Life is a combination of senses, mind, body and soul. Ayurveda is not only limited to the knowledge of the body but also give comprehensive knowledge about emotional & mental wellbeing, as well as spiritual health.
We live in a world where mental diseases are the leading cause of global ill-health. However, there is often focus on body health than mental health. According to Ayurveda, the emotions like attachment, detachment, lust, anger, greed, attachment, false ego, competition – are constantly associated with the body; which spreads all over the body and gives rise to delusion and diseases.
Do Ayurveda accept the concept of Mind?
According to Ayurveda, emotions and mind cannot be separated from the body; they are part of a continuum. Modern psychiatric medicines typically targets the body functions using inhibitors, antagonists, tranquilizers, or stimulants. Ayurveda teaches that mind cannot be separated from the body. Our body has natural mechanism to produce several chemicals which can make us happy. Endogenous cannabinoids, or endocannabinoids, are naturally occurring neurotransmitters that play a key role in regulating our mood and emotions.
What is mental health according to Ayurveda?
According to Ayurveda, mind has 3 qualities. Satva, Rajas & Tamas
- Rajas is the initiator of all activities of mind; it motivates thoughts and actions. However, excess Rajas can lead to excessive thinking, irritability, and aggression.
- Tamas is the inhibitor of mental activities – tamas is required to sleep, relax, rest. Tamas helps in inhibition or withdrawal from an activity, for rest and sleep which is essential for recuperation. However, it can lead to lethargy, procrastination, loss of motivation and depression.
- Satva enlightens the mind with true knowledge. The Satva quality balance rajas and tamas; keeping one in harmony and self. Satva embodies all positive qualities; Rajas and Tamas are the doshas of the mind. However, we need all the three qualities. So mental health is the balance of 3 qualities – Satva, rajas and tamas.
How does mental health affects Physical health?
There is connection and crisscross communication between body and mind. There is a connection between Satva-Rajas-Tamas & Vata-Pitta-Kapha; much like the Psycho-Neuro- Endocrine-Immunology relationship. Ayurveda illustrates this bond as analogous to ghee in a pot: when the ghee is heated, the pot warms; likewise, when the pot is heated, the ghee melts. Similarly, issues affecting the mind and body are interchangeable. Mental wellness and emotional health is based on the physical health as well.
If something eternal is viewed as transient and something harmful as useful, and vice versa, this is indicative of the impairment of our mental health. A mind indulging in worldly enjoyments
cannot be restrained from harmful objects due to the impairment of controlling power. Courage to practice as per the power of discrimination is also a sign of good mental health. Not just knowing; but acting on it. If the memory is impaired due to, a person being overcome by rajas and tamas, the recollection of knowledge of reality or self is impaired. Normally our intellect contains everything memorable. Impairment of these 3 results in the imbalance of Vata, Pitta, Kapha.
How to achieve Emotional and mental health?
- Keep a mental balance in prosperity and calamity, ability to cope is the emotional
stability. - Have compassion with all living beings
- Make friends with good people; keep others at a distance.
- Maintain good physical health
- Grab proper sleep
- Suppress urges like greed, envy, hatredness, jealous, excessive attraction
- Strive for Self-actualization
One – who indulges in healthy foods and activities, who differentiate the good and bad of everything and then acts wisely, who is not attached too much to the sensory pleasures, who develops the habit of compassion, truthfulness and forgiveness, who keeps company of good people – becomes free from all diseases.
To restore balance and to promote mental wellness, Ayurveda treatments in Kerala offer a variety of holistic approaches tailored to individual needs. These therapies encompass a range of modalities, including diet and nutrition, herbal remedies, yoga, meditation, and lifestyle modifications, social welfare, daily routines & seasonal routines. By addressing the root cause of mental health issues, Ayurvedic treatments aim to cure symptoms while nurturing inner peace. Back to Roots Ayurveda has a multi-dimensional approach to mental health – Thought engineering, Lifestyle, Diet, Medicines, Therapies.
Ayurveda teaches to live in harmony with the nature. A healthy circadian rhythm ensures happy mind while disruption of biological clock leads to conditions such as – Anxiety, Depression, IBS, GERD, Diabetes, Obesity, Premature aging, Neuro degenerative diseases etc.
At Back to Roots, we firstly focus on personalizing a daily routine suitable for your body type. Yoga and meditation are integral components of our Ayurvedic mental health care, offering powerful tools for cultivating awareness, mindfulness, and inner peace. Through gentle Yoga postures, conscious breathing, and meditation practices, individuals can quiet the fluctuations of the mind, and release accumulated stress and tension.
Does the food impact our mental health?
One of the cornerstones of Ayurvedic mental health care is the emphasis on diet and nutrition. In Ayurveda, food is not just for survival; it is considered as a medicine for the body and mind. Certain foods are believed to have specific effects on the doshas, influencing mood, cognition, and emotional well-being. It is well recognized that our gut-health plays an important role in mental health mediated through our microbiome. The nervous system of our gut (Second Brain), is a collection of neurons located in the GI system. Our gut has 100 million neurons and 30 different neurotransmitters. Most of the body's serotonin is found in our digestive tract. At Back to Roots, we focus on providing our patients a healthy diet for emotional wellbeing. Ayurveda recommends to favor, snake gourd, ash gourd, drumstick vegetable, pomegranates, amla, coconut, grapes, milk, ghee as healthy choices for mental wellness. Back to Roots has homegrown fruits, vegetables and spices. We also take fresh milk from the Goat farm and Cow’s farm, and Eggs from country chicken.
What is the Ayurveda approches to mental problems like Anxiety & Depression?
Ayurvedic therapies in Kerala are a protocol of traditional therapeutic technique that provide a holistic approach to mental health and emotional well-being. Back to Roots offers traditional Ayurveda treatments in Kerala like Sirodhara, Thalapothichil, Abhyangam, Sirovasthy, Takradhara, Thalam etc. for psychiatric and psychological health. These Ayurveda treatments are
performed with utmost care and done in the most authentic way. Panchakarma can be implemented not only for curing physical diseases but also to maintain mental health. Clarity of intellect and improved strength of the senses are special benefits of Panchakarma. Back to Roots offeres the most authentic Panchakarma treatment in Kerala under the supervision of very experienced Ayurveda Vaidyas.
There are several Ayurveda medicines and herbs effective in treating anxiety, depression and other psychiatric and psychological problems. Kerala is a treasure-trove of Ayurvedic herbs like Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Kushmanda (Benincasa hispida), Sankhapushpi (Convolvulus pluricalis), Vacha (Acorus calamus), Yastimadhu (Glycyrrhyza glabra), Rasona (Allium sativum), Jyotishmati (Celastrus paniculatus), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) which have amazing results on improving mental health. Back to Root’s pharmacy has a wide range of Ayurveda medicines for psychiatric and psychological problems like – Ashwagandharishta, Panchgavya Ghrita, Mahapaishachika Ghrita, Saraswatharishta, Brahmi Ghrita, Dhanvantara Ghrita, Manasamitra gutika, Mahakalyanaka Ghrita etc.
For those seeking the best Ayurveda treatments in Kerala, it's essential to choose authentic Ayurveda hospitals and experienced practitioners who adhere to traditional principles and practices. Whether visiting a renowned Ayurvedic resort or seeking treatment at a local clinic, patients should ensure that the therapies offered are tailored to their unique needs and administered under the guidance of qualified professionals.
In a world where stress and mental health concerns are increasingly prevalent, Ayurveda offers a beacon of hope, reminding us of the profound connection between body, mind, and spirit in our journey toward health and wholeness. Contact our helpline for more enquiries on the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis:
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