Many experience depression during winter. This is called winter blues. Here are ayurvedic tips for this mental health disorder to clear clouds and enjoy the sunshine.
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Ayurvedic Solution to winter depression
Ayurvedic Tips to Reduce Winter Depression
What is winter depression?
According to Ayurveda, the winter season falls in shishira rutu and hemanta rutu
Long nights, short days, sweaters, warm clothes, and chilly weather make many of us sick and depressed. This depression which surfaces especially in winter is a Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and is often called winter Time Blues or Winter depression. The exact cause for this depression is as of yet unclear. But yet few scientists believe lack of exposure to sunlight is the reason for this disorder.
Symptoms of winter blues
The symptoms of this condition are the tendency to overeat, craving carbohydrates and sweets, and weight gain. It may also cause low libido in females , klaibya or Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation in males.
Had our ancestors observed this change in humans? The answer is yes. Have they recommended any remedies? Yes, they have recommended simple and effective natural remedies to overcome Seasonal Affective Disorder. They have laid down explicit guidelines about diet and lifestyle which have to be followed according to seasons. These routines are known as Ritucharya or ayurvedic seasonal routine. They also recommend bringing about various changes in dinacharya or ayurvedic daily routine to help this condition.
Ayurvedic Solution to winter depression
The winter season is marked as Hemanta rutu and Shishira ritu in Ayurveda. Hemanta Ritu starts in mid-November and ends in mid-January. This falls on the southern solstice which is called visarga kala or dakshinayana in Ayurveda. Sisira ritu starts in mid-January and lasts till the middle of March. Sisira ritu falls in Northern solstice which is called Aadana kaala or uttaraayana.
The response of the human body to this season is very well explained in Ayurveda. People will have increased strength and their digestion capacity or Agni is increased. This is marked by increased hunger. These symptoms are caused by increased body fire which is supported by Vata dosha. Vata inside the body increases in winter because of cold and dryness which is prevalent in the outer atmosphere.
The wintertime depression is noticed mostly in persons who have vata as a major constituent in their prakriti or body constitution. The cause for this type of change is longer nights in winter.
Light Therapy
Light therapy is recommended by doctors for wintertime blues. Exposure to artificial light may cause headaches, Irritability, Eye strain, Inability to sleep, and fatigue. Exposure to sunlight and if sunlight is not available sitting near the fireplace is the remedy suggested in Ayurveda.
Keeping the home well-lit with lights helps to reduce the intensity of depression.
Exercise well
Moderate exercise like yoga is another remedy for SAD. Ayurveda recommends oil massage (abhyanga) to the body and head (moordha taila.). Indulging in sexual acts to keep the moods elevated and to keep the body warm is another strongly suggested ayurvedic remedy.
Use Aroma Therapy
Using fragrant essential oils during meditation, bathing, and in the living room, helps to elevate mood and happiness. The fragrance of oils makes you feel happy.
Meet Friends and Relatives
Meeting friends who are kind and understanding boosts morale and brightens up the day. Spending time with friends on the beach helps to expose your body to sunlight and keeps your spirits high.
Relaxing with meditation, massage, light music, and laughter helps to a great extent.
Ayurvedic Tips to Reduce Winter Depression
The following ayurvedic tips help to prevent and reduce the intensity of the seasonal disorder of winter, the wintertime blues.
- Expose yourself to sunlight as much as you can. In absence of sunlight sitting near the fireplace is very helpful.
- Set your routine for the winter season. Follow dinacharya or ayurvedic daily routine and rutucharya, the ayurvedic seasonal routine. This helps to keep you active and boost energy levels.
- Massage your body with vata balancing herbal oil (abhyanga) like ksheerabala oil or sesame oil or coconut oil. Never forget to apply oil to your head (moordha taila.).
- Then remove the oil by taking a hot water bath. A mixture of flours of yellow gram (channa), green gram (moong), fenugreek seeds (methi) in equal proportion is the best herbal ayurvedic scrub that can be used to remove the oil. This mixture prevents the washing of natural oil from skin.
- Consume hot soups like yavagu .
- Use Vata balancing foods like wheat, oil, corn, black gram, and jaggery .
- Tickle your taste buds with sweet (Madhura rasa), sour (amla rasa), and salt (lavana rasa) tastes
- Always use hot water for all daily routine activities.
- Use thick blankets and sheets made of cotton, silk, and wool.
- Always wear footwear.
- Indulge in sexual acts.
- Spend your leisure time with friends and relatives whom you like.
Consult Dr.Savitha Suri for ayurvedic remedies. Email drsavithasuri@gmail.com . WhatsApp + 91 6360108663
Author: Dr. Savitha Suri Consultant Ayurvedic Physician
Call us at +91 9945995660 / +91 9448433911
