Feeling upset or sad every once in a while is very normal and almost every person suffers from it from time to time. However, depression is very different from normal sadness, as the sadness starts interfering your day to day life and affecting your ability to work, study, eat, sleep and have fun. People with depressed mood can feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, guilty, irritable or restless. They may lose interest in their favorite activities, experience loss of appetite or over eat, have problems in concentrating, harm themselves physically and even attempt or commit suicide.
Depression is thought to be a feature of some psychiatric syndrome but it can also be a normal reaction to life events such bullying, alcohol and drug abuse, low self-esteem, life events, loneliness, physical or sexual abuse, relationship troubles, financial difficulties, death of someone close etc. Depression is very common and results suggest that 1 in every 8 people in their teens experience depression to some extent. The treatments available for depression in conventional medication are known to have many side-effects that can affect your physical and psychological health. Moreover these medications provide you with a temporary relief as they are unable to cure the root cause of depression. Ayurveda on the other hand provides a natural and effective treatment for depression without any side-effects which also helps in preventing their reoccurrence in future.
Ashwagandha: A well-known adaptogen, ashwagandha has remarkable stress-relieving properties, considered very beneficial for patients suffering from depression. Clinical studies have also suggested it to be as effective as some tranquilizers and antidepressant drugs.
Giloy: Giloy is considered as a mental rejuvenator, which helps in combating stress, anxiety and soothes your nervous system. Apart from being a potent adaptogen, giloy is also known to support the immune system and enhance the formation of white blood cells.
Brahmi: Well renowned as a brain tonic, brahmi is loaded with anti-oxidants and bio-chemicals and is recommended for fighting stress and anxiety and has been extensively used to treat depression and parkinson’s disease.
Jatamansi: Traditionally been used as a nervine tonic, Jatamansi is a sedative which is highly recommended to combat stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia and headaches. Latest clinical studies have also suggested its positive effects in treating degenerative diseases like alzheimer’s and parkinson’s.
Haridra: Curcumin, the main biological active phytochemical component of turmeric helps in modulating the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmission in the brain and helps in tackling depressive thoughts.
Shankhpushpi: A potent brain tonic, known to enhance memory, reduce stress, and provide relaxation to the brain, shankhpushpi is also known to reduce the neurotoxicity, providing it with a tranquilizing and anti-depressant action.
Practicing meditation is highly recommended for patients suffering from depression as the techniques enable a person to focus on practices that relax the body and mind, lifting your mood and providing relief.
