ROLE OF MEDHYA RASAYANA IN DELAYED MILESTONES IN CHILDREN: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Delayed developmental milestones represent a significant concern in pediatric healthcare, affecting gross motor, fine motor, language, cognitive, and social domains. Early identification and multidisciplinary intervention are essential to optimize outcomes. Ayurveda offers a holistic understanding of developmental delay through concepts such as Garbhaja Vikara, Beeja Dushti, Balavikara, Vata Prakopa, and impaired Medha. Among Ayurvedic therapeutic approaches, Medhya Rasayana occupies a special place for enhancement of intellect, memory, cognition, adaptive behavior, and nervous system nourishment. Classical Medhya Rasayana drugs such as Mandukaparni (Centella asiatica), Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Shankhapushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), and Vacha (Acorus calamus) have demonstrated neuroprotective, antioxidant, adaptogenic, anxiolytic, and nootropic properties in contemporary studies. This review critically evaluates the Ayurvedic basis of developmental delay, therapeutic rationale of Medhya Rasayana, pharmacological evidence, clinical applicability, integrative protocols, and future research directions. Medhya Rasayana may serve as an adjunctive modality alongside physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nutritional rehabilitation, and modern pediatric care. Well-designed clinical trials are needed to establish standardized evidence-based pediatric protocols.