Deal With Anxiety – Ayurveda Way

The mind, body, and spirit are intricately linked. Anxiety is a condition that originates in the brain, causing physiological changes similar to the stress response in the body. Ayurvedically speaking, anxiety is a dosha imbalance in which excess vata dosha accumulates in the nervous system.

Because we’re in the height of vata season, it’s a common time to experience greater anxiety in the form of sleeplessness, a restless mind, nervousness, panic and/or fearful thoughts. Ayurveda offers time-tested wisdom regarding lifestyle, diet, herbal remedies, yoga, meditation, and pranayama to help bring balance to the body and alleviate anxiety.

The belief of Ayurveda is that the body is born with an inherent wisdom to always return to a wholesome state of blissful mind, body, and soul. In the case of occasional stress, Ayurveda teaches the tools to achieve a natural, healthful life by identifying and removing the cause of the anxiety, whether it be a vata-aggravating lifestyle or diet, habitual negative thinking, or an unhealthy reaction to stress, and then balance the doshas within the body. The Ayurvedic approach to cultivating a sense of calm and well-being will be to balance vata dosha.

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric illnesses affecting children and adults. Just about one-third of those suffering from an anxiety disorder receive treatment, even though the disorders are highly treatable.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18% of the population. (Source: National Institute of Mental Health)

Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only about one-third of those suffering receive therapy.

Anxiety disorders cost the U.S. greater than $42 billion annually, nearly one-third of the country’s $148 billion total mental health bill, according to”The Economic Burden of Anxiety Disorders,” a study commissioned by ADAA (The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 60(7), July 1999).

The Way to Use Ayurveda for Anxiety

Although antidepressants are safe and effective for many individuals, they might be risky for kids, teenagers and young adults. A”black box” warning–the most serious sort of warning that a prescription can carry–has been added to the labels of antidepressants. Because of this, anyone taking an antidepressant should be monitored closely, particularly when they first start taking the medicine.

Shiro-Abhyanga: Head Massage with medicated oils

According to Ayurveda, abhyanga (self oil massage) is an important component of a data-pacifying routine. The Sanskrit term sneha can be translated as both”oil” and”love”. It is believed that the effects of abhyanga are similar to those received when one is saturated with love. Much like the experience of being loved, abhyanga can give a deep feeling of stability, security, and warmth. This clinic nourishes and strengthens the body, encourages regular sleep patterns, stimulates internal organs, enhances blood circulation, and can considerably reduce vata. To help reduce vata, Sesame Oil or coconut oil can be used.