Depression & Ayurved

Nowadays prevalence of depression is rising fastly due to the materialistic lifestyle of modern society. People are running behind worldly pleasures & thus missing the real satisfaction of human life. This is the main cause of various mental disorders like depression, anxiety. Ayurved has precisely mentioned the treatment of Manasa Roga (Mental disorders) in the topic of Achara Rasayana / Sadvrutta.

Prof. Dr. S. P. Sardeshmukh,

A.V.P., Ph.D. (Ayurved)
Dr. Vineeta V. Deshmukh,
M.D., Ph.D., Diploma Diet, PGDCR, M.A. (Sanskrit)

The word Ayurved is derived from 2 words – Ayu & Ved. Ayu means life & Ved means knowledge. Ayu (Life) is a constant & continuous conjunction of Body, Senses, Soul & Mind. Thus to achieve long & healthy life, wellbeing of all these 4 factors is essential.

Acharya Sushruta, one of the great experts & Sages of Ayurved, has described healthy person i.e. Swastha Purusha in an unique definition. Aperson whose 3 Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), 7 Dhatus (Rasa, Rakta, Mansa, Meda, Asthi, Majja, Shukra) & 3 Mala (Mutra, Purisha, Sweda) are in normal state; whose Agni (Digestive power) is functional well: whose Soul, Senses & Mind are cheerful is called as Swastha (Healthy person). This definition indicates that healthy state of a human being does not depend only on physical health but also on a mental health. Ayurved has given equal importance on physique & mind.

Mind is said to be Ubhayendriya ie Gnyanendriya (Sense organ) & Karmendriya (Motor organ) both. Mind is an essential element in the processes of grasping knowledge & in the process of doing action. Thus it is called as Ubhayendriya. It possess 1 Guna (Good quality) i.e. Satva & 2 Dosha (Harmful qualities) i.e. Raja & Tama. Raja & Tama in their imbalanced state become a cause of mental disorders. Depression is one of the commonest mental disorders which is termed as Dukhha (Sadness) in Ayurved. Acharya Charaka has clearly mentioned the cause of Depression – Dukhha as “Ishtasya Alabhat” ie. Not obtaining the things which one demands & “Labhat cha Anishtasya) i.e. Obtaining the things which one hates.

Charaka has also described various causes of Mental Disorders, collectively called as Dharaniya Vega (Natural urges which should be controlled) viz – Lobha (Greed), Shoka (Feeling of sadness due to loss of material & temporary things), Bhaya (Fear), Krodha (Anger), Maana (Over confidence), Nairlajya (Excessive boldness), Irsha (Possesive nature), Atiraga (Wish of repeatedly attracting towards a specific thing) & Abhidhya (Bad wishes towards others). Any of these causes lead to Depression.

Nowadays prevalence of depression is rising fastly due to the materialistic lifestyle of modern society. People are running behind worldly pleasures & thus missing the real satisfaction of human life. This is the main cause of various mental disorders like depression, anxiety.

Ayurved has precisely mentioned the treatment of Manasa Roga (Mental disorders) in the topic of Achara Rasayana / Sadvrutta. Achara Rasayana means following Ethical code of conduct which is beneficial for Rejuvenation of Mind & Body. It includes various rules & regulations about physical, mental & verbal actions. Physical rules include regulations essential to maintain physical health. E.g. One has to get up early morning which is the best time for meditation & study; one has to follow morning ablutions like brushing, passing urine & stool, bath; one has to perform family duties, professional duties & social duties honestly; one has to follow the ethical rules about sexual contact.

Giving respect to elderly persons, masters, teachers; maintaining healthy interpersonal relationship in all relations; avoiding greed are the examples of rules about mental actions.

Rules about verbal action include rules about verbal communication in society. E.g. To be a soft spoken, to speak true, to avoid criticism.

Ayurved has described 10 sins which have to be avoided in whole life.

Physical sins – Himsa (Violence), Steya (Theft), Anyathakama (Sexual intercourse with other’s wife / other woman)

Verbal sins – Paishunya (To criticize a person), Parusha Vachana (To have a harsh / unsympathetic word), Anruta Vachana (To speak lie), Sambhinnalapa (Irrelevant speech).

Mental sins – Vyapada (Bad thinking about other persons), Abhidya (Greed of getting other’s money), Druk Viparyaya (Disobeying spiritual preaching).

One who avoids these 10 sins, can prevent himself from Mental disorders.

Summarizing the topic, Depression is the mental disorder which can be compared with “Dukhha (Feeling of sadness)” described in Ayurved. Following ethical code of conduct; avoiding physical, verbal & mental sins & control our mind towards worldly pleasures are the 3 important tips of treating & preventing Depression.

Excessive sexual intercourse.