The Best Ayurvedic Treatment for Mental Disorders

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In this modern world, most people are suffering from some disease or other, all these are the result of the bad food combining we eat, lack of notorious food, and no exercise at all. The Best Ayurvedic Treatment for Mental Disorders

Among the diseases, most of them are found to be related to psychiatric disorders or personality disorders. This interesting fact was pictured by Swami Akhilananda in 1950 he pointed out that most diseases are related to psychosomatic or psychogenic that originated from mental disturbance/ tension.

He gave some good examples in regard to this such as hypertension (high blood pressure), peptic ulcer, asthma certain types of cardiac symptoms, etc. These diseases are called psychiatric disorders, classified as “neurosis” because they affect the entire nervous system.

What is a Psychiatric disorder?

A psychiatric disorder is a mental illness that is diagnosed by a mental health counselor when a person’s health gets greatly disturbed by their thinking, moods, and behavior change sharply. It seriously increases your risk of disability, pain, death, or loss of freedom. In addition, the symptoms become more serious than expected to respond to a disturbing event, such as losing a loved one. There are large numbers of psychiatric disorders such as.

Types of psychiatric disorder

  • Substance Abuse & Addiction.
  • Anxiety & Panic Disorders.
  • Bipolar Disorder.
  • Eating Disorders.
  • Depression.
  • Schizophrenia

What is a psychogenic disorder?

The psychogenic disorder is also referred to as psychogenic pain it is a pain disorder that is related to psychological factors of a person. Sometimes a person may evoke certain types of mental or emotional problems that can cause, an increase in prolonged pain. A person with psychogenic pain disorder may complain of pain that does not match to their symptoms.

Types of Psychogenic Pain

  • Headaches
  • Muscle pains
  • Back pain
  • Stomach
  • Social rejection
  • Broken heart
  • Grief
  • Lovesickness

Is There a Cure for Mental Depression?

The answer is clearly “NO” there is no permanent cure possible for mental depression (psychiatric disorders) it can only be controlled by restoring mental health and overall health, but only to some extent, it may be helpful. The question always arises to this issue, what is mental health and what is overall health in particular?

Western view

 The Western approach to mental health is based on psychiatry, social work, and clinical psychology. The clinical psychology way of treatment for “mental illness” is a medical treatment of psychotherapy, that deals with mental stress that arouses due to unsuccessful ambitions and conflicts in the mind. The other factors that are taken into account are the interconnections between the underlying psychological, biological, and sociological processes.

The Western approach towards mental health is still considered fairly as it has a narrow view of the causes of mental disorders. It is largely accredited to biological frustrations and mental disorders which fail to explain the basis for it in terms of moral frustrations.

It does not have a broad view of human mental states by subordinating the biological impulses of man for the main momentum of lasting happiness. It does not suggest a method to stabilize the mind and development techniques of the dynamic performance of willpower.

It is said that it lacks something that can only be given by religious psychology. While in India understanding the total personality and the purpose of life, can be achieved by “super-consciousness” or “Nirvana” or “Samadhi”.

Whereas the Western approach towards mental has not given an effective method for the treatment of personality disorders, philosophy of life, or educational theory that allows us to prevent it.

These limitations are well established in the ancient wisdom of India, it is based on the inseparable connection between religion, philosophy, and psychology, the integration between mind, body, and spirit.

Eastern view

The Indian psychological approach towards mental health is now a growing consensus among people around the world. The view on psychological approach is considered to be the best to short out the problem than the Western approach.

The psychological treatment of India is based on the development of the aspirations/hopes of Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. They are based on secular experiences transmitted in their cultural traditions. India’s psychology places great importance on the study of religious or spiritual experiences and the development of methods by which it can be achieved.

It also provides a comprehension of the different stages of consciousness and therefore it is able to make a definitive therapeutic contribution to psychological problems. It reveals that a holistic understanding of personality development through the integration of body, mind, and spirit is vital for a successful and happy life.

