International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine
July 21, 2025
Gaurav Mude, Shantilal Singune, Raghvendra Dubey
A renewed scientific interest in psychedelic plant remedies—such as psilocybe mushrooms, ayahuasca, iboga, and salvia divinorum—is transforming contemporary therapeutic paradigms. Clinical research indicates these substances hold promise for treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction by promoting neuroplasticity, emotional resilience, and profound psychological healing under careful supervision. Advances in ethnobotany, neurology, and psychopharmacology reveal their mechanisms, particularly through serotonergic pathway regulation and enhancement of introspective experiences. Regulatory environments are cautiously evolving toward integrating these traditional medicines into modern care, though challenges remain in standardizing botanical formulations, ensuring patient safety, and overcoming social stigma. The work examines historical origins, molecular foundations, therapeutic uses, and future developments, calling for multidisciplinary collaboration to advance this field.
International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine
December 15, 2024
Priya Kumari, Saroj Adittya Rajesh, K Rama Chandra Reddy
Pranayama, a branch of yoga, involves controlling the flow of prana (life energy) through regulating inspiration, expiration, and retention of breath. The text describes pranayama as beneficial for physical and mental health, eliciting physiological reactions that aid stress reduction, relaxation, and control of psychophysiological conditions. It controls lung motion, which in turn influences the heart and vagus nerve, bringing autonomic nervous system functions under conscious control. Pranayama is associated with improvements in brain activity, heart function, blood oxygenation, and lung function, and different breathing techniques can decrease negative stress responses.
International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine
July 10, 2024
Jairam Kushwaha, Vatsala Thapliyal, Sachin Sharma et al.
A 10-week program of daily pranayama and mindfulness (vipassana) meditation, practiced for 60 minutes each day, improved emotional intelligence and reduced anxiety, depression, and stress among undergraduate students aged 18 to 23. The randomized controlled trial with 150 students found significant enhancements in emotional intelligence and significant decreases in anxiety, depression, and stress in the experimental group compared to the control group, which continued usual activities. These results suggest that combining breathwork with mindfulness meditation can support emotional coping and mental well-being in university students.