What is stress management ?
Treatment
of depression by western psychiatry has several shortcomings viewed
from the eastern point of view. Most medications for major depression
have strong side effects. No effective treatment exists for people
who are just feeling temporarily low. There are no ways to prevent
depression from the allopathy point of view. About half of the people
treated for depression experience a recurrence or relapse.
In
contrast, ayurvedic methods of treating depression are gentle, natural,
and effective. They contribute to a long-lasting state of balance
that reduce the tendency toward recurrences. It offers a more complete
understanding of the nature and causes of depression. Ayurveda offers
a more effective treatment of depression without negative side effects
and the real possibility of prevention. It promotes higher levels
of psychological health. Ayurvedic methods not only increase the balance
in the body, they also progressively raise the overall level of inner
contentment. This is a natural antidote to depression.
Western
antidepressant medications typically require a minimum of three weeks
to take effect. Ayurvedic treatments, though gentler, begin to produce
results more quickly, within a few days or even a few hours. The two
treatments are compatible. (If you use the herbal treatments prescribed
in Ayurveda, make sure that there is no interaction with the antidepressants
and check with your doctor before taking any herbs if you are taking
prescription medications.) Ayurvedic treatments, if used complementarily,
may help you to reduce your antidepressant dosage ultimately. Do this
only with the approval of your doctor after reviewing all facts.
What
type of causes of depression From Ayurvedic Perspective ?
From
the standpoint of Ayurveda there are two main causes of depression.
An
imbalance in the three doshas, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
A lack of awareness of one's deeper, inner Self.
From
the Ayurvedic point of view, most depression is a kapha imbalance
that is the culmination of vata and then pitta going out of balance.
Initially the brain's electrochemistry has an erratic overreaction
(vata imbalance), which triggers a loss of enzymatic activity in the
metabolism (pitta imbalance). Kapha responds by trying to glue everything
down, bringing about heaviness, darkness, and stagnation that the
mind-body interprets as the negative message of hopelessness and depression.
In other words, because of specific etiological factors, vata from
the colon, pitta from the intestine, or kapha from the stomach enters
the general circulation and lodges in the nervous system, interferes
with normal functioning of the mind and nervous system, and causes
depression.
Sometimes
depression is a pitta disorder. Allergies and the breakdown in metabolic
processes they lead to can also disturb brain chemistry. This can
cause dramatic mood swings, with depression as one of the consequences.
Vata imbalance also can cause depression.
Ayurvedic
Body-Type Treatments for Depression
The treatment is based on the mind-body constitution of the person
and which dosha is in imbalance.
We
offer some classical Indian supportive remedies for this disease which
are supposed to be taken strictly under medical supervision. Kindly
Ask a Doctor
