Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a major psychiatric (mental) illness which is chronic in nature and affects the social and personal life of the patient.

Causes
It is normally due to abnormal secretion of two chemical substances in the brain i.e., serotonin and dopamine. It is known to run in families. Stress is a precipitating factor. It is seen in the age-group of 15 to 25 years.

Signs & Symptoms
Signs and symptoms vary according to the type of schizophrenia. The common symptoms are suspiciousness, lack of socialization, not taking care of self, not going to work, abnormal behaviour, hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or smelling things) and false beliefs.

Herbal Medicines
Saffron is very useful for it. Two-four strings of it are to be boiled with milk and given to patient early in the morning.

Ayurvedic Remedies
The powder of Jatamansi one tsf three times a day.
Vatakulantak Ras ½ tab. three times a day.
Vacha, Shankhpushpi, Sarpagandha are also used together or separately.
Dhara with medicated oil also proves useful.

Do's & Don'ts
Since it is a psychic disease, it is best treated with psycho-therapy