Introduction
Our mind is the pivotal organ guiding our actions and reactions. It's the essence of our being, shaping our path in the complex game of survival. True health isn't just physical; it includes mental well-being. Mental issues can manifest as physical ailments like headaches, fatigue, anxiety, or digestive problems. It's all interconnected. When the mind isn't stable, life can become challenging. Ayurveda recognizes this deep connection between mental and physical health.
Health as per Ayurveda
A person with a precise balance of mental, body, and spiritual health is called a “Swasth” or healthy person in Ayurveda. This can be achieved by balancing:
Tridoshas-The three pedestals of the body that regulate our entire health. They are made out of Panchamahabhootas or 5 basic elements of life, and an imbalance of these doshas can create havoc on our entire being. The Tridoshas consist of:
1.Vata
2. Pitta
3.Kapha
Trigunas
Mental health is directly associated with the Trigunas. Satva, Rajas, and Tamas define the character or “Tatva” of a person. Satva guna is the combination of all that is good and pure–self-control, knowledge, and will to determine right and wrong in life. Whereas Rajas guna is known to be in motion, violent, envious, authoritative, desirous, and a bit confused. Then there is Tamas whose traits are being dull, inactive, lazy, sleepy, or drowsy. That is the simple reason that Rajas and Tamas are known negatively as Manodoshas. The imbalance of Trigunas is responsible for mental health disorders, known as Manovikara, and the best thing for ideal mental health is increasing the Satva guna.
Saptadhatus- Plasma, Blood, Muscle, Fat, Bone, Bone Marrow, and Reproductive tissues. These are the elements or constituents of our body.
Trimalas- The excretion of toxins from our body is done in three ways- Urine, Feces, and Sweat. These are very important from an Ayurvedic point of view as the presence of toxins in our body can cause a plethora of diseases. Moreover, Trimalas can help to diagnose issues in our bodies.
How to enhance Mental health:
Increasing Satva
Satva is the purest and most beneficial of all Gunas and our mind and body are in a state of bliss when Satva guna is ideal. This is the energy required to attain Moksha from this karmic cycle. Thus our food, thoughts, and lifestyle should be Satvic. Satvik food is fresh, natural, and easy to digest. It should not be overly spiced and must include lots of vegetables and fruits. Consuming grains and pulses should be considered and packed, processed, and junk food should be avoided. Refined sugar, all-purpose flour, and table salt should also be excluded from your diet. Instead, use Smartveda Jamun honey/desi Khand/jaggery as sweeteners. Additionally, opt for black salt or rock salt in place of table salt, and whole wheat flour instead of Maida.
Meditation and Yoga
Lord Shiva has many names, one of which is Adiyogi, which translates to the first yogi. A sacred scripture named ‘Vigyan Bhairav Tantra’, is a dialogue between Mahadev and Mata Parvati, in which he explains to her the 112 yogic meditations for liberation from this Maya. You can perform many of them and see the benefits for which it is a worldwide phenomenon. Regular yoga practice and meditating can relieve stress, anxiety, and depression along with enhancing emotional quotient, attention span, and anger control. The benefits of physical being is a bonus.
Sadvrutta
It is the collective practice that can alter our cognitive base. These practices include self-analysis(not a guilt trip but reflection), patience, regular exercise, and meditation, basically a healthy routine. These nurture resilience hence also cultivating hobbies, creativity, and gratitude journaling. Preventing health disorders and restoring balance
The Trident
Ideal health includes three basic requirements, a nutritious diet, proper sleep, and a balanced lifestyle. Managing digestive and metabolic fire is the key to attaining Dosha balance for mental and physical wellbeing. Try to align with natural harmonies such as season and environment. Each season distinctly affects each dosha. This also applies to our mental health such as winter is known to increase Kapha-related depression. Furthermore, our environment also influences our mental health such as our company and social circle or the place we live in.
Herbs and tonics
Medhya Rasayana, or brain tonics, boost immunity and provide essential nutrients. Ingredients like Brahmi, Amalaki, Ashwagandha, and more play a crucial role. Consult an Ayurvedic doctor before using herbs or tonics. In the Vedas, service to humanity is considered holy. Volunteering is incredibly satisfying, fostering a sense of oneness and selflessness.
Social health
Ever wondered why isolating a person can severely disturb their mental and physical state? As I said before, it’s all connected. We, humans, are social beings. Thus it is important to nurture relationships and be socially connected. But you should not tolerate toxic behavior by anyone, and effectively remove toxic people from your life. Nobody is worth your mental health.
Conclusion
Today around 1 out of 5 children have a mental disorder. 44% of grownups are receiving treatment for their diagnosed mental issues. Moreover, a large number of people do not receive treatment because there is a fear among them of potential damage to their social image. And other people might start calling them mental or psycho. Although this insensitivity has started decreasing since the number of suicide cases because of mental problems is rising continuously. So there is a problem with our current lifestyle and habits but that does not mean we cannot have a healthy life. The application of our Vedic principles in life is the best solution that has liberated many lives to date. But it is not easy to inculcate our ancient knowledge with our modern stimulating lives. But if it was easy, there would be no diseases in this world.
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