AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR STRESS AND ANXIETY IN KERALA

Stress and anxiety are two major mental issues afflicting almost all age groups these days. Allopathic treatments may lead to dependence on medications. A better option is ayurvedic treatments for stress/anxiety in Kerala. The best stress/anxiety treatment in Cochin, at Sanjeevanam Ayurveda Hospital, includes the use of safe herbal medications, specific massages with suitable oils, a sattvic diet, daily practice of certain yoga poses and meditation as well as some breathing exercises aimed at calming the mind.

STRESS MANAGEMENT

Stress is a typical bodily response to change that causes physical, emotional, and cognitive reactions. While some stress is healthy and even beneficial, we now understand that excessive stress may be detrimental to one’s own well-being. Training in stress management might make it easier for you to adapt to change healthily. In Ayurveda, stress is referred to as sahasa. Sahasa makes the body more vulnerable to infections by causing ojahksaya (loss of immunity). The best method of treatment is to avoid stress, but in cases when this is not feasible, the body should be well protected by eating right and getting enough sleep, which refers to the body’s need for enough relaxation. Ayurveda is beneficial in managing day-to-day stress holistically with internal medicines, therapies and purification of body, mind and soul. Stress can be managed to an extent by regularly consuming a number of Ayurvedic herbs which have nourishing properties to improve the body’s ability to cope with day-to-day changes. Also, there are many treatments in Ayurveda like Shirodhara, Takradhara, Abhyangam , Nasya etc. which help in improving stress-related conditions, leading us into a more healthy state emotionally and physically. At Sanjeevanam, we have managed several patients affected by severe stress with our own customized treatment strategies.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STRESS

In day-to-day life, we meet with stress which is often good and helps us meet deadlines, save us from accidents in suddenly created situations or complete the topics while writing an exam. The most important thing is your approach to stress. You can feel distressed if a looming work deadline makes you anxious, worn out, and overwhelmed. On the other hand, if you are motivated and hopeful that meeting the deadline would advance your career, the stress you experience may be more beneficial.

Stress that is causing harm to our body starts creeping into the body and starts creating a disturbance in many ways. Like many of us in today’s demanding society, if you frequently experience stress, your body can be in a chronically elevated state of stress most of the time. And that may result in critical health issues. Nearly every mechanism in your body is disrupted by persistent stress. It can weaken your immune system, wreak havoc on your reproductive and digestive systems, boost your risk of heart attack and stroke, and hasten the ageing process. It may even change the way your brain is wired, making you more susceptible to mental health issues like melancholy and anxiety.

Many times we get used to stress and are not aware of the damage it is causing us. One should be aware of common signs and symptoms of stress.

Physical symptoms showing that you are stressed

Many bodily impacts may result from the hormones that our systems released in response to stressful events. Possible outcomes could include:

trouble breathing
Fear strikes
blurry vision or itchy eyes
issues with sleep
Fatigue
headaches and muscle aches
Pain in the chest and high blood pressure
bloating or heartburn
diarrhoea or indigestion
feeling queasy, lightheaded, or dizzy
Unexpected weight increase or loss
acquiring skin rashes or itching
Sweating
alterations to your menstrual cycle or period
Issues with one’s current physical health going downhill

Cognitive difficulties related to stress

Difficulty in concentrating
Memory problems
Judgement issues
Reduced sleep

Emotional symptoms related to stress

Feeling depressed/sad/negative all the time
Increased anxiety/worry
Increased irritatability/anger
Feeling of loneliness/isolation
Other mental or emotional health problems

CAUSES OF STRESS

Everyone in their life meets some or other episodes of stress. Stress can occur due to several factors. Out of all stresses work stress stands at the top most in the list of stress. Life stress like an illness, traumatic events in life like the death of a loved one, or divorce also creates difficulty in persons. Sometimes even events that create happiness like marriage, work promotion etc. also can contribute to stress.

In general stress can be due to following factors.

Fear/Uncertainty-
Many times fear is the real culprit that affects stress. Fear of losing jobs when one is under pressure, puts one to stress. Fear of a terrorist attack/ disaster/ illness all these can inject stress into the mind of everyone. Even when such chances are low when such things are spoken frequently, it can put one to stress.

