According to Ayurveda, depression is predominantly a Vata imbalance, But, it may also show symptoms of Vata (space and air), Pitta (fire) or Kapha (water and earth) doshas. Vata dominates many emotions and in depression, there is the accumulation of emotional toxins known as Ama. So, our first aim would be to eliminate the toxins through a combination of diet and therapies.
Detox plan
- Sip ginger lemon tea in the morning after drinking a glass of warm water.
- Enjoy steamed vegetables and soups regularly; you could try mung bean soup.
- Take 1/2 tsp of grated ginger combined with, lemon juice, honey and black pepper, 15 minutes before meals.
- Drink plenty of herbal teas containing ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and fennel.
- Take Triphala (a blend of Amalaki, bibhitaki, and haritaki fruits) at bedtime.
- Avoid ‘faulty’ food combinations, like fruit and dairy and meat and dairy.
- Fast once a week, if otherwise healthy.
Therapies
- Follow the detox for a while, then treat yourself to these ayurvedic therapies, which will help to ease low moon:
- While body abhyanga oil massage
- Udvartana, an ayurvedic herbal scrub massage
- Ayurvedic abdominal massage
- Pinda Sveda: a warm herbal bolus/poultice treatment
Herbs
- The following botanicals are known in Ayurveda to help with symptoms of depression. Again, these herbs are best taken after the detox plan:
- Turmeric to get rid of any remaining toxins and give emotional strength.
- Brahmi (Bacopa monniera), a nerve tonic that will help towards calming and strengthening the mind.
- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) to alleviate anxiety and nervousness and induce a feeling of grounding.
Yoga
- Perform plenty of sun salutations followed by moon salutations.
- More dynamic yoga practice will help in this condition, so seek out relevant classes.
- Track meditation (candlelight meditation) rids the body of excess dry hear and helps the mind to be less active, encouraging you to sleep more soundly.
- Breathing exercises like kapalabhati followed by alternate nostril breathing are also very beneficial.
- Follow each yoga session with an ayurvedic oil therapy such as abhyanga or udvartana for best results.
Lifestyle
Before sleeping, try applying rose water to cotton pads and place over your eyes and rest of your face. This will help to relax you, get rid of excess heat and restlessness, and allow you to fall into a deep sleep.
Massaging your feet with warm sesame seed oil, then soaking them in hot water every night, is a simple technique that boosts relaxation a lot.
Make sure never to eat alone and always have company while consuming alcohol. Ayurveda has always said that when the mind is sad, the company of family and friends will help to get rid of emotional toxins, enabling you to talk and express your emotions.