Anxiety disorder is a type of mental illness which can stop a person from leading a normal life. Anxiety is usually a normal emotion of getting nervous about something that normally people don’t get nervous or scared of. It is often an emotion of serious nervousness and fear which are constant and this can be disabling. For example the fear that sets in before a stage performance or taking an exam. We don’t exactly know the cause of anxiety however it is a type of mental disorder which is result of combination of things like changes in your brain and stress in your environment sometimes in the genes too. Other reasons for this anxiety could be an unknown or known fear. It is also caused by a hyper-active body’s fear-processing system.
The constant pursuit of ‘more’ in our life, having more things, doing more work and achieving more success has resulted in more diseases and health menaces as well. Tension headache is one such health hazard that we keep experiencing so often. The real problem is not having occasional headaches; but the way we treat them. Popping a Disprin or Aspirin or any painkiller whenever headaches strikes won’t solve the problem; rather this is one habit that will make tension headaches recurring! That’s why it is important to understand Tension Headaches with respect to Ayurveda and cure it from within.
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder in which the patient experiences complete breakdown in relationship between his thoughts, emotions and behavior. It is characterized by hallucinations and delusion. Psychic stress and strain are primarily responsible for causing this disease which is again aggravated by irregular food intake and constipation. In this disease the patient is usually unable to sleep, talks and acts incoherently and often becomes violent.
Anxiety disorder is a type of mental illness which can stop a person from leading a normal life. Anxiety is usually a normal emotion of getting nervous about something that normal people don’t get nervous or scared of. It is often an emotion of serious nervousness and fear which are constant and this can be disabling. For example, the fear that sets in before a stage performance or taking an exam. We don’t exactly know the cause of anxiety however it is a type of mental disorder which is a result of a combination of things like changes in your brain and stress in your environment sometimes in the genes too. Other reasons for this anxiety could be an unknown or known fear. It is also caused by a hyper-active body’s fear-processing system.
Sometimes they are also known as panic attacks, where you think you can’t breathe or there is less air around, anxiety also is caused by phobias. It is also often termed as extreme apprehension or worry to a stressful situation. In today’s world Anxiety, stress and worry are a normal part of life and simply having some anxiety attacks or panic attacks don’t mean you need medications or psychiatrists. However, you could consult a physician if these attacks persist, but they could subside if you take care of your mental health and the stress that you take. You could also control these attacks by conditioning your brain and emotions in such a way that you don’t get anxious for things that scare you.
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Causes of Anxiety
Excess of sleep and appetite.
Carbohydrate craving (i.e. a strong desire to eat junk food like pizzas, pastries, burgers, etc.)
Psychosocial retardation: – Leiden paralysis (slow paralysis) is also seen in it. The body appears like a wooden log.
Behaviour changes quickly and such young boys and girls are very emotional
Parents face a lot of struggles with these teenagers.
Such youths also pretend to get their point, which is called projection, it is more seen in high-level families.
Symptoms of anxiety
There is a feeling of tension and fear in a person suffering from anxiety and he maintains distance from people around them. He loves to be alone and remain sad by bringing negative thoughts in mind.
Shortness of breath, breathlessness, and sleepiness
There are negative thoughts all the time in mind
Headache and not doing work
Diarrhea, fever
The mouth becomes dry and the person becomes unconscious.
Types of Anxiety
According to modern point of view anxiety is divided into three categories:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: People who had traumatic experiences in the past are more vulnerable to anxiety disorders. Their anxiety gets triggered on any events which may be identical to the ones that resulted in the traumatic event. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is the anxiety caused by re-experiencing of ordeal like childhood trauma, military combat, natural and unnatural disasters.
Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder: People suffering from this kind of anxiety are stuck in repetitive unconscious thoughts and behavior. If left untreated these could result in disabling a person’s capacity to work at any place. An example of OCD: – obsessively cleaning a house, checking the lock repeatedly, etc.
Panic Disorder: This anxiety is identified to be accompanied by breathlessness, chest pain, and heart palpitations accompanied by fear. People suffering from this anxiety will have a severe phobia of certain things.
