Abstract

MENTAL WELLNESS THROUGH AYURVEDA

HemRaj*, Balbir Singh and Manju Saini

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Abstract

Mental health is important at every stage of life. Mental health is an integral part of life. Mental wellbeing is not the absence of negative thoughts and feelings. We all face difficult and challenging situations that cause us to feel angry, sad and overwhelmed. It is about being able to understand and manage those feelings, so that generally able to feel confident and maintain positive mindset. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is very important component of health. According to WHO: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."[1] An important implication of this definition is that mental health is more than just the absence of mental diseases. In Ayurveda, perfect health is defined as "a balance between body, mind, spirit, and social wellbeing. In Ayurveda it is mentioned that the doshas must be in equilibrium, the digestive fire or Agni must be in a balanced state and the tissues /Dhatus and wastes or Malas must work in a normal state. The sensory and motor organs and mind, atma must be in a happy state. This is a definition of Swastha /healthy person.[2] Mental health is essential to our overall well-being. It is equally important as physical health. When we are mentally well, it increases our productivity, we become more focused and energetic. There are 3 types of treatment in Ayurveda; Daivyapashray Chikitsa, Yuktivyapashray Chikitsa and Satwawajay Chikitsa. Sattvavajaya Chikitsa is a method of withdrawal of the mind from unwholesome objects.[3] Aim of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa is control of mind. Satwavajaya Chikitsa is useful in emotional disorders, psycho-somatic disorders and Chronic disorders. Some more traditional mental health promoting practices are correct behavior (sadvrtt), Aachar Rasayana and yoga.

Keywords: Mental health, Swastha, Sadvritta, Aachar Rasayana, Yoga.