Ayurveda for Mental Health
Anxiety
Depression
Stress management
Insomnia
Anxiety disorder
Anxiety is a common disorder in western developed countries. If untreated it can lead to depression and social effects. Ayurveda explains the treatments of the anxiety should be done with most care of the physical, mental, social and spiritual aspect of the client. Anxiety disorders are bracketed as mental health problems. It includes social phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, generalised anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Causes
- Excessive and irrational anxiety
- Worries that become ongoing and distressing and that interfere with daily life
Visit our Ayurveda physician if you are experiencing the following signs and symptoms.
- Constant fears or negative thoughts
- Faintness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Panic or a fear of attacks
- Trembling
- Sweating
- Difficulties breathing
- Nausea
Ayurveda recognises that we are not the same. We are all unique and therefore need something different. Two people can present with the same problem, however, the treatment may be different for both. Ayurveda focuses on eliminating the root cause of all problems.
Treatments may include
- Spiritual Counselling
- Internal medications and satvik diet
- Treatments to balance the third eye
- Oil massages and sweating therapies
- Herbal enema
- Yoga and meditation
Depression
Depression is a medical condition characterised by extreme feelings of sorrow and gloom. It is not just feeling sad. Symptoms of depression can change with the type of the disorder. This disorder is treatable when detected early.
Causes
- A mix of recent events or longer-term personal factors, which cause chemical imbalances in the brain
- Life events
- Family history
- Personality
- Serious medical illness
- Drug and alcohol use
Ayurveda’s perspective
According to Ayurveda health is the balance of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of a human being. This can be attained if we practice the lifestyle and diet according to one’s individual constitution. The mental energies- Tamas and Rajas get vitiated with improper regimen and diet. This will heat up the mind and reduces the activities like intellect and thought process. In Ayurveda depression can be treated with counselling, internal medications and spiritual rituals.
Visit our Ayurveda physician if you are experiencing the following signs and symptoms.
- Behavioural, emotional and physical changes
- Withdrawing from friends and close family members
- Not interested to go out
- Lack of motivation, interest and enthusiasm
- Not interested to complete work
- Interest in alcohol or sedatives
A person with depression may feel:
- Overwhelmed, guilty and irritable
- Frustrated, unhappy and lacking in confidence
- Indecisive, disappointed and sad.
- Fatigue and feeling sick and ‘run down’
- Headaches and muscle pains
- Churning gut and sleep problems
- Loss or change of appetite and weight loss or gain.
Ayurveda recognises that we are not the same. We are all unique and therefore need something different. Two people can present with the same problem, however, the treatment may be different for both. Ayurveda focuses on eliminating the root cause of all problems.
Treatments may include
- Herbs which support strength of the mind
- Spiritual counselling for improving confidence
- Special Satvik diet
- Nasya
- Breathing and Yogic exercises
- Special treatments of the forehead – Shirodhara
- Herbal enema
- Meditation and Prayer
Stress management
Stress is the feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure.
Causes
- Major life changes
- Uncertainty in your work or personal life
- Having responsibilities that overwhelm you
- Being under a lot of pressure
- Working long hours
- Loss of a job
- Being unhappy
- Facing discrimination, harassment, bullying or abuse
- Death of a loved one
- Marriage separation
Ayurveda’s perspective
Ayurveda views stress as a disturbance of the nervous system, which is mainly regulated by Vata dosha. The Vata dosha qualities are cold, light, subtle and erratic and is easily disturbed by too much sensory stimulation, overeating and a heavy schedule of activities. The aggravated Vata dosha weakens the mental strength of a person making one vulnerable to stress and related disorders.
Visit our Ayurveda physician if you are experiencing the following signs and symptoms
- Memory problems
- Viewing life with a negative lens
- Constant worrying
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Irritability, anger, moodiness
- Nausea
- Chest pain or rapid heartbeat
- Insomnia
Ayurveda recognises that we are not the same. We are all unique and therefore need something different. Two people can present with the same problem, however, the treatment may be different for both. Ayurveda focuses on eliminating the root cause of all problems.
Treatments may include
As per Ayurveda, balancing the aggravated Vata dosha and improving the mental strength of a person are the fundamental aspects of the Stress management. These are achieved through recommending appropriate diet, lifestyle, herbs and therapies as below:
- Shirodhara
- Herbal infusions
- Daily routine
- Nasya
- Abhyanga
- Keeping a journal
- Yoga, pranayama, meditation
- Achara rasayana (code of conduct aimed to provide a good mental, physical, social and spiritual health and general well-being)
- Spiritual counselling
Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which you have trouble falling and staying asleep. Many people have insomnia at some point in their life, however, some tend to develop it as a constant and long-term condition. The goal is to find the underlying cause for insomnia and bring back balance and harmony in the body, mind and spirit.
Causes
- Stress
- Mental health disorders
- Travel
- Anxiety and depression
- Caffeine and alcohol
- Overeating late in the evening
- Suppressed emotions
- Incorrect diet
- Medical conditions
Ayurveda’s perspective
Insomnia is a symptom of an underlying imbalance in the body and a sign of other issues that may appear in the future if not addressed. Ayurveda seeks to improve the quality of sleep and also to address the underlying cause (dosha imbalance) to prevent long term health issues.
Visit our Ayurveda physician if you are experiencing the following signs and symptoms
- Difficulty falling asleep at night
- Waking during the night
- Not feeling rested after a night’s sleep
- Waking up tired
- Irritability, depression or anxiety
Ayurveda recognises that we are not the same. We are all unique and therefore need something different. Two people can present with the same problem, however, the treatment may be different for both. Ayurveda focuses on eliminating the root cause of all problems.
Treatments may include
- Shirodhara
- Abhyanga
- Nasya
- Herbal infusions
- Diet and lifestyle changes
- Yoga, pranayama, meditation