Ayurvedic View of Anxiety
According to Ayurveda, anxiety is caused due to imbalance of Vata dosha in the human body. When Vata dosha gets imbalanced, it gets accumulated in the nervous system and the person experiences increased anxiety in the form of insomnia, a restless mind, nervousness, panic and fearful thoughts.
The reason behind the anxiety disorder is Pragya Apradh. Pragya apradh is defined as the unhealthy adaptation of physical and mental things that leads to mental imbalance. The improper diet and lifestyle leads to the disturbed state of mind and causes negative feelings to overwhelm the mind. This causes the obstruction of Manovaha Srotas which leads to the imbalance of Vata dosha and hence causes the anxiety disorder.
The following Ayurvedic formulations are used in anxiety disorder:
Ashwagandharishta
Balarishta
Saraswatarishta
Ahwagandha Churna
Vacha Churna
Jatamnasi Churna
Brahmi Ghrit
Puran Ghrit
Smriti Sagar Rasa
Brahma Rasayana
Manas Mitra Gutika
Following single herbs are found to be useful in anxiety disorder:
Ashwagandha
Vacha
Jyotishmati
Shankhapushpi
Tagara
Jatamansi
Brahmi
Haritaki
Amalaki
Ayurvedic home remedies for anxiety
Orange
Take 1 teaspoon orange oil and lavender oil. Mix the two oils together and heat them slightly. Then apply it on the head and massage it well. Orange oil can relieve you from anxiety and stress. Due to the medicinal properties found in this oil, it can be used as a home remedy for many diseases. Orange oil serves as aromatherapy. Its aroma serves to freshen the mood, which can relieve anxiety
Nutmeg
Take half a teaspoon nutmeg powder and oil. Smelling nutmeg oil can also improve mood. Use it as a spice for lunch and dinner. Nutmeg powder works to increase the taste of food and keep you healthy. It can be used to relieve the symptoms of mental anxiety. Nutmeg has antioxidant properties, which can serve to relieve anxiety. Therefore, it can be said that nutmeg can be treated with panic.
Almonds
Take Almond oil, Lavender oil, Michelea Alba Leaf Oil. Mix all the oils together. Then apply it on the head and massage it well. Oil massage has been considered the best for treating anxiety. Mixing almond oil, lavender oil, Micheleia alba leaf oil, and applying it can relieve anxiety. Its combination produces anti-anxiety effects, which can help you to measure nervousness
Spinach
Take Fresh green spinach. Grind the spinach in a mixer and make juice. Then drink it. Spinach can also be eaten as a vegetable. You can drink up to 1 glass of juice per day. You can also eat a cup of vegetables daily. Spinach intake is considered useful for physical and mental health. It has anti-stress and antidepressant effects, which help you to remain stress-free. The calories in it work by reducing the amount of corticosterone (a type of hormone) in the blood. This helps in relieving stress. Therefore, spinach should be consumed to relieve anxiety
Avocado
Take Avocado oil. Massage the scalp with avocado oil. You can also eat avocado fruit. You can consume it daily in the morning and massage the scalp with its oil at night. Avocado fruit has some properties that can help relieve anxiety. Avocado contains vitamin B, which helps relieve anxiety. In addition, avocado also contains serotonin (a type of neurotransmitter) and dopamine (a type of hormone and neurotransmitter) that can improve mood
Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea has been used as a medicine for a long time due to its medical and curative properties. Its anti-inflammatory and calming properties help you in treating nervousness, as well as help, keep the nerves calm. In addition, some elements present in chamomile bind to receptors in the brain like valium. To make chamomile tea, mix two teaspoons of dried chamomile in a cup of water and boil it well. Then add a teaspoon of honey to it. Take this hot tea three times a day. It keeps the brain cool and also boosts your immune system.
L-thienine or green tea
Green tea is widely known for its antioxidant properties and health benefits. L-thienine is an amino acid in green tea. Researchers have shown that L-thienine helps curb increased heart rate and blood pressure, and according to some human studies, it also helps you reduce anxiety. According to one study, taking 200 mg of L-thienine gave the test a much calmer and more focused test on the subject of anxiety during the test.