Ayurvedic View

The Ayurveda text reveals that the natural condition of the body, mind, and spirit is a state of happiness and is very important for good health. In today’s world, we lack it so there is an epidemic of ‘depression’ and stress-related problems. There is a beautiful quote on the definition of good health in Ayurveda, which has been mentioned thousands of years ago that is given below.

“Samadoshah samagnishcha, malakriyah samadhatu,
prasannatmendriya manah, svastha abhidyiyate dad “

It means to say that, a healthy man is one whose ‘doshas’ are in equilibrium, whose metabolism is well balanced, whose tissues and deletions- eliminations are normal, and whose senses and mind are cantered in self.  That is a perfectly healthy man who can remain full of joy and can enjoy a healthy life.

Mental Depression as Per Dosha

Treatments in Ayurvedic are not the same for the individual. The treatment depends on the individual’s dosha and mind, the body is taken into consideration.

According to Ayurveda, each individual has their own dosha, there are three doshas Vata (air and space), Pitta (fire and water), and Kapha (water and earth).

This dosha is the main psychobiological expression of Nature, individually and cosmically. Ayurveda treatments are on the doshas that have undergone an unbalanced state. On the basis of the nature of dosha following treatments are given.

1. Vata Dosha Characteristics

It is lighter, dry, dispersants, subtle, cold, mobile, minutes, and changing, and therefore is associated with conditions such as worries, anxieties, fears, phobias, terror, delusions, compulsions, irrelevant talk, monologue or dialogue with oneself, attention deficit disorder, bipolar disorder, social anxiety, and auditory hallucinations. Vata governs all functions of the nervous system.

Vata type depression

  • Make changes in the diet, and make an effort to consume and incorporate elements of food that pacify your vata. Follow the food pyramid chart.
  • Eat warm, heavy, and nourishing foods that give strength to your body.
  • Avoid eating salads, fruits, etc, and eating spicy food and dairy products.
  • Do not consume food that contains caffeine in a higher proportion.
  • Eating hot and heavy foods such as soups, rice, pasta, etc. is beneficial.
  • Go to bed early so that you get enough sleep and your body gets complete rest.
  • Massaging your feet and head will keep your brain calm and cool. If full-body massage is done with oil daily it will be the best.
  • Activates like yoga and gentle exercises are beneficial.
  • Herbs such as cinnamon, cumin, ginger, and Gotu kola will be beneficial.

2. Pitta Dosha Characteristics

It is hot in nature, sharp, pungent, bitter, and intense, and propagation is responsible for comparison, control, criticism, jealousy, frustration, obsession, territorialism, anger, rage, violence, suicide, murder, and visual hallucinations. Pitta is associated more with digestive and hormonal functions.

Pitta type depression

  • Make changes in the diet and try to consume incorporate elements of food that pacify your Pitta.
  • Do not consume spicy food and high-calorie food such as cheese, vinegar, fish, red meat, and avoid tobacco products.
  • Consume food that cool’s your body such as dairy products such as Lassi, Jaljeera, Chaas, Mango Lemonade, sweets, and cool drinks, and be vegan.
  • Avoid outdoor activities so that you refrain from the sun.
  • Activities such as yoga and other meditation program will be beneficial.
  • Avoid hot baths or showers; taking a bath in cold water is best for you.
  • Using some herbs like mint, aloe,  Shatavari, coconut, and sandalwood is helpful as they have a cooling effect.

3. Kapha Dosha Characteristics

It is cooler in nature, slow, heavy and static, inert, smooth, thick, soft, and still, and therefore it is more associated with sadness, melancholy, prolonged crying, stubbornness, dark depression, hiding, hoarding, catatonia, overeating, and kinaesthetic hallucinations. Kapha governs mainly fat, blood sugar, and heart circulation.

