was Sandhigatavata (polyarthritis) and Agnimandya (digestive impairment), respectively. CONCLUSION: The women and children belonging to SC population in the areas of Thiruvananthapuram district where study was conducted have good health status. However, considering the prevalence of polyarthritis in women and digestive impairment in children, diet and lifestyle related-vigilance needs to be promoted. Ayurveda includes noteworthy guidelines regarding personalized as well as season-based diet and lifestyle. Therefore, increasing vigilance in rural population toward such Ayurveda guidelines along with use of relevant Ayurveda medicines can be a strategy to improve the health status of women and children. IEC number: 9–19/2012-ARIMCHC/Tvpm/Tech/220

BACKGROUND: Oligozoospermia is one of the major causes of infertility in males. A special branch of Ayurveda called Vajeekarana (aphrodisiac therapy) is specially related to management of infertility. Phala Ghrita (PHG) is an Ayurved formulation specially indicated in infertility due to oligospermia, and it is also narrated that cow ghee (CG) also possesses spermatogenic efficacy. Therefore, the present work was planned to compare the clinical efficacy of PHG and CG on oligozoospermia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-nine male patients suffering from oligospermia and having sperm count less than 15 million/mL were selected for the study. Patients’ underwent Ayurveda Bio-cleansing procedure by using Haritakyadi Yoga–a laxative Ayurveda formulation. PHG and CG at a dose of 10 g, twice daily were administered in 51 and 42 patients, respectively, with warm milk for 8 weeks. Assessment of seminal parameters were done before and after completion of treatment. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Statistical data showed that PHG and CG showed a significant (P < 0.001) change in sperm such as increase in sperm motility, decrease in abnormal forms of sperm, and increase in semen volume. However, the effect of PHG is found to be better than CG except in increasing semen volume. CONCLUSION: PHG and CG both have significant spermatogenic potential when administered after bio-cleansing of body by using Haritakyadi Yoga. Study registration: CTRI/20164/01/006559

Background: Acid peptic disease (APD) has a negative impact on patients’ quality of life and general health status of the individuals. There are a number of case studies and clinical trials on efficacy of Ayurvedic interventions in the management of APD. However, a systematic review of these researches is not available which is needed to evaluate the clinical significance of those studies. Objective: The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the available evidence for the efficacy and safety of Ayurvedic interventions for APD. Methods and Analysis: On the basis of the PRISMA-P statement, a systematic review protocol has been developed. Data from electronic databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, AYUSH Research Portal, DHARA, Shodhganga, Ayurvedic Research Database, Institute for Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurveda University, Jamnagar, Clinical trial registries, and relevant journals will be used to find articles for systematic review. Only studies that have been published in English or Hindi will be considered for inclusion in the systematic review. Data from the selected studies based on study characteristics will be extracted separately by two review authors for data analysis and quality assessment of the studies. The risk of bias in the chosen studies will be evaluated using appropriate available tools. If studies that are qualified for meta-analysis are available during the review, then it will be done. If meta-analysis is not possible, then the findings will be presented in the form of a comprehensive qualitative synthesis. Conclusion: The findings of this study will aid in determining the current state of evidence on the efficacy and safety of Ayurvedic interventions for the treatment of APD. The review will also serve as a source for researchers while planning future studies in order to generate high-quality evidence on the efficacy and safety of Ayurvedic therapies in APD. Study Registration: PROSPERO 2020: CRD42020207484