Ayurveda anxiety relief methods
Laugh openly – Stress or anxiety can be the cause of anything, but you should always be happy to avoid it. Laughing openly reduces anxiety about anything. It can also be seen to have a good effect on mental health
Exercise – Morning and Evening Walk, Jogging, and Exercise can help keep you worry-free. A short walk in the open air daily helps in relieving stress
Meditation – Meditation focuses the mind on an object or thought. It can provide peace of mind and emotions. Meditation, like yoga, triggers neurotransmitters, which help control anxiety symptoms
Adequate sleep – Getting good sleep keeps you away from irritability and stress. It also helps to eliminate anxiety. Therefore, adequate sleep should be taken
Deep breathing – When we are under more stress, we close our eyes and take deep breaths. This relieves stress. By taking deep breaths, there is a proper flow of energy in the body, which also works to keep you worry-free
Use of essential oil – Massaging with oil to relieve anxiety and stress has been going on for years. The essential oil can be considered the best for this. It works to make you sleep-free along with worry-free.
Healthy diet – A healthy diet does not only affect the body, but it also improves your mental health. It also works to remove anxiety. One study stated that a high intake of raw fruits and vegetables benefits mental health.
Away from smoking – Smoking can cause cancer for you. It may also cause stress and anxiety for you. All of this is due to the nicotine present in cigarette smoke, which can make your mental health completely.
This syrup maintains the overall activity of the brain. As the herbs used for the preparation of this syrup are Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis), Dhania (Coriandrum sativum), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Saunf (Foeniculum vulgare), etc. These all act as a mind relaxant. It is the best Ayurvedic medicine for anxiety. The use of this syrup provides good results to the dementia patient. This syrup has the best memory boosting power and helps in increasing the blood flow to the brain. It is used as an antioxidant that increases the retention power
Recommended Dosage: Take 2 teaspoonfuls twice daily.
2. Tagaradi Churna:
Tagar (Valeriana wallichii) is the main ingredient used for the preparation of this churna. This churna is very beneficial in neurological, psychological, and digestive disorders. In low dosage, it calms the mind, strengthens the nerves, and prevents convulsions. It improves the strength of the heart muscles and helps in reducing the blood pressure. It is the best Vata and Kapha pacifier churna. Tagaradi churna improves the quality of sleep and induces sound sleep. It elevates the mood and helps the patients in reducing stress and mood disorders. It is the best Ayurvedic treatment for anxiety.
Recommended Dosage: Take 1 teaspoonful twice a day with normal water.
Rasayan vati is herbo-mineral Ayurvedic formulation which is the best tablet in anxiety which contains various herbs such as Aswagandha, Shilajeet, Amla, Musali, Shatavar, Brahmi, Abhrak Bhasam, Mukta pisti, Praval pisti, , Kaunch Beej, Saunth, Mirch, Brahmi, etc. These ingredients show antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, immune-modulator properties. These tablets provide good results in General debility, Psychological disorders, and improves immunity.
Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) is considered the best anti- anxiety medicine and the best herb for neurological disorders. In the preparation of Brahmi vati the main ingredient is Brahmi that makes coordination between the neurons and supports mental clarity. These herbal tablets maintain the overall activity of the brain, relieve stress, and relax the mind.
Recommended Dosage: Take 2 capsules twice daily.
5. Brain relaxant churna:
This churna is a pure Ayurvedic preparation that contains Amla (Emlica officinalis), Sonth (Zingiber officinale), Pippali (Piper longum), Marich (Piper nigrum), Haldi (Curcuma longa), Bala (Sida cordifolia), Suddha gandhak, Lauha bhasma, etc. It is mainly used for the treatment of psychiatric conditions, speech problems, to improve intelligence and also beneficial in sleep disturbances, panic attacks, phobia, and relieves stress. It is one of the best Ayurvedic medicines for depression.
Recommended Dosage: Take 1 tablespoonful twice daily.
6. Stress care tablet:
Stress care tablets are pure herbal formulation considered as best Ayurvedic tablet for stress prepared from ingredients like Sarpgandha (Rauwolfia serpentine), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Jatamansi (Nardostacys jatamansi). The herbs used for the formulation of these tablets show antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-stress, anti-depressant, & immune-modulator properties. These herbal tablets give good results in Stress, Depression, Anxiety, All neurological disorders, Increases intelligence, and Improves memory.
