RESEARCH ARTICLE ON CLINICAL STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF SHANKHPUSHPI (CONVOLVULUS PLURICAULIS) AS MEDHYA RASAYANA IN REDUCING EXAMINATION STRESS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS USING PSS, PSQI, AND DIGIT SPAN TEST

background: Academic examination stress is common among undergraduate students and is often associated with impaired cognitive function, poor sleep quality, and reduced academic performance. In Ayurveda, shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis) is described as a medhya rasayana, traditionally used to enhance memory, intellect, and mental well-being. However, clinical evidence supporting its role in managing examination stress is limited. Objective: To evaluate the effect of Shankhpushpi on perceived stress, sleep quality, and cognitive performance among undergraduate students during examination periods. Methods: The present study adopted a comparative interventional approach and included a total of 60 undergraduate students. Participants were assigned into two groups of equal size, with one group receiving Shankhpushpi as the intervention and the other group undergoing standard counselling without any pharmacological treatment. Evaluation of outcomes was performed using established assessment tools, namely the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) for measuring stress levels, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for assessing sleep patterns, and the Digit Span Test for evaluating cognitive function. Data collected before and after the intervention period were analyzed to determine changes within each group as well as differences between the two groups, applying suitable statistical techniques. Results: The intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in perceived stress scores along with improvement in sleep quality and cognitive performance following administration of Shankhpushpi. In contrast, the control group showed only minimal changes in these parameters. Conclusion: The findings of the study provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of Shankhpushpi as a Medhya Rasayana in reducing examination-related stress and improving sleep quality and cognitive performance among undergraduate students.