Impact of Ayurveda in Mental Health

Regular downs are the ones where everyone feels anxious and worried in their awful times. While mental illnesses affect the health, daily errands, and peace of the person. Lots of such kinds of disorders are recognized which include bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic disorder, and many more.

AYURVEDA AND MENTAL HEALTH

Ayurveda, an ancient science can be used as CAM i.e., Complementary and Alternative Medicine in treating many disorders. So, to reduce drug dependence in psychiatric patients, allopathic treatment is prescribed by the psychiatrist along with the Ayurvedic alternative method.

In ayurvedic texts, a person can only get good health If they enjoy the balance of

* Both physio and psychological elements of energies produced in the body.

* Energies produced inside the body.

*  Tissues in organs combined with proper excretions.

*  Proper mind functioning

*  Sufficient working of sense organs. 

Ayurveda proposes traditional practices and lifestyles along with yoga and herbal treatment. This treatment is proved as an alternative form of treatment that works bidirectionally. First, it helps in treating physiological and physical disorders and also brings a change in lifestyle which automatically prevents future illnesses.

AYURVEDIC APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH

In our life, we go through a cycle of feelings. Such as cheerful, tragic, joyous, alert, etc. Ayurveda figures three attributes of the mind to outline these qualities: Tamas, Rajas, and Sattva. 

Tamas is needed to rest while Rajas is to act. During physiological issues like anxiety and depression, Tamas and Rajas lose balance and results in a loss of focus and aggression. Sattva empowers us with happiness, good mental health, and wisdom. It endows us with the ability to do our best, so to enhance our mental health we need to work on improving our sattva. 

Similarly, we need to pay attention to our Doshas too. Doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha assemble to form our ayurvedic Constitution. To keep our minds sane and blissful one needs to keep these doshas in balance.  Vata characters favor being imaginative and creative, Pitta, encouraged and intellectual while Kapha, loving and cherishing. Imbalance in these doshas leads to mental imbalance. Like Vata imbalances make people restless, Pitta increases aggression and grumpiness, Kapha leads to lethargy and depression.

Ayurveda heavily counts on Meditation, Yoga, Marma, and Pranayama to improve mental health. Ayurvedic science focuses more on a happy mind and soul and proclaims that health is an outcome of a Pure Body, selfless mind, and happy soul. 

AYURVEDIC TIPS TO ENHANCE MENTAL HEALTH

#1 To practice self-care; Increase Sattva

It is advised that Yoga/stretching, meditation, pranayama, and eating sattvik food can help to improve sattva.

Yoga: You can easily find an experienced Yoga trainer or search online and try yoga poses and stretches according to your potential.

Meditation: Meditation is scientifically advised to practice to get inner peace. People with anxiety, depression, or any other healthy person can spend some time internalizing with closed eyes as meditation rewires our brain.

Sattvik food: Sattvik food includes fresh, natural, and nutritious food which involves whole grains and pulses. Prevent eating overspiced junk food. 

#2 To consume a nourishing and balanced diet

By saying, the nourishing and balanced diet we suggest eating easy-to-digest food which is made up of fresh vegetables using decent spices and herbs like cumin, coriander, turmeric, tulsi, ginger, black pepper, and cardamom.

Incorporate plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and avoid eating raw and cold food and drink water from time to time.

#3 To get an adequate amount of sleep

Studies confirm that getting the proper amount of sleep is mandatory for every human being. An insufficient amount of sleep can dilute focus, awareness, and intensify stress and anxiety. One should follow the below guidelines to earn inner peace:

* Try to sleep before 10 PM.

* Always have 2-3 hours between your dinner and sleep.

* Take media break before sleeping. Try reading a book or spending time with family.

* Have a relaxing nighttime habit: massaging your head and feet with warm oil.

#4 To maintain a balanced lifestyle.

This is the most basic yet impactful habit to attain a peaceful body and mind. You don’t have to perform any extra exercise; all you have to do is to eat at regular mealtimes. To perform daily chores on time and doesn’t let your work interrupt it. Spend some time in nature, do exercise, and avoid stress

#6 To try self-massage

There are some self-massages in Ayurveda which anyone can easily perform by themselves. You can perform therapies like Nasya, Shirodhara, and Abhyanga according to your comfortability and availability in your area.

In Nasya, you could begin with daily Nasya with 1-2 drops of Anu Talla with ghee or sesame oil. This massage increases calmness and enhances memory

#6 Calm the senses

We experience the world with the help of our senses and taking care of them should be included in our Dincharya. One can soothe their sensory organs in the following ways:

* Eyes: To calm our visuals one can perform Akshi Tarpana( Colour Therapy), by resting eyes periodically and doing eye exercises.

* Nose: To enhance the smell/respiration, steam inhalation, aromatherapy with oils is helpful.

* Ears: Soothing music and poring medicated oil in ears Karna Poorna is used to relax our hearing power.

* Tongue: Avoiding overeating, eating nutritious food on time, cleaning the tongue, herbal teas improve our taste buds.

* Skin: The Self massages like Marma, Shirodhara, and Abhyanga soothe the tactile senses in many ways.

#7 Nurture relationships

Ayurveda always pays attention to relationships with family and society. Studies show that healthy relationships with everyone around us positively affect our mental health.