Author: Dr. Vikram Chauhan

Abstract

Mental handicap and psychological health care have been ignored in the talk around heath, common liberties and uniformity. This is baffling as mental disorders are unavoidable and affecting around eight percent of the total population. Moreover, the experience of people with mental disability is one described by different interlinked degrees of disparity and segregation inside society. This is hurtful that the mentally challenged persons feel excluded that makes them more sad and worsens their condition. In the text, we shall discuss Somatoform disorder in detail. We shall also have a look at the management of the same in the contemporary medicinal system and in the Indian traditional medicinal system of Ayurveda as well. Let’s get started !!

Introduction

Somatic system disorder is a type of psychological sickness that causes one or more bodily symptoms in which pain is almost present. The symptoms could possibly be discernible to an actual reason including general ailments, other psychological maladjustments etc. Yet, notwithstanding, they cause extreme and unbalanced degrees of distress. The symptoms may or may not involve one or more organs and systems of the body. Usually those who are suffering from the somatoform disease have anxiety disorder as well. The condition of somatoform disorder can be well correlated with vata vyadhi. We will look upon it in detail later in the text. Now let’s have a look at the causes, signs, symptoms and management of the same !!

Causes

• Family influence that can be environmental or genetic or both of these.
• Biological or genetic factors including higher sensitivity to pain.
• Learned behaviour – the attention seeking and benefits achieved from having an illness.
• Personality trait of negativity
• Decreased awareness of or problems processing emotions.

Risk factors

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stressful life
• Past trauma such as childhood sexual abuse
• Lower educational qualification
• Low socio-economic status
• Medical condition
• Risk of developing a medical condition that runs in the family such as diabetes, OCD etc.

Signs and symptoms

• Altered sensations including pain, fatigue, shortness of breath and weakness. These symptoms can occur altogether or solely. And this further can be mild to severe.
• Continuous thinking or worrying about the illness
• Assuming the normal physical sensations as if these are the signs of severe illness.
• A person feels that the medical evaluation or the treatment that has been prescribed is not adequate and correct.
• Fear of physical activity that can harm the body.
• Frequently going for health care visits
• Assuming that normal physical sensations are harmful and life threatening.
• Continuously checking for any abnormality in the body.
• Unresponsive to the medical management and unusual sensitivity to the
• More severe impairment that is not usually expected from an ailment.

Investigations

The diagnosis of somatoform disorder is particularly based on the clinical and personal history of the patient

Management

• Psychotherapy
• Cognitive behaviour therapy is used as it helps the patient teaching them how to reduce stress, how to cope with physical symptoms, to deal with depression, to improve quality of life etc.
• Psychodynamic interpersonal psychotherapy (PIT) is effective in persons with multisomatoform disorder.
• Antidepressants in depression and anxiety issues. But these cannot cure somatoform disorder but helps with cognitive behavioural therapy.

Complications 

• Upset daily life
• Physical disability
• Problems with relationships
• Depression related suicidal thoughts
• Financial problems due to medical treatment
• Personality disorders
• Problems at workplace
• Unemployment
• Poor health status

Ayurvedic aspect and management of Somatoform Disorder

Ayurveda is a traditional medicinal system of India. It is the most ancient medical science whose principles still stand valid and it has been serving mankind from ages and it continues even today. Ayurveda focuses on the diet and style of life a person spends in the management of a disease. Ayurveda has two objectives. One is to observe and keep the health status of a healthy person ‘healthy’ and another one is to treat the diseased person. Ayurveda is based on the three energies or doshas that are vata, pitta and kapha. These doshas when in normal limit define health whereas the derangement results in an advent of a disease.

The exact correlation of somatoform disorder can not be established with any disorder in Ayurveda. But the condition of somatatoform diosrdermarched with the inferior sattva which is an examination point of dashvidha priksha. In Ayurveda, there is a way to determine the patient’s mental and physical build in order to prescribe him a treatment plan or procedure. Therefore, a patient’s examination is done for it. It is called dasvidha priksha. Sattva priksha is one among them which can be correlated with examination of mental faculties. Sattva is the mind and it regulates the body due to its link with the soul, it is generally three types pravara (superior), madhyama (moderate) and avara (inferior). The qualities of avara sattva include inferior type of mental faculties, neither by themself nor by others can sustain their mental strength, in spite of having great and sound physique they cannot be susceptible to fear, greed, ego, delusion and grief. They tolerate pain and odd situations very badly. When they listen to the stories that are fearful, wrathful, terrifying, horrible, hateful and ugly situation or even they come across visions of blood or flesh they can easily fall victim to depression, madness, fainting, giddiness, pallor and stress. (Charak Viman 8/119)

These avara sattva people more easily develop the symptoms of somatoform disorder or in other words these persons are more prone to develop somatoform disorder. The vata dosha being the master of all the neurological and psychological systems finds its involvement in somatoform disorders or they have some sort of indulgence in the rise of somatoform disorder.

Sattvavajaya Chikitsa is one of the main management protocols of all the psychiatric and psychological disorders and cognitive behavioural therapy  and psychotherapy is included in sattvavajaya chikitsa. Conquering the mind is what the word sattvavajaya says .

