Tag: Home Remedies for Depression

September 1, 2020

An Ayurvedic Perspective of Depression ( Vishada)

Abstract

One in four people in the world experience mental/ neurological disorders at some point in life. Ayurveda is the science which not only treats your disease but also maintain a healthy person’s healthy life as said in its aim (prayojana)- “”Swasthashya swasthya rakshanam aturasya vikara prashmanam ch”. Recent cases of mental disorder are found, whether, in the daily life of a housemaker, sportsperson, or in the entertainment world too and reviews on ayurvedic studies of ancient times also reveal that psychiatry also had their role in those eras. So, this article describes “depression” along with its management and treatment.

INTRODUCTION

General Introduction

Depression is more than sadness (SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder), many people use the word depression to explain the feeling like – life’s struggle, setback, disappointments, but it’s more than that.

Depression varies from people to people like

  • Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.
  • Loss of interest in daily activities.
  • Sleep changes like oversleep or no sleep (insomnia).
  • Anger or irritability.
  • Concentration problems – trouble in focusing, making decisions, and remembering things.
  • Unexplained aches or pains.

Depression

Mythological View

Vishada is witnessed in the Arjuna Vishada Yoga, the first chapter of Bhagavat Gita(verse 14), where Arjun mighty warrior describes his helpless condition as- Arjun says, my limbs feel weak and loose, my mouth dried up with heat, tremors all over my body and I feel horripilation,my bow slips from my hand and my skin is burning all over, my brain is whirling and I can’t stand any longer.

Ayurvedic View

According to Dalhan-[vaka kaya chitavsaadvishadam] i.e vishada is the state of avsada which is characterized by lassitude of spirit,body and mind,where the physical and mental retardation of the individual is understood.

Aetiology/nidana (Cause of depression): basic nidana- 1.Asatmendriyathsamyoga- unwholesome contact with the objects may be in the atiyog( excessive use) ,ayog ( no use) ,mithya yog( incorrect use), and sometimes it also occurs due to social abuse.

Pragyaapradh- Poor lifestyle habits such as overwork, lack of sleep, poor diet, and lack of regular exercise, knowingly doing wrong things.

Parinaam-results of all misdeeds

PATHOGENESIS: vishada affect our mind (Mana) by above nidan and thus leads to-

  1. Mano vibram (loose mental ability)
  2. Buddi vibram (loose intellectual power)
  3. Chestha vibram (loose stamina to do work)

PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS

  • Dukita(distress, unhappy or grieved )
  • Manah kheda(feeling of depression)
  • Asiddhi bhaya(fear and anxiety or apprehension of failure)
  • Bhramatimanas(wandering mind)

Complication

The complications that can be seen

  • Most importantly this disorder causes social isolation.
  • The person can’t cope up even with a situation like he is indulged in conflicts whether it’s about family or professional life.
  • It leads to weight gain and thus causes heart disease.
  • Physical illness
  • Pain in the body and anxiety.
  • Hazardous drawback of this disease is suicidal feelings.

Ayurvedic Management

Management of mental illness in Ayurveda is done on 3 broad aspects-

  • Daviyapashya chikitsa- Devine therapy
  • Yuktivipashya chikitsa
  • Satvajayaya- Ayurvedic psychotherapy

Herbal supplements by Planet Ayurveda

Herbs for Depression

Alternative Medicine for Herbal remedies for Depression

To deal with depression Planet Ayurveda has contributed its best. Which not only will help to strengthen the nervous system but will bring clarity in the higher mental functions of the individual. So, to tackle this disease you must follow this Ayurvedic Medicines for Depression as described in the Depression Care pack. It includes the following medicines:

Products Description

1. Gotu Kola Capsules

  • Ingredients:- Madhukparni
  • Scientific name: Centella Asiatica

Significance

  • This herb has an anti-hypertensive effect.
  • Titrated extract of Centella Asiatica (TECA) and a good therapeutic effect on the nervous system.
  • According to the Vedic point of view, Aacharya Charaka described it especially as “Medhya Rasayana” here Medhya means memory power. Hence, this product helps in enhancing memory power.