Your attitude/Perception.
Many times it is your attitude that creates stress. People who think negative of everything are more prone to stress compared to positive thinkers.

Change in life situations
Even joyous events like getting married or getting promoted at work can be stressful major life changes. Worse occurrences like divorce, huge financial setbacks, or death in the family can be major sources of stress.

Unrealistic Expectations
When you have higher expectations and when we are not able to meet that it creates a lot of stress in people.

STRESS VS ANXIETY

Both stress and anxiety are the body’s natural responses when a fight-or-flight situation happens. Stress hormones are released by the body when a person feels threatened. The heart beats more quickly as a result of stress hormones, pushing more blood to the limbs and organs.

This reaction enables someone to be prepared to either fight or flee. Moreover, they breathe more quickly, and their blood pressure rises. A person’s perceptions sharpen at the same time that their body sends nutrients into the blood to give all of its parts the energy they require.

Stress is the term used by professionals to describe this extremely rapid process. The body’s reaction to stress is anxiety. Due to anxiety, the patient may have cognitive, behavioural and emotional difficulties.

The major difference between stress and anxiety lies in its time to resolve. Stress happens with a particular situation say, an exam or inspection in your office. It resolves after such a situation is over. But anxiety persists all throughout, does not need a particular factor, do not resolve after stress factor.

WHEN SHOULD YOU SEE A DOCTOR STRESS MANAGEMENT

It is best to consult a mental health expert whenever stress or anxiety begins to interfere with your daily activities. You should get help if your stress is significantly impacting your performance at work or school or if you are finding it difficult to handle daily life. You might notice a shift in your eating or sleeping patterns, experience physical discomfort or come to feel withdrawn. They indicate that your stress level is too high.

You can still benefit from counselling even if you don’t have a particular mental health issue, so remember that. Even if you don’t fit the diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder, a trained therapist can assist you in identifying possible triggers and developing efficient coping techniques to lessen their impact.

Also, it is wise to seek help if stress or anxiety makes you feel hopeless or if you begin to consider harming yourself or others.

AYURVEDA TO MANAGE STRESS AND ANXIETY

In Ayurveda, stress is considered as vata pittaja vikara.
There are two ways to reduce stress.

01

To prevent stress-inducing and dosa-vitiating stimuli;

In terms of logic, the best course of action is to address the underlying issue and prevent stress-inducing stimuli. This is a particularly effective tactic in stress management. Yet, stress is an unavoidable part of success in today’s world of intense competition. This stress is justifiable due to the results it produces as well, but the illnesses it causes cannot be tolerated. Hence, even while avoiding stress is the best course of action, it is not the best tactic, and stress needs to be controlled by enhancing the body’s capacity to adapt to stress.

02

To improve the body’s ability to cope.

The body’s ability to cope can be improved through dietary changes, lifestyle changes, and/or pharmacological therapy, all of which are well-organized under the rubric of rasayana therapy.

LIFE STYLE MODIFICATION

This can brought about by Ayurveda. Ayurveda advises dinacharaya and rithucharya, daily habits which are to be done to keep yourselves healthy. It is advised to wake up at Brahma muhurta(early morning) to keep your body healthy. Ayurveda advises one to avoid staying awake at night or sleeping in the daytime. All these create imbalances in your body, deteriorating your health.

Shodhana karma(Detoxification)

In addition to healthy habits doshic imbalances happen to the body with seasonal changes and changes related to lifestyle. In that case, Ayurveda advises patients with shodana therapies which can be done depending on the type of dosha aggravation.

Vamana is done for removing aggravated kapha dosha
Virecana done for eliminating pitta dosha
Vasti for pacifying vata dosha
Nasya done for removing doshas from shiras
Raktamoksha for removing the vitiated rakta out of the body.

Shodhana therapies are preceded by Snehana and sweda therapies which are extremely essential to pull the vitiated doshas out of the body and keep one healthy.