Kapha type depression

  • Make changes in the diet and try to consume incorporate elements of food that pacify your Kapha.
  • Avoid eating fatty food such as sweets, desserts, and meat, and consume low-oil foods and food that is cold (not warm).
  • Consume food that is hot and spicy and add soups to your daily diet.
  • Using honey is also very good as it can calm the aggressive Kapha dosha consuming daily in small quantities will be beneficial.
  • Avoid outdoor activities so that you can avoid the sun as much as possible.
  • Activates like yoga meditation and gentle exercises like running are beneficial.
  • Use some herbs that generate heat in the body, spices such as turmeric, pepper, chili, ginger tea, etc. are beneficial.

Daily Structure for Mental Health (Dinacharya)

1. Morning Activity

The morning should begin with the daily habits with awareness, the rising of the sun, the elimination of toxins, the cleansing of the body, and the beginning of your personal practice of worship.

The worship helps to recognize our place in the family, the community, and the cosmos. The rising of the sun is a special moment of enlightenment for you and your body; it helps to activate our gifts to the world. Daily cumulative helps you to purify the mind, emotions, and body.

2. Eating Activity

Choosing the right food combination is a must to fulfill your appetite and metabolic needs, it is the basic requirement to show respect for our body and life.

The lack of food combining, eating fast foods, soda drinks, etc disturbs the natural process of our brain and body. These habits can cause disturbances in the dosha that may result in a ‘secondary’ terrible effects such as Mental Depression.

3. Exercise Activities

Activities such as study and work are the main area that can improve our life healthy, helping others and maintaining relationships and responsibilities as a citizen can also make us happy and prosperous.

In earlier times, the patient suffering from psychosis was assigned service tasks to generate “merit” to help more and the “demerit” repetitive negative or ‘false’ thinking.

4. Evening Activities

To be healthy we must respect time which means, eating when hungry, drinking as per body requirements, and activities such as walking are important to make time to play for nurturing creativity. This can maintain physiological balances that are very important.

Ayurveda believes that sleeping late at night, eating rancid food, having sex in an improper time such as during menstruation, having sex with an inappropriate partner, or in self-indulgence way.

The Misuse of any of the senses can lead to an imbalance in dosha; it may create the misuse of the mind and wish for another more. This Psychosis is called ‘unmad’ which is a Sanskrit word, meaning forgetfulness of God.

Ayurveda and Yoga as therapeutic teachings that are based on Indian psychological, philosophical, and religious traditions. It is believed to have sufficient methods for achieving the definitions of mental health.

However, people want quick-fix medical solutions and in doing so, they miss the conventional psychiatric practices and cause serious side effects which drug they use.

There is always a questions which is beneficial for you, it must be your choice what to choose for your healthy life.

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4 Responses

  1. Randy Rasmusson says:

    superficial…Mental disorders are multiplex so it is very difficult to make an accurate diagnosis itself; many people present with symptoms of more than one type of disorder and among its many of the symptoms of disorder are overlap in each other. Consequently, it is important to seek appropriate help. In the first case, you should talk to your doctor to be able to do a complete medical evaluation and guide you towards an appropriate course of treatment.

    • Sadhu Govardhan says:

      Very superficial comment, Randy!

      The article compares Western vs. Eastern vs. Ayurvedic treatment of mental illnesses. But you missed this fact entirely.

      Of course, it is essential for anyone with mental disorders to see appropriate help. However, Western doctors have an extremely high failure rate when it comes to CURING mental diseases. For this simple reason, it would be wise for people to look for alternatives.

      Ayurveda is the oldest and most sophisticated health care system in the world. Naturally, it would be wise to be open to learn from this tradition.

  2. Clara David says:

    This may come as a surprise, but mental health experts claim that one in four people suffer from a mental illness each year.

    • Sadhu Govardhan says:

      Frankly, one could argue that the vast majority of people suffer from one or more mental illnesses.

      Proof: we just went through three years of a fake pandemic, and the majority of people still have no clue that there were cheated.

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