Ayurveda is probably not a therapy you may have heard of but, is in fact, over 3000 years old and originates from India. Ayurveda literally translates as “knowledge of life” or “art of living” and looks at the whole body, diet, lifestyle, yoga and teaches each individual that we all possess individual characteristics, physical and mental that are fixed, the moment of our conception and persist throughout our individual existence. By using Ayurveda a practitioner can help you make life changes that improve your long-term health according to your body and personality type. The three main types of person or “doshas” are VIta, Pita or Kapcha. each which relate to the elements of existence. A brief overview of each character is in this video below.
“…One’s constitution is expressed in terms of these three doshas. Most of us are bi-doshic: the one dosha that influences us most strongly is followed closely by a second dosha whose effect is almost as pronounced. The constitutional type is an expression of the organism’s energy-flow strategy, in all realms of existence.” ~ Dr. Robert E. Svoboda
What is Ayurveda?
“…Ayurveda, which continues to be one of the world’s most sophisticated and powerful mind-body health systems. More than a mere system of treating illness, Ayurveda is a science of life (Ayur = life, Veda = science or knowledge). It offers a body of wisdom designed to help people stay vibrant and healthy while realizing their full human potential…”
If you decide to have Ayurvedic therapy in your area, be prepared to talk about yourself.
For a trainedAyurpractitionerioner to be able to make a diagnosis of your personal situation they must examine all areas of your life emphasizes balance in all areas of your life. This could include an extensive personal and medical history, questions about daily diet, your profession and working conditions, exercise routines, relationships, and also your mental health.
Because the Ayurvedic diagnosis is so thorough it helps the practitioner identify key symptoms and potential causes of imbalance in your life and determine suitable treatment options. IN Ayurveda, no two treatments are ever the same as your treatment will be bespoke for your particular circumstance.
What to Expect From Ayurveda
In your therapy, the Ayurvedic practitioner uses a method called rogi-roga pareeksha, which combines disease analysis with deep examination of each individual in order to make a diagnosis.
Your therapist will consider the whole you, believing that people have within them the required energy to bring the body back to a healthy, or balanced, state.
So instead of simply focusing on a treatment or medicine to heal the illness, the Ayurvedic practitioner concentrates on the strategies that will strengthen the healthy elements inherent in everybody, which will, in turn, help the individual to recover from their particular situation.
This process is called svabhavoparamavada, and it refers to the Ayurvedic idea of helping the body call upon its own energy to heal.
Even though treatment and therapy aren’t the focus of an Ayurveda practitioner, treatments and medicines ARE a vital part of this process but act only as a support to aid the body’s self-healing qualities rather than be the reason for healing.
What Is The Difference Between Western Medicine and Ayurveda?
How Can Ayurveda Help Ease My Depression?
The Ayurvedic practitioner has a wide array of treatments and therapies at his/her disposal. Practitioners may include a variety of treatments in an individual’s dincharya (daily recommended routine) and ritucharya (seasonal routine). Below are typical treatments that an Ayurveda practitioner will suggest.
Ayuverda can help you:
- Herbs and herbal formulas – This ancient practice is key to Ayurvedic medicine, which teaches that the action and effectiveness of each herb is determined by its ras (taste), virya (active potency), and vipak (post-digestive effect). Thus the Ayurvedic administration of herbs is considered a precise science, requiring deep knowledge of plants and their effect on human physiology, biochemistry, and psychology. Ayurveda does not support the theory that herbs are benign and have no side effects.Thus, Ayurvedic herbs should only be prescribed by qualified practitioners.
- Panchakarma – his multi-step detoxification regimen is thought to remove ama(a toxin). The regimen includes massage, steam treatment, vamana (induced vomiting), virechana (use of prescribed herbal and oil-based laxatives) and basti(medicated enema), blood letting, and nasya (a nasal treatment). These treatments are followed by a strict dietary and herbal regimen, a rejuvenating therapy, and recommendations for daily routines. Note: this invasive procedure requires the supervision of a trained Ayurvedic practitioner; contraindications and side effects should be closely monitored.
- Diet and nutrition – Ayurvedic diet and nutrition practices are vital to healthy living, and are important components of treatment, recovery, and disease management. Dietary practices are tailored to each individual’s constitution, with six primary “tastes” forming the basis for practitioners’ recommendations.
- strong>Ayurvedic massage – These treatments are performed by trained therapists who work under the supervision of trained Ayurvedic practitioners. Oils are selected and prepared according to the practitioner’s specific diagnosis.
- Shirodhara – This special technique involves dripping medicated oil on the forehead, or “third eye region.” The type of medicated oil used, the number and length of treatments, and the duration of the overall therapy must be determined by an Ayurvedic practitioner and performed by a trained massage therapist under proper supervision.
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How Long Does It Take To Heal Depression With Ayurveda?
Ayurveda looks at ways of changing your lifestyle not just a simple medication and aims for long-term benefits rather than short-term gains thus, how long it takes will depend on varying lifestyle factors and changes that will be required to bring things in your life into balance. This treatment should be considered as a form of lifestyle change rather than something that will ‘fix you’ as soon as possible. Saying this, after several bespoke treatments you should begin to notice an improvement within a few months.
What If I feel Ayurveda Doesn’t Work For Me?
First of all, don’t worry!
If you think Ayurveda is the right therapy but you have the wrong therapist then you have every right to seek a second opinion and you will not offend your therapist, they just want you to heal from your difficulty as best you can and you deserve to feel better. If, on the other hand, you don’t feel psychotherapy is working at all then do not be disheartened, there are many, many different types of therapy to heal from depression and Ayurveda is only one. Use our therapy directory to find a different therapy, you may find hypnotherapy works better or possibly some psychotherapy treatment. The key is not to think this is your only option and simply find the right therapy for your particular needs.
Ayurveda For Depression
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Please note: This information should not replace professional medical advice, it is purely for informational purposes. At all times when you are in crisis please first seek help from your GP or another medical professional. Thankyou