Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most common disorder that affects youth of today. This is due to the modern day sedentary lifestyle that they follow how anxiety can be managed the Ayurveda way
Many lamentable effects this fear causeth in man, as to be red,pale, tremble, sweat; it makes sudden cold and heat come over all the body, palpitation of the heart, syncope, etc. It amazeth many men that are to speak or show themselves in public,” described Robert Burton on anxiety in his book, The Anatomy of Melancholy.
These disorders are characterised by anxious emotion, worries, avoidance and somatic symptoms of autonomic arousal. These are divided into three main subtypes- 1) Phobia 2)Panic 3) Generalized.
Charaka mentioned a manasa vikara named CHITTOVEGA in vimana sthana 6/5. This is similar to the anxiety described in modern sciences. The main doshas of this vikara are Raja and Tama and they are just like any other manasa vikara. Prana , Udana , Vyana Vayu , Sadhaka Pitta , Tarapaka Kapha play a role in their pathogenesis. Due to rhe Asharaya- Ashrayi Bha- va of Manasa, Hridaya is also affected and hence the Manovaha strotasa
Aetiology – 1) Genetic and hereditary 2) Hormonal I biochemical imbalance ( serotonin and dopamine) 3) Personality type 4) Social factors 5) Medical causes 6) Drugs and other substances tranquilizers , steroids etc
Risk factors — 1) Female gender 2) Low resources to cope up with daily demands.
Pathogenesis – Sympathetic nervous system may react in the state of constant tension.
Clinical Feature — I) Palpitation 2)
Breathlessness and nervousness 3) Chest pain 4) Trembling 5) Dizziness and fainting 6) Insomnia 7) Anorexia 8) Headache 9) Parasthesia and weakness 10) Fatigue Investigation – 1) Hamilton anxiety rating scale 2) Anxiety disorder interview schedule 3) ECG.
Differential Diagnosis — 1) Post traumatic stress disorder 2) Phobias 3) Alcoholism.
Management:-
A) Prevention:-
- Madhura rasa pradhana Ahara.
- Sadvritta palana.
- Yoga and Meditation.
- Avoid the cause.
- Avoid unhealthy food.
- Avoid coffee, tea, soft drinks, spicy food, alcohol and smoking.
- Avoid stressful condition
B) Medical management
1) Nidana parivarjana
This emphasizes on avoiding causative factors. As we know, like poles repel and opposite poles attract, this disease causes imbalances in Vata dosha therefore anything which promote this imbalance should be avoided.
2) Supportive lifestyle
These are the lifestyle habits which will normalize the Vata. These include 1) A daily routine 2) Mindfulness practice 3) Supportive diet.
Our obligations make our schedule irregular thereby giving rise to such diseases. To keep this in check, we should avoid compromising with our routine as much as possible. When the body gets adequate rest, exercise, spiritual practice etc. the mind and the nervous system is relaxed naturally. When this happens, Vata is normalized. We can follow some steps to keep Vata in check like:-
► Mindfulness Practices-
If you can devote 15 minutes out of the 24 hours to these, that will be sufficient to get the results. You can choose from below.
- Meditation or Prayer:
These practices clear the mind channels, support flow of prana throughout the body and help in proper digestion. All these factors calms anxiety.
- Pranayama:
This is a breathing exercise which balances the movement of Prana. In emergence of fear and anxiety, there is disturbance in Prana. When we practice pranayama, anxiety calms down. Pranayama releases accumulated tension, supports the nervous system and activates and balances the channels influencing the mind like Manovaha strotas, Pranavaha strotas, Ida nadi, Pingla nadi and Sushumna nadi.
- Yoga:
Shashankasana, Tadasana, Matsyasana Mandukasana, Bhujangasana and shavasana.
Yoga moves Prana in the body , releases tension, clears stagnation and calms the mind.
Tala hrida marma is rhe marma point which calms the mind, relieves anxiety and supports concentration. This corrects the imbalance in manovaha strotas.
- Marma Points:
- Tala hrida marma is rhe marma point which calms the mind, relieves anxiety and supports concentration. This corrects the imbalance in manovaha strotas.
► A Supportive diet:
It is understood that a supportive diet helps to keep a check on the anxiety levels of people. A diet which balanc¬es vata should be followed and ones which create imbalance should be avoided.
3) Panchkarma Therapies;
► Abhyanga: This is body massage. Bhringraja oil or Brahmi oil can be used.
► Snehapana: Internal oleation. Mahakalyanaka Ghrita 3O-5Oml for 3-7 days.
► Shiroabhyanga- oil massage on the head.
► Shirovasti: using medicated oil like Himasagara taila daily for 45 minutes for 7 days.
► Shirodhara: with medicated liquid like milk, butter milk, water, oil. Jaladhara is very effective. This is to be done for 45-90 min daily for 7 days.
