08 May 2020

We all get emotionally triggered from time to time; the ability to focus and operate during this pandemic-enforced lockdown becomes quite impossible sometimes.

Maintaining one's mental health amidst this chaos is just as important as fighting the virus. As we are close towards the end of this second lockdown, there's no considerable scenario where it would be relaxed completely. If you are suffering from symptoms like anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia, there's no better natural therapy than Ayurveda in these unprecedented times.

MENTAL WELLBEING MATTERS

Anxiety & Depression both can occur at the same time; 45% of people with one mental health condition meet the criteria for two or more disorders. The most significant reasons for not being able to treat & tackle the conditions of a mental disorder are - fear of stigma & lack of support.

Considering the unprecedented nature of the situation, we all tend to react in many different ways. It's hard to confront these issues head-on, but with small steps, you can surely overcome the burden you seem to be carrying on your shoulders. Your mental wellbeing matters, when it comes to facing this huge global crisis. World Health Organisation (WHO) has highlighted the importance of encouraging mental and psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing “this is not going to be a sprint, but a marathon”.

Some of the common symptoms of Anxiety & Depression include -

• Feeling nervous, restless or tensed
• Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
• Increased heart rate
• Breathing rapidly (Hyperventilation)
• Decreased energy, chronic fatigue, or feeling sluggish frequently
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Feeling sad, hopeless or pessimistic
• Difficulty sleeping, waking early or oversleeping

All these symptoms are similar to the aggravation of Vata imbalance at a nervous system level. It implies the imbalance of air and space elements in the body.

AYURVEDA'S HOLISTIC APPROACH

Mental well-being is an important aspect of Ayurvedic interpretation of ‘Swasthya’ along with Physical and Spiritual well-being. WHO defines mental health as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can contribute to the community.

Ayurveda's approach to tackle mental health issues advises removal of toxins from the brain and nervous system, while nourishing the Satva(Mind) quality.

Marma Points

Stress is not unknown to modern research, as the root cause of many mental health issues. Marma point therapy is a healing practice emerged within this 5000-year-old Ayurvedic system of medication/treatment. Marma points are the vital areas of the body, where two or more types of tissue meet, such as muscles, veins, ligaments, bones or joints.

If you are suffering from any mental health issues, you can make use of the below marma therapy practices, during this lockdown -

1. Just press the point right under your nose 6 times before going to bed or even in the morning after you wake up
2. Take ghee on your fingers and massage your temples gently for 5-10 mins (Especially if you have difficulty in falling asleep)
3. Put ghee on your crown region and massage it gently
4. Taking sesame oil or ghee and massaging your naval in a clockwise direction, also massaging your feet with it will relax your mind and make you feel more centred

The basic purpose of this therapy is to remove blocks in energy channels called shrotas, while creating physical, mental and emotional flexibility. Along with this, you can also do Yoga (Pranayam) & practice panchakarma regularly, as it has a beneficial effect on our nervous system.

Dietary Guidelines

Ayurveda considers unhealthy diet and poor digestion to be the potential causes of emotional imbalance. It's because, when our food is not efficiently digested, undesired metabolic by-products of digestion (called ama) are produced.

Here are some of the dietary guidelines that you should keep in mind while tackling mental health issues -

1. Wheat, Processed foods/drinks should be avoided
2. Stay away from Milk & Dairy products
3. Prolonged fasting should be avoided
4. Avoid food which is difficult to digest (e.g. Maida)
5. Neglect excessively sour food (such as fermented items, vinegar etc.)
6. Follow a gluten-free diet
7. Moong, fresh vegetables, almonds, beetroot, ghee, fig etc. should be the essentials for your diet
8. Grapes, Mangoes, Pomegranate, Gooseberry - the ideal options
9. Regular and timely intake of a balanced meal in the right quantity
10. Consume fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables to supply fibre, micro and macronutrients

HOME REMEDY FOR MENTAL WELLBEING

Home remedy that will help in the nourishment of your nervous system.

HERBAL REMEDY

As we are battling the COVID-19 crisis by staying inside, our Ayurvedic experts are prepared to assist you by any means possible. If you are suffering from any health issues, our vaidya's are providing video/phone consultation to keep you healthy and fit. To book a consultation click on https://bit.ly/35t86sx

Stay Healthy!

For more information write to us at info@ayushakti.com

You may contact us on our toll-free numbers - 18002663001 (India) & +18002800906 (Global)