Abstract

A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFICACY OF YOGA MODULE AND YOGIC SAATVIK DIET MODULE IN GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER

Shubham Sharma* and Ravi Kumar

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Abstract

Anxiety is a common human emotion that affects people everywhere, causing substantial impairment and around 2.74 million deaths annually. The age-old practise of Ayurveda emphasises the relationship between the body and the mind and sees life as a four-dimensional entity. Ayurvedic writings mention Chittodvega, which is linked to contemporary anxiety illnesses and emphasizes the part imbalances play in the functioning elements of the mind. Manodvega also called Gadodvega is considered anxiety in modern Ayurveda and is associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). With a 5% lifetime occurrence rate, GAD is treated with medication, psychosocial therapy and newer approaches including acceptance and mindfulness. Three therapies are suggested by Ayurveda for mental health issues: Satvavajaya (Mind-based therapy), Yuktivyapashraya (Rational therapy) and Daivavyapashraya (Divine therapy). Potential therapies include the sattva guna-promoting Saatvika diet and yoga, which integrates the mind, body and spirit. A comprehensive approach to mental well-being that bridges traditional wisdom and modern science is being investigated in clinical research that looks at the effects of yoga combined with a Saatvika diet on anxiety. In a recent study, it was shown that stress affected 74% of Indians and that 88% of them suffered some sort of anxiety condition. Anxiety disorders, which affect 15.7 million people annually in the U.S., frequently go untreated because anxiolytic medicines only provide temporary relief and have adverse effects. Alternatives to medication such as yoga, have the potential to enhance wellbeing, reduce stress and promote mental equilibrium. In the contemporary setting, the relationship between anxiety and nutrition becomes critical since stress affects food decisions, which in turn creates a feedback loop that affects preferences in the future. Comprehending the correlation between food and mood emphasizes the necessity of adopting comprehensive strategies to tackle the ubiquitous problems of stress, sadness, and anxiety in modern lives.

Keywords: Anxiety, Saatvik ahara, Yoga module, Ashawagandha churn.