Ayurveda for Mental Health: Holistic Approaches to Overcome Depression

Ayurveda for Mental Health: Holistic Approaches to Overcome Depression

With a holistic approach towards Ayurveda, medicines and lifestyle changes, it is possible to overcome depression and keep it at bay. Even though depression is quite common today, it is considered to be taboo to talk about. There are numerous social constraints and embarrassment surrounding the topic of depression, which is people refrain from speaking about it. If you are not willing to turn to pills and sleeping medicines to treat depression, Ayurveda offers an all-natural way to fight depression and keep yourself away from it. Let us get to know more about Ayurveda treatment for stress and anxiety.


Major Reasons for Depression

Depression is a type of mental disorder which hurts your feelings, thinking and behaviour. It is very common to experience grief-like emotions if you are going through a phase of depression, with a combined loss of focus on the majority of activities in daily life. This can also give rise to many emotional and physical issues in your life. Depression is mainly a psychological condition that frequently leads to protracted feelings that cause dissatisfaction and make you lose interest in routine tasks. The good thing about Ayurveda is that it offers a safe and effective way to treat depression.

Here are a few reasons that could contribute to depression.

1. Influence of genetic factors
2. Changes in the neurotransmitter concentrations
3. Influence of environmental aspects
4. Social and psychosomatic influences
5. Major life events such as divorce, disturbances at work, relations with friends and family, the difficulty facing financial situations, health status or stressful situations

Treatment with Ayurveda is the best way to overcome depression to avoid side effects.

Symptoms of Depression

The symptoms of depression can vary from mild to severe from person to person. Here are a few common symptoms that can indicate the presence of depression in a person:

1. Feeling of sadness, grief, and a downcast attitude at most times
2. Decrease in the feeling of enjoyment or interest in activities that you previously used to enjoy
3. Lowered sex drive
4. Constant weight loss or lack of appetite
5. Excessive sleeping

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be necessary to seek medical assistance from an expert in Ayurveda. With the proper treatment, it is possible to combat depression at its early stages before it becomes a mammoth issue in your life.

Types of Depression

Bipolar Disorder

Episodes of depressive disorders cause bipolar depression. In this case, a person may experience frequent changes in their mood. Episodes of bipolar disorder may vary from high-energy episodes to low-energy bouts of depression.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD is a kind of illness due to anxiety that can result in unwelcoming sensations of persistent thoughts, worrying and impulse actions. Due to this, you may feel prompted to engage in routine or repeated acts that may reduce your stress as per your beliefs.

Seasonal Depression

Also known as seasonal affective disorder, this type of depression is linked to shorter daylight hours during the winter season. Depression usually occurs at this time of the year but responds well to light therapy.

Dysthymia

Due to this type of depression, a person is likely to stay in a persistently bad mood, which can even last up to a year.

Diagnosis of Depression According to Ayurveda

According to Ayurveda, depression mainly results due to an imbalance in the Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas. To be able to cure depression, you will need to consult with an Ayurvedic expert who can point out the specific defect in the doshas. Some of the treatments that work best, in this case, are Nidana Parivarjana, Palliative therapy, Snehapana, and Virechana therapy.

Treating Depression Through Ayurveda

Ayurveda prescribes the following treatment methods for the treatment of depression.

Treatment for Vata Depression

Depression resulting due to Vata imbalance is often characterised by a sense of uneasiness, anxiety, panic, and sleeplessness. This type of depression can be treated by Ayurvedic treatments involving tulsi tea, a few drops of sesame oil in each nostril on an empty stomach, and the application of sesame oil on the soles of the feet and top of the head.

Treatment for Pitta Depression

Pitta depression can often result in suicidal thoughts which can be a danger to the individual. A person will likely feel more irritated due to such depression and may lose control frequently. Treatment for such type of depression includes massaging coconut oil into the soles of the feet and the scalp, consuming herbal Ginko tea daily, and applying nasal drops made with Brahmi ghee on an empty stomach.

Treatment for Kapha Depression

Kapha depression is often characterised by a feeling of a heavy sensation, which may lead to excessive sleeping, weight gain and other issues. Some remedies for treating Kapha depression include fasting to remove excess toxins from the body, engaging in endurance training, consuming ginger tea, and performing Surya Namaskar.

Conclusion

If you are someone who is going through depression, making modifications to your lifestyle might help bring a major change in your life. At Ishani Ayurveda, you can consult with a specialist and talk about your healthcare problems related to depression. An effective Ayurveda treatment in Kerala can help cure you of your problems and assist you in leading a lifestyle that tackles your depression problems.

Dr. Sinu K John

Dr. Sinu K John graduated Bachelor’s degree in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery. She holds a Master’s degree in Ayurveda Panchakarma. She is a qualified Yoga Instructor and has been teaching Ayurveda and Yoga for more than 10 years. She is specialized in women and infant health, infertility, skin care and natural beauty treatments. She is a Health Educator, passionate about health and fitness. Vast experience in handling clients of all age groups both national and international. She is specialized in Lifestyle Medicine, providing a holistic approach to medicine. Her philosophy of healing revolves around Diet, Yoga, Meditation, Detoxification, Nutrition & Effective Stress Management & Obesity.

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