A clinical study on the management of generalized anxiety disorder with <i>Vaca </i>(<i style="">Acorus calamus</i>)

Abstract

In Ayurveda, <i style="">Vaca </i>(<i>Acorus calamus</i>, Family: <i>Araceae</i>), is reputed for its beneficial effects in various neurological disorders. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the role of 70% hydro-ethanolic extract of <i style="">Vaca</i> or <i style="">Acorus calamus</i> (ACE) on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in human. Hamilton’s Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and thorough clinical investigations were used to screen the subjects. Thirty-three participants (20 male and 13 female; average age 36.2 yrs) were medicated with ACE in a fixed dose regime (500 mg/capsule, twice daily, p.o. after meal). They were thoroughly investigated clinically and using standard questionnaires based on different psychological rating scale at baseline (day 0), mid-term (day 30) and final (day 60). The scale also includes a number of direct queries about current levels of experienced stress. Moreover, the questions are of a general nature and hence are relatively free of content specific to any subpopulation group. The observations exhibited that, ACE<b style=""> </b>not only<b style=""> </b>significantly (p<0.001) attenuated anxiety related disorders but it also significantly (p<0.001) reduced stress phenomenon and its correlated depression. ACE further significantly (p<0.001) improved the willingness to adjustment. Therefore, it may be concluded that <i>Vaca</i> may be useful in the treatment of GAD in human and may be a promising anxiolytic agent in near future.