2. Medhya Churna

Ingredients – Combination of

  • Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)
  • Vacha (Acorus calamus)
  • Sunthi (Zingiber officinale)
  • Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
  • Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis)

Significance

  • Brahmi – It is also Medhya.
  • Vacha – extract was found to suppress the primary as well as secondary problems related to the brain.
  • Sunthi
  • Control the number of motion.
  • Improvement of appetite.
  • Ashwagandha – its powder significantly relieves from symptoms of anxiety neurosis.
  • Shankhpushpi – according to the Vedic point of view this is also a Madhya Rasayana hence this also helps in memory enhancing.

So, in combination, this product helps in depression and stress management.

3. MEMORY SUPPORT

Combination of

    • Brahmi
    • Vacha
    • Shankhpushp
    • Licorice/ Yastimadhu- (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Significance– Brahmi is a brain tonic and Vacha helps to stimulate the normal functions of the nervous system, they synergistically act along with Shankhpuspi because of its medhya and cooling properties, it is a great choice to alleviate depression.

Yastimadhu-[tridosha hara] also manages all tripods of life – vata (mobile functions of body), pitta (intelligence, digestive power, anxiety, and behaviors), kapha ( balance functions and other factors).

In addition to this, the product helps in sleep disturbances and memory support also.

4. STRESS SUPPORT

Combination of

  • Ashwagandha
  • Tagar( Valeriana wallichii)
  • Brahmi

Significance– Brahmi, and Ashwagandha acts as nervine tonics. They help to normalize the hormones.

“Tagar – Tagar is also used in apasmara is one of the mental disorders, hence this product is helpful in depression.

Dosage

  1. Gotukola Capsules – 2 capsules twice daily with plain water.
  2. Medhya Churna – 1 pinch of powder twice daily or 1 gram twice daily.
  3. Memory Support – 1 capsule twice daily with plain water.
  4. Stress Support – 1 capsule twice daily with plain water.

Diet and Lifestyle

  • Learn to do self-love rather than running for show off and for fake appreciation. No matter whatever color, height, size, race, community, religion, the gender you belong to.
  • By change in daily routine like exercise.
  • Take a balanced diet.
  • Eat healthy and balance.

Others Procedures To be Taken

  • Shirodhara
  • Abhyanga
  • Dietetics
  • Yoga
  • Appropriate lifestyle

Conclusion

Psychological and psychodynamic methods [SATVAJAYAYA] are assigned to individuals, this helps for the normal state of patients. So, must follow the above-given guidelines to manage depression.

And Most Importantly ☝️

�”Hate the disease, not the person who is fighting or is the survivor of it. “Talk with him/ her all they need is the support “and we can pull him/ her out from that hole (depression).

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January 1, 2020

Depression in today’s working women-how can Ayurveda help get rid of it?

Introduction

One of the basic factors that lead to depression is when we are not happy with the part of our self. While our natural body wants us to rest and take time for ourselves, we are only striving for reaching another goal, doing another big thing. The constant hustle and not giving oneself the time to breathe and feel the roses by living in that present moment have a deep impact on our emotions as well as physical health.

After a certain period, even our body gets so drained that the eight hours of good night sleep get ineffective in bringing rest to our body. Ever since the first-ever organized women’s rights movement in the small village of Seneca Falls, the United States in 1848, a lot has changed. While women are now working at par with their male counterparts in big corporate, participating in the policy matters, representing their nation at the international level in various sports, driving cars, planes, knocking off an opponent in the boxing ring but our social conditioning is still the same.

Herbs for Depression

Women are made to feel guilty by society and even in their intimate relationships for making time for themselves. They are judged by even the other women in the circles for not giving into the social conditioning that expects her to be active and attentive towards her household duty evens after all a long day at work. This constant juggle and striving to maintain balance in work-life along with fulfilling all the responsibilities of home life has torn women into two half.

Sometimes, women do that to themselves so that they don’t feel judged. Deep down they believe that in case they give up some of their responsibilities to work on their other commitments, their importance or place in the family dynamic might diminish with the time.

