Ayurveda and Mental Health

Check - FOOD FOR THOUGHT

HERBAL REMEDIES FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA

I would recommend the following products and herbal remedies for schizophrenia.

1. Memory Support

2. Brahmi Chawyanprash

3. Ashwagandha Capsules

Schizophrenia, from the Greek roots schizein (σχίζειν, "to split") and phrēn, phren- (φρήν, φρεν-, "mind"), is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental illness characterized by impairments in the perception or expression of reality, most commonly manifesting as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions or disorganized speech and thinking in the context of significant social or occupational dysfunction

According to Ayurveda "Pragya-Apradh" or crimes done by our intelligence are the reasons for all diseases. Diseases affecting our body are also caused by "Pragya-apradh"

The person who uses alcohol knows that it is damaging his liver but he still takes it. This is called crimes of our own intelligence against ourselves. A Diabetic patient knows it that Sugar intake will disturb his sugar levels but still he can't control his tongue. Our Intelligence tells us what is wrong and what is right but our mind is slave of our senses and befools the intelligence by giving very much logical excuses. The most intelligent people can give better excuses to fool the intelligence and to enjoy the pleasures of senses, that's why the most intelligent society is suffering from difficult to treat diseases like hypertension, diabetes, heart problems, cancers and metabolic diseases like Uric Acid, Disturbed Cholesterol Metabolism caused by stress, anxiety and wrong dietary habits.

According to Ayurveda, there are body types as well as mental types. People with High kapha have mental attributes like patience, slow decision makers, slow but steady thinkers,excess sleep, day sleep, day dream, attached to past, dull and lethargic, low drive/motivation, dependent, childish desire to be cared for.

High Pitta Mental attributes makes people ignorant, aggressive, loose temperament, very intelligent and decisive, highly ambitious and over confident, blame others; anger, aggression, ambition, see enemies everywhere, on guard ready for a fight, at war with oneself and one's past. Their risk taking ability is high. The tolerance is low.

The High Vata Mental personalities are quick thinkers, hasty decision makers- which can be right or wrong, learns quickly and forgets quickly, imaginative, creative, takes initiative immediately, other mental problems in Vata people are fear, anxiety, unrest, rapid mood shifts; insanity, Schizophrenia, Alzheimer's.

There are different mental solutions for various mental constitution types.

Various Remedies for Mind like Meditation, Breathing exercises (Pranayama), Memory enchancing herbs, Memory Boosting Natural and Ayurvedic Remedies help a lot in people suffering from mental ailments. The art of mind control also helps a lot.

The flow of Vata, Pitta and Kapha the Energies or the body may be disrupted, stagnate or move in the wrong direction, or block the channels, thus causing confusion, illusion, fear, negativity, etc. Hence, It is necessary to keep these channels clean and pure. Therapies for clearing these channels include herbs (e.g. Acorus calamus, Brahmi, Centella asiatica, Glycerrhiza, Tinospora, Celastrus, Ashwagandha, Jatamansi, Guggul,i) and aromatic oils and herbs (e.g. frankincense, cedar and myrrh).

Ayurveda sees psychological problems as imbalances of the internal energies- Vata-Pitta and Kapha which are interwoven into the whole of cosmic energy, not merely as physical problems. It thus treats the imbalance rather than focussing only on symptoms of the problem.

Ayurveda offers natural remedies for mental health which directly aim at the cause of all mental imbalances using therapies to heal from the elemental level.

Causes of mental illness: Many diverse reasons cause mental imbalance; emotional stress, trauma, poor upbringing, repressive religion, influence from disturbed individuals, sexual abuse or perversion, drugs, excess thinking.

All these actions are considered "impure", causing too much anger, hatred, fear, nervousness, worry, apathy, dullness, sleep; or finding inadequate time for peace, silence, or for heart-to-heart talks.

Remedies: It is Kali-Yuga (The worst ever era), so prayer, chanting of mantras, selfless service, forgiveness; all of which nourish the heart and act as natural means to bring blood pressure in balance as well as control the mind. Spread the message of peace, faith and love. It is also recommended to associate oneself with a spiritual tradition that is not dogmatic.

One should also improve on lifestyle. A "Satvic" lifestyle is pure lifestyle, which includes getting up early in "Bramh-Muhurat(4 am to 5 am), doing regular yoga, breathing exercises, meditation and chanting. Cultivate love, faith, self inquiry, or meditate on the Divine in a form dear to one's heart; performing service to those in need. An oil-head massage calms and nourishes the mind.

Massage of Oils like sandalwood, gotu kola, sesame, coconut, basil, myrrh, frankincense, sage and mint, all clear the sensory channels and promote perception. Application of oils to the neck and shoulders, relaxes nerves and gives a feeling of well being.

Shirodhara ( pouring down of medicated Oils ) is a procedure to calm down the stressed out nerves. The oils may contain decoction of herbs like calamus or gotu kola or brahmi. These herbs Nasya ( Nasal Drops) are also given to soothe mental activity. Medicated enemas are used for Vayu diseases, (adding sesame oil, and herbs of ashwagandha and haritaki).

Aromatherapy: (e.g. incense, oils, etc.) through sandalwood, camphor and cedar, cleanse psychic environment, Myrrh and frankincense remove negative thinking and purify the air. Rose and lotus calm and nourish the heart. Jasmine cleanses the emotions and increases love and compassion. Gardenia purifies heart. Helpful flowers to have around the house include aloe and basil.

Colors for Mental health: White- brings mental peace and purity. Blue creates feelings of peace and detachment. Gold develops discrimination. Green promotes harmony, balance and healing.

Gems for Mental health: Pearl or moonstone calms the emotions, emerald are for healing and balance; yellow brings wisdom; and red coral calms anger.

Herbs for Schizophrenia and Mental health : The best herbs for Schizophrenia and other mind conditions are are, gotu kola, calamus, basil, bhringaraj, jatamanshi, Shankapushpi, haritaki, sandalwood, ashwagandha and guggul. Pitta doshas take herbs with ghee; Vayus, with milk, and honey is used for Kapha doshas.

The best herbs for culturing the heart include Terminalia arjuna, shatavari, saffron, rose, lotus, licorice, in a milk decoction. We have discussed the Ayurvedic view of mental health, and various therapies it uses to restore balance by working from the elemental or causal level of the problem.

Meditative practices, herbs, colors, gems and aromas all promote healing and balance, bringing about a quicker recovery from mental illness.