Use of medhya herbs and those which are used in unmada and apasmara (mental illnesses) management is the mainstay of the management. Herbal medicines such as smritisagar ras, chintamani chaturmukh ras, arogyavardhini vati, brahmi vati, panchagavya ghrita, saraswatarishta, dashamoola kwatha, ashwagandharishta, vat kulantak ras, bhoota bhairav ras, sarpagandha ghan vati, amar sundari vati, balarisht, maha paishachik ghrita, siddharthak ghrita, chandravleha, chyavanaprasha etc are effective in the management of somatoform disorder.

Herbal Remedies by Planet Ayurveda for Somatoform Disorder

Planet Ayurveda is an ayurvedic company with different certifications such as ISO 9001:2015, USA-FDA, GMP certifications etc. Planet Ayurveda’s motive is to spread the wisdom of Ayurveda globally and taking Ayurveda to every home for making the people healthy and happy. Planet Ayurveda manufactures various herbal medicines which are made up of pure parts of the medicinal plants. Manufacturing of herbal medicines is done as mentioned in the various ayurveda textbooks and ayurvedic pharmacopoeia. The products are available in varimanous different forms from powders to jams and from tablets to capsules and hence a consumer can have them as per one’s comfort. The medicines are pure and free of any sort of adulterants. The medicines are full of potency and free of colours, additives, sweet enhancers, preservatives and other forms of chemicals. The products are halal certified and gluten free. Planet Ayurveda extends its products that are effective in the management of somatoform disorder.

Following is the list of products that are of great benefit in the management of Somatoform disorder

1. Neurogenie Capsules
2. Boswellia Curcumin
3. Phyllanthus Niruri
4. Kalyanaka Ghrit
5. Saraswatarisht

Product Description

1. Neurogenie Capsules

Neurogenie capsules, a product of Planet Ayurveda, is a very great formulation in the management of psychological and psychiatric disorders.  Neurogenie capsules are filled with the herbal extract of the herbs brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) and ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Both these herbs are rasayan thus helps in calming the mind and are great stress busters. With their mind relaxing properties, Neurogenie capsule are amazing in the management of Somatoform disorder.

Dosage : 2 twice daily

2. Boswellia Curcumin

Boswellia Curcumin of Planet Ayurveda is a perfect remedy for pain and inflammation. Boswellia Curcumin are filled with the standard herbal extract of herbs shallaki (Boswellia serrata) and haridra (Curcuma longa). In case of any injury that leads to pain and inflammation Boswellia Curcumin is a perfect remedy. Furthermore, it has mind relaxing properties and its works double fold in the management of Somatoform disorder.

Dosage : 1 twice daily

3. Phyllanthus Niruri

Phyllanthus Niruri is a Planet Ayurveda’s product. Phyllanthus Niruri is a capsule formulation that contains the herb bhoomiamla (Phyllanthus niruri). Bhoomiamla has a number of health benefits. It provides strength to the brain and body and makes a person strong enough to face injuries, if one meets with unwelcoming circumstances. Furthermore, bhoomiamla alleviates the pain due to analgesic properties. Therefore, Phyllanthus Niruri is a perfect remedy in the management of Somatoform disorder.

Dosage : 1 twice daily

4. Kalyanaka Ghrit

Kalyanaka Ghrit is a classical ayurvedic ghrit formulation that is widely used in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Kalyanaka ghrit is a formulation that is made up of herbs including amalaki (Emblica officinalis), badi elaichi (Amomum subulatum), davadru (Cedrus deodara), shwet sariva (Hemidesmus indicus), tagar (Valeriana wallichi), manjistha (Rubia cordifolia), vidanga (Embelia ribes) and many others. It is a brain and nervous tonic, immunomodulator, psychotropic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antiemetic, gonadotropic and has various health properties. With its tonic and psychotropic actions, Kalyanaka Ghrit is effective in the management of Somaytoform disorder.

Dosage : 1 tsp twice daily with warm water or milk

5. Saraswatarisht

Saraswatarisht is a classical ayurvedic formulation that affects the brain and the thinking of a person. Saraswatarisht is made up of a number of herbs including brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), adrak (Zingiber officinalis), ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), baheda (Terminalia bellerica), dalchini (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) and various others. Saraswatarisht is known medicine for soothing and relaxing the mind. Furthermore, it restricts the mind from overthinking and directs the mind in the positive direction. Therefore, Somatoform disorder can be well managed with Saraswatarisht.

Dosage : 2 tsp twice daily.

Contact Planet Ayurveda Support Team to provide you the costing / ordering and delivery information at – costing.planetayurveda@gmail.com or Call at 0172-521-4030 (India), +91-172-521-4030 (Outside India) or Whatsapp at (+91) 9915-593-604.

Conclusion

Somatoform disorder (Somatic symptom disorder) is a mental disorder. In this condition, a person thinks overly and is always worried about his health. And the test reports are generally normal and do not show any derangements  or indicate a disease. A person is usually considered to have somatic disorder if the symptoms of the same exceed six months. The management in the contemporary medicine system is symptomatic and medicines such as antidepressants are generally prescribed that can result in adverse side effects. In the Ayurvedic medicinal system, the condition is best managed with various herbal formulations, sattvavjaya chikitsa and yog abhyas. The herbs provide strength to the mind and boosts immunity and best manage Somatoform disorder.