It’s a high time that we should start the discussion of women empowerment in various platforms in the sense of resting and recuperating and not only confined to opportunities in the corporate world.

The feminine energy that is predominant in females is all about creation, connecting to nature, self-love, and intuition that needed to be acknowledged and nurtured. We need to teach our daughters and friends that men and women are equal but still different. We should not strive to be men but our true authentic feminine self.

Our world is more in the need of a more caring and nurturing individual, not the technologies. Women are innate nurturers; it a matter of them understanding their powers and not wait for the world to confirm them.

Lack of self-love among women

The practice of self-love is what attracts the best things to us but many women who might seem very attractive and confident from the outside lack self-love. The only reason being not acknowledging one’s individuality and being oppressed with the social perception of perfect women.

Women need to understand that we are our being and have our strength and weakness and we all deserve love and respect. Putting you second and trying to be someone to be accepted by the immediate groups or society detaches one from their true self.

For instance, an all-night party might be an idea of fun for one individual but feel more like a nuisance for another. While the women all out there for reaching professional goals and making their mark in the industry, they should also try to know themselves. Their likes and dislikes.

Simple and Natural Ways to Overcome Such Depression

One does not need to spend bucks in an expensive salon or brands for feeling better, there some simple and effective ways we can adapt to practice self-love.

Taking a breather between work and home life

Taking time off for one even it’s half an hour can do a trick even between the busy work and home responsibilities even its spending time while having tea in your favorites spot.

Journaling

Writing is considered one of the best ways of emotional outlet. It helps one to put to emotional clutters in our head into writing. Journaling is not only beneficial for one’s emotional well-being but also for increasing your creativity. This is also another way to meditate if you are not into the traditional method of meditations.

Cooking

The act of cooking is among the creative expressions that the women have been practicing in their kitchen for ages. It is also an expression of love. Our mothers have been cooking healthy recipes in the kitchen with love and care. Practice cooking for yourself and also for your loved ones. It will heighten your nurturing abilities.

Savings

I know we have talked earlier about how women tend to stop caring for themselves while hustling between work and home but even a little saving can make them feel secure and grounded within themselves. The idea is not how much you earn but how you use your capital for feeling secure and grounded and stop living from paycheck to paycheck. It will help you to get rid of anxiety and fear of losing your job tomorrow and give the confidence to stand your ground.

Dance

It does not matter if you are a good dancer or not but dance especially the one with more hip movements can be proven to be beneficial for well being. Dancing increases one’s confidence, improves and removes any form of blockage. It helps you to live in the present movement while your body is in tune with the music and forgetting even it’s for sometimes the events of the past and fear of the unknown future.

COMMON ALIMENTS IN WORKING WOMEN

Other than the depression, some ailments that have seen in the women include heart disease, autoimmune diseases, breast cancer, and osteoporosis due to unhealthy lifestyle, lack of self-care and lack of rest but can be easily cured through natural methods.

HOW CAN AYURVEDA HELP IN MANAGING DEPRESSION?

Sometimes making the changes in lifestyle are not enough as it is a never-ending process that may affect anyone anytime because of the natural behavior of humans. So, we need to go some steps further and take the help of some natural herbs that will help in reducing the effects of depression without causing any other complications. Hence, the most effective and trusted herbs for managing Depression are

HERBAL REMEDIES IN AYURVEDA FOR CURING DEPRESSION

1.Ashwagandha:

Ashwagandha has been proven to be beneficial in curing stress and cutting down the anxiety levels. It also helps one to remain focused and to have more control over mood swings.

2.Brahmi:

Brahmi is a herb is proven to effective in calming the brain and bringing relief from anxiety and stress

3.Peppermint:

Peppermint or Pudina has a cooling effect on the nervous system and helps you to have good sleep.

4.Jatamansi:

It’s a herb that helps in curing insomnia. Jatamansi also works as a natural anti-depressant formula.

While all the above-mentioned steps and herbs are affected but if you are suffering from clinical depression, it is always advisable to consult the doctor.


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