Depression - Ayurvedic Treatment and Managment

One of the eight main branches of ayurveda is mental health. As a holistic system, ayurveda gives an ultimate importance to the health of mind because there is no real mind – body separation in ayurveda. Body is an absolute mirror of mind.

We all feel sad or moody from time to time. But some people experience these feelings intensely, for long periods of time like weeks, months or even years and sometimes without any apparent reason. Depression is more than just a low mood. It is a serious condition that affects your physical and mental health, a major cause of disability and sometimes of suicide. They will lose interest in doing their daily routine.Depression is also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression.

Adverse experiences and emotional deprivation early in life also predispose to depression. Depressive episodes are often but not always triggered by adverse life events especially those involve loss, including medical illnesses. Research suggests that continuing difficulties such as long term unwaged conditions, living in an abusive relationship, long term isolation or loneliness, prolonged stress on workplace are more likely to contribute depression than recent life stresses. However, recent events such as losing your job or a combination of events can ‘trigger’ depression if you’re already at risk because of previous bad experiences or personal factors.

According to ayurveda, a person is said to have good health or swasthya when they enjoy a balance of physical and psychological elements (samadosha), of energies produced in the body (samagnischa), and of tissues in the organs (sama dhatu) combined with proper elimination of wastes (malakriya), a happy soul (prasannatma), a happy, functioning mind (prasanna-manaha) and proper functioning of the five senses (sama-indriya). It is the science that encompasses the mind, body and soul with health. So ayurveda holds a holistic approach in the treatment of mental health issues such as stress,anxiety and depression.

Ayurveda stands by its definition of health, in which a healthy mind plays an important role. Being a holistic science, ayurveda explores the relationship among the mind, body, soul, the senses and their workings.

Mental constitution of a person depends on three operational qualities such as sattva, rajas and tamas. These have a profound effect on our state of mind and emotion.The character of a person depends on the predominance of these three gunas. We can make some changes in our manas prakriti or the constitution of mind through thoughts, actions, diet, herbs, lifestyle and the rejuvenative methods offered by ayurveda, the natural way of life.

Among five types of vata, pitta and kapha doshas, prana vata, sadhaka pitta and tarpaka kapha are directly related to mind. The imbalance of these doshas causes mental and emotional disturbances. So balancing these doshas will help us to stabilise the imbalances of aspects related to mind and heart. Ayurveda, the way of life, is open to the whole mankind. It suggests some of the tools to strengthen the doshas related to mind.

• Ayurvedic dinacharya (daily health regime) and ritucharya (seasonal health regime) helps to remove toxins and stimulate the flow of natural energy in the body.
• Following a healthy and pure sattvic diet in tune with your body type will help to live a harmonious lifestyle.
• Daily meditation, pranayama and other yoga asanas can help to clear mental and emotional disturbances and to relax the mind and body
• Therapies such as shirodhara and marma massage with a cooling and relaxing oil to stimulate the marma points and to restore the balance of the dohas
• Try to avoid overexertion both mentally and physically.
• Proper sleep refreshes both mind body. Not getting enough sleep can increase depression and anxiety, and impair cognition and mental focus.
• Ayurvedic detoxification and rejuvenation procedures help to improve mood and mental clarity amongst many other benefits.

Certain ayurvedic herbs can be helpful to improve mood and cognition. These herbs work at a very deep and subtle level.

• Brahmi- Bacopa monnieri
• Ashwagandha- Withania somniferum
• Shankhpushpi- Evolvulus pluricaulis
• Vacha- Acorus calamus –
• Guduchi- Tinospora cordifolia
• Bhringraj- Eclipta alba
• Haritaki- Terminalia chebula
• Liquorice- Glycyrrhiza glabra

“Positive thinking is powerful thinking. If you want happiness, fulfillment, success and inner peace, start thinking you have the power to achieve those things. Focus on the bright side of life and expect positive results.”

Ayurvedic way of healing can be considered in

• Anxiety
• Stress
• Tension headache
• Dementia
• Mood swings
• Emotional disturbances
• ADHD
• Insomnia

Ayurherbs recommends traditional dietary and lifestyle habits, yogic exercises, ayurvedic herbal medications, purificatory and rejuvenatory treatments to strengthen the capacity of the mind and to achieve the sattvic mind by balancing the stability of doshas. Ayurherbs is happy to hold your hands and empowers you to embrace the bright future. Call us for a confidential discussion