Soothening therapies

There are many soothing therapies which are done to relieve anxiety and stress. The treatments are selected by the physician depending on requirements after a detailed evaluation of doshic status and other factors of the patient. It will improve your sleep, create better well-being and slowly improve productivity and quality of life. Some examples of such therapies are abhyanga, shirodhra, kayasekam, annalepanam etc.

Internal medicines.

Ayurveda offers a variety of medicines which can combat stress and bring good health. In several experimental and clinical trials, some rasayana plants used as antistress medicines have demonstrated antioxidant, immunomodulator, hepatoprotective, antidepressant, and anxiolytic properties. Aswaganda choornam, Shankupushpi rasayana, Manasamitra vatakam, kalyanakam gritham etc. are examples of commonly used ayurvedic stress relieving medicine. These medicines are free of side effects to avoid the possibility of addiction.

Ayurveda diet

Diet according to the body constitution requirements of health needs of the patient there will be changes in quantity and type of diet. At Sanjeevanam, hence we offer a customised diet pattern to avoid major risks of stress, preventing our patients from getting lifestyle disorders in the future.

YOGA TO REDUCE STRESS 

Yoga is one of the most effective stress-reduction techniques. When faced with a stressful circumstance, a systematic practice of particular yoga poses can assure mental well-being as well as physical benefits. If you are new to yoga, here are some simple yoga poses that may be done quickly to relieve stress.

Sukhasana

This yoga stance, also known as Easy Pose, calms the mind and reduces internal exhaustion and stress. This yoga stance can help with general posture and body balance.

To accomplish this, the legs might be secured to the floor. Each leg should be folded under the knee of the opposite leg. Maintain a straight spine in alignment with the neck and head. Maintain a straight chin and both hands on your knees. Slowly close your eyes and take deep breaths. This should take about 2-3 minutes. You can then return to your old location. Mental stress can be easily relieved by performing this yoga stance for an extended period of time.

Tadasana

Tadasana, or Mountain Pose, is the foundation of all yoga asanas. It aids in the reduction of anxiety in the body by enhancing respiratory control. Raise your arms over your head and interlace your fingers while keeping your feet firmly on the ground and slightly in. Lift your toes lightly and take a deep breath while doing so. Lift your chest and shoulders for 3-4 seconds and hold this stance. Return to the initial position by bringing your arms to your sides and exhaling. 10-12 repetitions through this yoga position.

Balasanam

Balasana is a yoga practice that stimulates the neurological and lymphatic systems. This yoga asana calms your mind and relieves stress and weariness quickly.

Sit with your legs together and your knees above your hips to perform Balasana. Gently bend forward and put your torso on your thighs without lifting your hips. Your brow should drop until it meets the floor. For the first time, the pillow can be used. Both of your arms should be straight on the floor. 

Sethubandhasana

Sethubandhasana can help with issues such as insomnia, anxiety, and migraines. This strategy is excellent for lowering blood pressure and alleviating back discomfort.

Lay on your back, straightening your body. Lift your legs and bend your knees. Keep your feet and hands firmly planted on the ground. Inhale slowly and raise your hips without moving your knees. Lift your hips up using your gluteal muscles. Maintain this stance for 5 seconds. Continue to hold your breath until you return to your starting posture. Exhale slowly and return. Repeat several times. 

Shavasanam

Shavasana is done at the end of every yoga session. This stance also impacts your breathing, which helps to lower stress and hypertension while also improving focus and mental wellness. This stance can help alleviate some of the symptoms of depression. Lay down with your back straight, feet slightly tucked in, and arms 6 inches away from your body. Pick a peaceful and comfortable place to rest your head. You do not need to move after the position is secured. Take deep breaths to calm your mind and relax every part of your body.

Take caution not to doze off while doing this. To exit Shavasana, slowly move your fingers and toes and return your body to its original position.

FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS

Is Ayurveda good for stress and anxiety management?

Ayurveda is definitely good for stress and anxiety management. Ayurveda focuses on doshic imbalance in the body which has been created in the body due to long-term or short-term stress. This can be done with the help of panchakarma by selecting the appropriate karma based on the requirement. This is usually done after Snehapana. Also, many internal medicines can be selected and given after proper assessment. Shankupushpi rasyanam, brahmi gritam, Aswaganada chornam, manasamitra vatakam etc. are some of these.

