Abstract: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is categorised as a mental health condition in which the patient’s cognition, social interaction and family life are compromised. Globally, the prevalence of AUD is 7%. Its contemporary management focuses on the withdrawal symptoms, dependence and cravings and includes pharmacotherapy as well as psychotherapy. However, the relapse rate is high, along with the reported adverse effects. Hence, an integrated management including Ayurveda and Yoga has a broader scope in managing AUD. A 44-year-old male attended the outpatient department with complaints of uncontrolled use of alcohol for 18 years as the primary concern, followed by increased fear, tension, hand tremor, sleep disturbance, along with a history of hypertension for the past three years. The case was diagnosed as AUD as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth edition, Text Revision criteria. Based on the symptomatology such as Kampa (~tremors), Shakritagraha (~constipation), Nidrabhramsha (~insomnia), Sweda (~perspiration), Daha (~burning sensation), Trishna (~thirst), Agnisadana (~diminution of metabolic and digestive factors), Arochaka (~tastelessness), and Angagaurava (~heaviness of body), the case was diagnosed as of Tridoshaja madatyaya (~alcohol abuse due to vitiation of Tridosha ) in Ayurveda. The screening for AUD was done with the Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener questionnaire (CAGE), and Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test Scale (AUDIT). The integrated management protocol included internal medicines, Rukshana (~dryness inducing), Panchakarma (~five internal bio-cleansing therapies) procedures such as Snehapana (~internal oleation), Virechana (~therapeutic purgation), and Nasya (~medication through nose) along with Yoga. The assessments were done using Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised (CIWA-Ar) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires on the Day 0, Day 31, and Day 90. The protocol was effective in reducing scores in both the scales and showing clinically significant improvement in the biopsychosocial domains. The selected Panchakarma procedures and Ayurveda medications, along with Yoga module, yielded promising results, demonstrating the efficacy and safety of the integrative Ayurveda management approaches in AUD, however, warranting further research.
Joy et al. (Wed,) studied this question.