Effectively Heal Depression

1. Major depression: In this a person stays depressed for most days of the week. The symptoms of this condition includes- loss of interest or pleasure in activities, weight loss or gain, sleep deprivation, lethargy, feeling restless, trouble in concentrating, thoughts of suicide, etc.
2. Persistent depressive disorder: If the depression lasts for more than 2 years, it is called persistent depressive disorder. The symptoms of this condition includes- change in appetite, too little or too much of sleep, fatigue, low self-esteem, trouble, feeling of hopelessness, etc.
3. Bipolar disorder: it is also called manic depression, which includes mood episodes of extreme high and extreme low ones. This is major depressive type amongst all.
4. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of serious depression that occurs most frequently during the winter months, when the days become shorter and the amount of sunshine available decreases. In the spring and summer, it usually fades away.
5. Psychotic depression: The symptoms of this type of depression includes- hallucinations, delusions and paranoia.
6. Postpartum depression: This type of depression is seen in women who just gave birth to a newborn, which lasts for weeks and months.
7. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): This is a depression seen in females at the start of their periods. This not only includes depressive feeling but also mood swings, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, sleep habits and feeling of being overwhelmed.
   
   

‘Manovasada’ is the term for depression in ayurvedic text, which is caused due to vitiation of doshas. The main dosha vitiated in case of depression is Kapha dosha. Further, the change in the brain’s electrochemistry is encouraged by Vata dosha, which leads to loss of enzymatic activity in the metabolism i.e. it leads to imbalance in Pitta dosha. Thus, vitiation of all three doshas leads to heaviness, darkness, anxiety, stress, feeling of hopelessness and sadness i.e. depression.

While managing the condition of depression, it is important to note that it has to be eliminated from the root cause. So, it’s important to balance the vitiated doshas by various treatments like nidana parivarjana, shodhana chikitsa (bio-cleansing) which includes shenapana (internal oleation), virechan (purgation), nasya karma, shiro vasti, shirodhara, and shiro abhyanga (head massage). It is also accompanied by intake of herbal formulations that help in boosting the metabolism, digestion and elimination of ama from the body. Special counseling is provided to relieve from a grief or some harsh feeling that helps in clearing the mental ama. This line of treatment helps in complete reversal of the condition.