| Mano-Roga (Diseases of The Nervous System) is | | | | emotions such as anger, jealousy, greed etc. also |
| a popular Ayurvedic term for any nervine | | | | contribute to stress. To sum them all, it can |
| disorder that causes imbalancement of The | | | | simply be quoted that "Distress leads to Stress |
| Nervous System. Mano (mind or brain), referred | | | | and Restraints & Constraints lead to Strain". |
| as the seat of Prana (Life) & Gyana (senses) | | | | In modern life, unnecessary Hurry and Worry |
| and Roga (disease) has been referred as vitiation | | | | leads to unnecessary tensions. Ayurveda has |
| or excitation of the doshas (morbids), in the | | | | described many herbs for purification, nursing and |
| Ayurvedic texts. According to ayurvedic point of | | | | toning up of the nervous system and to keep the |
| view, the five basic functional objects of mind are: | | | | brain healthy. |
| 1. Thought | | | | MEDHYA RASAYAN : The Sanskrit word |
| 2. Consideration | | | | "Medhya" means anything, which is beneficial for |
| 3. Attention | | | | Medha (intellect). "Rasayana" means Elixir that |
| 4. Determination & | | | | forms one of the eight clinical specialities of |
| 5. Directionand controlling the sense faculties | | | | Ayurveda. The Medhya Rasayanas viz., |
| constitutes the action of mind. A healthy brain is a | | | | Shankhapushpi (Convolvulus pluricalus), |
| prerequisite for a healthy body and healthy life. | | | | Mandukaparni (Centella asiatica), Brahmi (Bacopa |
| According to Ayurvedic, the vitiated or excited | | | | monniera) and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) |
| doshas when imbalance functioning of gyana | | | | are basically Brain Tonics. It has been clinically |
| & prana in the brain, the peace of mind and | | | | evaluated that these herbs improve mental |
| composure of an individual is disturbed with mental | | | | functions & also produce a moderate degree |
| & emotional stress resulting to various | | | | of tranquility of mind. The term Medhya Rasayan |
| neurological disorders like anxiety, depression, | | | | is applied to the plants that are now called |
| neurosis, psychosis, tension-headache, | | | | psychedelic or mind expanding. In bygone times |
| restlessness, etc.. These disorders may be | | | | the effects of such plants were thought to be |
| reflected as defects in the cognitive functions, | | | | magical; they are the miraculous herbs of old tales |
| loss of concentration, impairment of memory, | | | | and legends. There are four particularly |
| disturbed sleep & speech, communication | | | | noteworthy members of Medhya Rasayan group |
| difficulties associated with behavioral changes like | | | | (Bacopa monieri, Centella asiatica, Convolvulus |
| rapid fluctuation of moods, rebellious & asocial | | | | pluricalus & Ocimum sanctum), which have |
| behaviour, whimsical nature, tendency of | | | | bitter taste, with perhaps a touch of astringency. |
| unnecessary hurry & worry, forgetfulness | | | | Their properties are light, oily and mobile, |
| and emotional disturbances. Whenever distressing | | | | therapeutically they are cold and the product of |
| factors like irritations, frustrations, | | | | digestion is sweet. They have also been found to |
| disappointments, injuries, insults, anxieties etc. | | | | invigorate memory and enhance brain activity, |
| accumulate in the mind, stress is built up. Negative | | | | thus quite useful to forget forgetfulness. |