A slееp disordеr is a condition that frеquеntly impacts your ability to gеt еnough quality slееp. Whilе it’s normal to occasionallyеxpеriеncе difficultiеs slееping, it’s not normal to rеgularly havе problеms gеtting to slееp at night, to wakе up fееling еxhaustеd, or to fееl slееpy during thе day.
Frеquеntly having troublе slееping can bе a frustrating and dеbilitating еxpеriеncе. Onе slееps badly at night which lеavеs onе fееling dеad-tirеd in thе morning and whatеvеr еnеrgy onе has quickly drains away throughout thе day. But thеn, no mattеr how еxhaustеd onеfееls at night, onеstill has troublе slееping.And so thе cyclе bеgins again, taking a sеrious toll on onе’s mood, еnеrgy, еfficiеncy, and ability to handlе strеss.
Vidarikand (Pueraria tuberosa) is a creeper which has circular leafless stems. It is commonly found around the canals and rivers and in the lower hills of Himalayas at the height of 3000 ft. Underground fruits are found attached to its roots. Fruits vary in shape and size and its taste is very similar to that of madhuyashti. This is why it is known as swadu kand (tasty fruit). This creeper is favorites to horses and hence is commonly known as gaj vajipriya. Its fresh fruits are sold in the markets as sural. Its another substitute, known as ipomea paniculata is found. When cut, good amount of pungent and sour liquid oozes out of it.
Prishta means complete back region. Prishta Vasti is a procedure where medicated oil is retained over back region for a specific period of time. It is mainly indicated for the diseases related to whole spine.
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PROCEDURE
The patient is made to lie on the massage table. The dough which is prepared by using wheat flour or black gram is placed over the whole vertebral column. Lukewarm medicated oil is poured into it and is made to stay for some time. When the oil gets cooled, it is squeezed out using a cotton swab and warm medicated oil is again poured into it. This step is repeated for about 5-6 times. The procedure lasts for about half an hour. After the treatment is over, the oil is removed along with the dough and gentle abhyanga or massage with the same oil is done over the vertebral column for the better absorption of the oil. The patient is advised to take rest for a while.
The waist area of the body is called Kati and holding warm medicated ayurvedic oils on the affected area is called Vasti. Kati vasti is a highly effective treatment to alleviate stress, pain or swelling in the lower back wherein warm medicated oil is poured into an enclosed area of the waist created with a bridge of dough.
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PROCEDURE
Firstly the patient is asked to lie face down on the bed or massage table. Medicated oil is locally applied around the lumbo-sacral region and then a reservoir made of black gram or wheat flour dough is built around the area. Making sure that it is leak proof, lukewarm medicated oil is slowly poured into it. When the oil starts to cool down, it is squeezed out using cotton and more warm oil is poured in it. The oil is kept for around 30 minutes.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in every cell of the body. Its natural function is to help in digesting foods and generating vitamin D. the body also uses the substance to protect nerves, make cell tissues and produce certain kinds of hormones. Usually the cholesterol produced by the liver is enough to fulfil its essential functions; however the body also gets direct cholesterol from dietary sources such as poultry, eggs, fish and dairy products. Plant based food products contain s no cholesterol. Therefore too much cholesterol can have negative impact on one’s health.
Liver regulates the cholesterol content in the bloodstream. Cholesterol from the food is absorbed from the small intestine and metabolized to be stored in the liver. The liver then accordingly produces cholesterol according to the needs of the body. Presence of too much cholesterol can cause the walls of the arteries to narrow due to build-up of deposits.
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) trees are quite tall and are quite popular. These are dense and proving shade, that’s why these are grown along the roadsides. Tamarind is quite a common tree.
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PROPERTIES
Unripe tamarind it is bitter and heavy and cures gas formation it cures pitta cough and blood disorders.
RIPE TAMARIND
Promotes digestive functions it is dry and purgative it is hot and cures kapha and vata.
SEEDS
Cure urinary disorders have binding properties enhance and maintain potency.