Cart 0
Ayurvedic Treatment for Depression: Natural Path to Calm Mind and Balanced Emotions
Managing Depression Naturally: The Ayurvedic Way to Emotional Balance
Depression and anxiety have become issues that we face every day, in our fast paced living. Modern medicine typically relies on finding fast ways to feel better, while Ayurveda looks for deeper healing. Ayurveda focuses on bringing balance back to the mind, body, and spirit in a more natural way. Ayurveda aims to restore balance within the doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. When a person feels mental distress, victorious, or is seeking internal peace, Ayurveda can create a state of balance for them.
If you’re hoping to manage stress, anxiety, or depression in a natural way, Ayurvedic treatment can be effective with use of herbs, lifestyle change, and holistic healing.
Understanding Depression in Ayurveda Terms
According to Ayurveda, depression is not just a mental or emotional issue , depression is a natural imbalance in the body. Each human has a constitution, or Prakriti, which is made of three doshas that regulate the human body’s health:
- Vata (air, space) – a dosha that is responsible for movement, creativity and mental activity. Internally balanced, Vata from achieving these aspects helps the human body. However, imbalances from Vata can cause feelings of fear, restlessness, and overthinking.
- Pitta (fire, water) – is responsible for digestion and transformation of what we consume. A Pitta imbalance can lead to irritability, anger, and frustration.
- Kapha (earth, water) – provides stability and calmness to an individual’s constitution. An imbalance that is too great may lead to lethargy, sadness, and lack of motivation.
Overall, the main source of depression and anxiety is thought to be from disorders of the two main doshas, Vata and Kapha.
Causes of Depression from an Ayurvedic Perspective
Ayurveda takes a deeper view beyond just the symptoms to identify the root cause that disrupts balance of mind:
- Unhealthy Lifestyle: Irregular eating, sleeping, or working, etc., disrupts the mental balance.
- Suppressed feelings: Any sadness, anger or guilt that you have not addressed can weigh heavily on the mind.
- Absence of Rhythm: When you have no rhythm in your daily life, your thoughts and feelings will not be stable.
- Improper nutrition: Too much caffeine, too much processed food and not enough proper nourishment will create fog and mood.
- Stress and Overwork: Constant stress causes the depletion of Ojas, which are the life essence of the body responsible for mental fortitude and immune health.
Ayurvedic healing will restore the balance of all of this through herbs, lifestyle, and mindfulness.
Herbs for healing depression
Several herbs classified as Medhya Rasayanas (mind rejuvenators) have historically been used to support overall well-being, emotional clarity and resilience. DayZen by OJVVN is one such formulation that combines these unique and powerful herbs to help with natural mood balance.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Ashwagandha is among Ayurveda’s most appreciated adaptogens. Unlike other supplements during the evening, ashwagandha also lowers your body’s stress hormone—cortisol—and increases your resilience to anxiety and fatigue, while promoting energy and concentration. It also supports sleep and emotional wellness by quieting an overactive mind.
Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)
Brahmi is a powerhouse for memory enhancement and supporting functioning of your brain. It calms the nervous system, aids in attention span, as well as restlessness associated with the mind. Simply put, it provides clarity and calm.
Mandukaparni (Centella asiatica)
Mandukaparni, or Gotu kola, supports blood flow through to the brain, helping with the tired, foggy head and even mood. This can be especially useful for individuals undergoing chronic stress or who struggle to find motivation.
Jyotishmati (Celastrus paniculatus)
Jyotishmati is described as a natural tonic for the brain, helping toward alertness and concentration, in addition to supporting balance with neurotransmitters for an uplifted mood—offering no sedative effect.
Shankhapushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis)
As the name describes, shankhapushpi is a natural tranquilizer used in Ayurveda. It calms the mind, reduces racing thoughts, and supports a restful night’s sleep—also to support people experiencing anxiety in conjunction with their depression.
Tagar (Valeriana wallichii)
To prompt the symptoms of irritability, agitation, and mental fatigue, tagar is helpful in promoting feelings of relaxation and helps restore a balanced emotional state, particularly during times of stress.
Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Also known as Licorice root, Yashtimadhu is an herb that nourishes the adrenal glands, reduces mental fatigue, and assists the body with adapting to emotional stress.
Pippali (Piper longum)
Pippali is an herb that helps absorb other herbs and tonifies the nervous system, including the digestive system, which is also important for mood and energy in Ayurveda.
Together, these herbs provide wholesome and natural assistance for low mood, irritability, or prolonged stress.
How Ayurveda Treats Depression
Ayurveda is concerned with balancing both the mind (Manas) and body (Sharira). With some herbal remedies, dietary recommendations, and your daily routines, Ayurveda can facilitate deep healing.
- Balancing the Doshas: With Ayurveda, the first step is to determine if Vata, Pitta, or Kapha is predominant to create a personalized treatment plan to restore balance.
- Cleansing (Panchakarma): Detoxification therapies remove toxins (Ama) that compromise mental clarity.
- Rejuvenation (Rasayana): Herbs like ashwagandha and Brahmi can be used to regenerate mental resolve.
- Mind-Quieting Techniques: The specific recommendations of Yoga, Pranayama, and meditation are often prescribed to calm the internal dialogue.
- Sattvic diet: A diet rich in fresh fruits, easy to digest foods like whole grains, and herbal teas, are a way to keep the body feeling light, and the mind feeling content.
With Ayurveda’s multidimensional approach, the root cause of depression can be addressed, not just the symptoms.
Daily Routine for Supporting Emotional Balance
A primary difference between Ayurveda and western medicine is Ayurveda’s emphasis on Dinacharya (daily routine) to maintain a healthy mind: Wake up early before dawn, and meditate or breathe deep
- Drink warm water to detoxify your system
- Eat fresh fruits, whole grains, and warm herbal teas
- Avoid excess caffeine, processed foods, and not eating after dark
- Get some light exercise or yoga daily
- Go to bed at the same time daily
These small steps can result in a large contribution to emotional stability and energy.
Lifestyle and Mindfulness Suggestions
- Abhyanga (Self Massage): Massage some warm sesame or Brahmi oil on your body prior to bathing for a calming effect on the nervous system.
- Aromatherapy: Using essential oils like sandalwood, rose, and lavender for aromatherapy can provide a natural lift in mood.
- Digital detox: Reduce screen time, and especially screen time before going to bed.
- Journaling: Writing positive thoughts or gratitude journaling can help release emotional tension.
When these practices are done consistently, they provide a nice complement for long-term relief along with herbal support.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the optimal Ayurvedic treatment for depression?
A combination of herbs such as Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Shankhapushpi and Mandukaparni in addition to meditation and an overall balance in lifestyle makes the optimal Ayurvedic treatment for depression.
2. Can ayurvedic medicine address stress and anxiety?
Yes. Many herbs such as Ashwagandha and Tagar have been shown to help lower cortisol levels and settle the nervous system, thus providing natural relief from stress and anxiety.
3. How long does it take to see results from ayurvedic treatment?
Results vary by person. However, with regular use and a few adjustments along with lifestyle, improvements can be noticeable in as little as 2 to 4 weeks.
4. Are there side effects to ayurvedic medicines for depression?
Provided the recommended dose is followed and under a doctor’s guidance ayurvedic formulations are generally recognized to be safe and non-habit forming.
5. Can I take my ayurvedic medicine with allopathic antidepressants?
In cases of combining herbal / ayurvedic medicine with prescription medication, a qualified doctor of Ayurveda should always be consulted.
Ojvvn’s DayZen: Natural Support for Emotional Balance
DayZen by OJVVN is a balanced Ayurvedic formulation that can restore emotional balance naturally. Using trusted Ayurvedic herbs like Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Shankhapushpi, and Mandukaparni, DayZen helps reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance a state of calm positivity.
By adding DayZen into your daily routine (alongside a well-balanced diet and mindfulness exercises), you can experience deeper calm, clarity, and renewed mental energy—naturally.
For Ojvvn’s complete offerings in Ayurvedic wellness products, visit ojvvn.com