| Depression is a neurological disorder. When a person | | | | For people with depression a heavy food is not |
| is too overcome with negative emotions, it becomes | | | | advised. The person must not eat to the full capacity. |
| difficult to focus on any other issue. The person may | | | | Hot, spicy and pungent tastes must be avoided as |
| become lethargic and lose interest in what is going on | | | | these will aggravate the senses further. Fluids and |
| around them. Such a state may occur when a person | | | | fresh vegetables (in salads) must become an |
| fails in an examination, loses a job, gets jilted by a | | | | important part of every meal. The person can have |
| lover, gets divorced, loses some dear one, etc. Some | | | | cool sherbets like rose sherbet in the middle of the |
| people are able to get over their emotions quickly. | | | | day, especially in the afternoons and when the |
| But in some others, depressions may last for several | | | | evening is beginning. Tea and coffee may be taken |
| days, weeks or even months. | | | | occasionally to stimulate the brain. |
| In Ayurveda, depression is known as Chittavsada. It | | | | Most people with depression lose their appetite and |
| is caused by the increase in the tamas and rajas of | | | | desire to eat. For such people, food must not be |
| the mind with a vitiation of the kapha dosha. | | | | forced, or it could lead to vomiting. When such a |
| Sometimes, an imbalanced vata may also be | | | | disinterest in food occurs, fruits can be consumed. A |
| responsible for depression. | | | | diet rich in fruits is beneficial in the treatment of |
| Depression needs to be looked after and treated as | | | | depression. |
| soon as it is identified. In some people, depression | | | | (3) Ayurvedic Treatment for Depression |
| may be very dangerous as they could resort to | | | | Even in Ayurveda, a psychological counseling |
| endangering their own and other people's lives. | | | | between the physician and the patient is undertaken. |
| (1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Depression | | | | This helps the physician to understand the root cause |
| 1. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) | | | | of the depression. Then they can take the |
| Ashwagandha has the requisite properties to remove | | | | formulated steps to cure the problem. Such |
| negative thoughts from the mind. The aphrodisiac | | | | counseling is done to increase the sattva of the mind. |
| properties of ashwagandha also help in improving the | | | | Slowly allowing a stream of water to fall in the |
| mind and removing depression. | | | | center of the forehead enables the mind to remove |
| 2. Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) | | | | its negativistic thoughts and focus more on a positive |
| Brahmi is prescribed before a yogic session. The | | | | outlook. This therapy is known as shirodhara and it is |
| reason is that brahmi helps to relax the mind and | | | | becoming very popular in the western world also. An |
| bring it to a comfortable state. Brahmi is very | | | | alternative therapy is shirobasti. The oil massage |
| popularly available in the form of oils. The oil has a | | | | therapy called as abhyanga is also very useful. |
| cooling and soothing effect on the mind. Regular use | | | | Ayurverdic professionals also advocate the use of |
| of this oil can prevent the person from feeling | | | | yoga in keep the mind restful. Praanayama and yoga |
| depressed. | | | | must become an important part of a person's daily |
| 3. Cardamom (Elattaria cardamomum) | | | | routine. This helps to concentrate the mind on |
| Cardamom has a very pleasing odor which can | | | | positive thoughts and depression will never occur. |
| soothe the nerves. When a person is depressed, a | | | | Yogic asanas that are beneficial to people with |
| tea made by putting cardamom in it can have almost | | | | depression are bhujangasana, halasana, |
| miraculous effects. | | | | paschimottasana, sarvangasana, shalabhasana, |
| 4. Guggulu (Commiphora wightii) | | | | shavasana and vakrasana. In addition, pranayamas like |
| Guggulu has become the focus of attention recently | | | | bhastrika and kapalbhati are very strongly advised. |
| due to the presence of special chemicals in it called | | | | (4) Home Medications |
| as guggulsterones. These chemicals improve the | | | | 1. Get someone do a good head massage with a |
| nervous coordination and hence are beneficial in the | | | | cooling oil like brahmi oil. |
| treatment of depression. Guggulu is more effective in | | | | 2. Improve the regimen of your day. Begin with yoga |
| depression caused due to seasonal affective disorder. | | | | in the morning and then listen to good soothing music. |
| 5. Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi) | | | | For some people, visiting their religious places of |
| Jatamansi brings a calming effect on the mind. By | | | | worship also helps to come out of depression. |
| canalizing the energies of the mind in the right | | | | 3. Focus your mind in other activities and hobbies in |
| direction, jatamansi can remove the depressive | | | | order to keep the thoughts causing depression away. |
| thoughts. | | | | 4. You can try eating an apple with milk and honey. |
| 6. Turmeric (Curcuma longa) | | | | This helps to improve the mood. |
| Turmeric is effective in treating depression that is | | | | 5. Simple lemon juice (the extract of one lemon in a |
| caused by the change of seasons, i.e. seasonal | | | | glass of water, sweetened with sugar) is also good. |
| affective disorder. | | | | It releases stress-removing hormones and brings the |
| (2) Dietary Treatments for Depression | | | | mind at ease. |