How can I tell if I have stress or anxiety?

When someone has stress or anxiety it can cause a lot of symptoms in their body. Due to the release of adrenaline hormone, fight-or-flight responses happen in the body causing increased heart rate, breathing rate and reduced hunger happens. This helps one to do his task most efficiently in less time. When this situation goes, the patient tends to be normal and returns to other activities without much trouble. But frequent stress can create anxiety resulting in a number of health problems. Patients may have headaches, muscle aches, raised blood pressure, digestion problems, and problems with general health when they are under anxiety.

How can I manage stress and anxiety naturally?

Stress and anxiety can be naturally managed by
1. Avoiding fundamental causative agents of stress.
2. Following a healthy lifestyle pattern and exercise
3. Appropriate healthy and balanced diet with fewer calories
4. Adopting meditation, yoga and other therapies like music therapy for relief of stress.
5. Regular ayurvedic medicines to calm your body if necessarily prescribed by your doctor.
6. Ayurveda detoxification therapies and soothing massages as necessary

How can ayurvedic therapy help with stess and anxiety?

The Ayurvedic remedies mentioned above help to correct the doshic imbalance in the body. Several rasayana plants used as antistress medicines have shown antioxidant, immunomodulator, hepatoprotective, antidepressant, and anxiolytic activities in various experimental and clinical investigations.

The body constantly generates oxidative free radicals (OFR), and an excess of them or/and defective scavenging mechanisms have been linked to a wide range of diseases. include. The aberrant buildup of OFRs causes lipid peroxidation in cell membranes. Cellular damage is caused by excessively harmful peroxide metabolites. In addition to diseases, free radical-induced stress has been related to ageing and immunosuppression.

Several rasayana drugs are used to treat anxiety, including Asparagus racemosus, Bacopa monnieri, Boerhavia diffusa, Centella asiatica, Convolvulus pluricaulis, Emblica offcinalis, Piper longum, Tinospora cordifolia, and Picrorrhiza kurroa. Given that these rasayanas are utilised in a variety of clinical situations, including somewhere OFRs are assumed to be the cause of disease, it seems likely that at least some of their therapeutic effects are due to a reduction in oxidative stress.

In addition to that many external treatments are being done in Ayurveda like shirodhara, takradhara, nasya etc, which have a smoothening effect, improving sleep and general health.

Does yoga really help mental health?

Many research have indicated that yoga might aid in lowering tension and anxiety. Your mood and a general sense of well-being may be improved by yoga. Yoga may also assist you in controlling depression and anxiety symptoms brought on by trying circumstances.

BEST AYURVEDIC THERAPIES FOR STRESS MANAGEMENT IN KERALA

An increasingly greater number of people are facing stress – and finding it a challenge to overcome. Stress can be caused by mental pressure, traumatic experiences, loss of loved ones, challenges in daily life, etc. It can be divided into 3 types – acute stress, chronic stress and episodic stress. Stress can affect you in multiple ways including loss of sleep, increased blood pressure and cardiac diseases, digestive disorders, hair fall, etc.

While stress can be challenging to overcome, ayurveda hospitals in Kochi offer some of the best Ayurvedic treatments for stress in Kerala. Ayurveda takes the holistic route towards the management of stress and offers a wide variety of remedies that help keep stress at bay in the long run too. Sanjeevanam Ayurveda Hospital, an Ayurvedic treatment centre for stress in Cochin, offers a carefully curated combination of treatments to keep the mind relaxed at all times. The patient is trained by professionals on how to practice these remedies on their own so that they can live independent of stress, no matter where they are in the world!

Sanjeevanam offers the best stress treatment in Kerala and this includes the use of meditation and mindfulness practices, breathing exercises and a variety of yoga poses. These include the tree pose, the hero pose, the sun salutation pose, the leg up the wall pose, the extended puppy pose, etc. Certain types of massages with specific medicated oils are also very helpful in calming your mind and helping you find your center of equilibrium again.

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