Ayurveda for Depression and Mental Health
Shri Kant Mishra, M.D., M.S. Doctor of Ayurveda
Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine in India practiced continuously for over 5,000 years, literally means the "Science of Life." The principal goal of Ayurveda is the preservation and promotion of health with special emphasis on preventing illness. The secondary goal of this form of medicine is the treatment of physical, mental and spiritual illness, according to Dr. Shri Kant Mishra, an internationally renowned neurologist, and the only western-trained M.D. working in the U.S. with a formal degree in Ayurveda from Benares University in India. In addressing one's overall heath, Ayurveda embraces a holistic perspective, integrating all aspects of life--nutrition, hygiene, sleep, seasonal changes, lifestyle, and physical, mental and sexual activities. Diagnosis and treatment in Ayurvedic medicine revolves around determining the individual's constitutional profile, which is based upon the unique combination of the three doshas or humors (vata, pitta and kapha). Illness and depression results when there is a dosha imbalance.
This ancient system of natural medicine has a long history in the areas of mental health, rejuvenation, and longevity through the use of diet and lifestyle practices, herbs, massage, yoga, and meditation. Dr. Mishra explores the Ayurvedic approach to attaining a balanced state of mental health and focuses on specific approaches to treating vata, pitta and kapha forms of depression. He also provides yogic practices such as pranayama (breathing practices) and meditation to help promote optimal health and mental clarity and balance.