Treatment of anidra (primary insomnia) with Jatipatri Ksheerapaka – A prospective clinical study

Anidra (primary insomnia) is a condition characterized by disturbed sleep quality and quantity and is classified as a Vata-dominated disorder in Ayurveda. This clinical study investigated the efficacy of Jatipatri Ksheerapaka, a medicated milk preparation from the aril of Myristica fragrans, in the treatment of anidra.

Method

The open-label, single-arm, uncontrolled clinical trial was conducted with 32 patients aged 20 to 60 years suffering from primary insomnia. Participants were given 30 ml of Jatipatri Ksheerapaka once daily at bedtime for 30 days. They were assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) before, after treatment and after 30 days of follow-up.

Results

Improvement in sleep quality:

Day 30: Statistically significant improvement in sleep quality with a decrease in ISI score (p < 0.001).

Follow-up (day 45): Decrease in positive effects, but still significantly better than before treatment (p < 0.001).

Average ISI score:

Before treatment: 19.44

After 30 days: 13.22

After 45 days (follow-up): 14.33

Individual results:

25 patients showed a significant improvement in sleep quality during the treatment phase.

9 patients reported further improvements during the follow-up period.

Relapses occurred in 2 patients, with sleep quality worsening after discontinuation of medication.

Side effects:

No adverse events were reported during the entire duration of the study.

The study shows that Jatipatri Ksheerapaka is an effective treatment for primary insomnia by reducing Vata and Pitta and stabilizing Kapha. The sedative and sleep-inducing properties of Jatipatri (Myristica fragrans) in combination with Goksheera (cow’s milk) were found to be safe and well tolerated. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to better understand the long-term efficacy and mechanism of action of this therapy.