how to recover from chronic depression? - #34444

Continue that along with that add Brahmi gritha -1 tsp with warm water at morning Saraswathi aristha- 20 ml with equal quantity of water twice daily after food Practice pranayama meditation regularly

Hello Kumud Start with Ashwagandha churan 0-0-1tsp at bedtime with warm milk Continue both systems of medicine parallely, Add Syrup Mentat -DS 10ml twice daily after food with water Do pranayam lom -vilom bhastrika kapalbhati brahmri daily for 5-10mins twice Do Nasya with Brahmi grith 2 drops in both nostril once Light massage on head with Brahmi oil Learn Rajyoga meditation and practice daily Go for walks in garden or arround nature.

Do not decrease the dose until unless the consultant tell to do so For support start on Medha vati 1-0-1 Brahmi vati 1-0-1 Ashwagandha cap 0-0-1 tsp with warm milk

Hello Kumud ji I can understand your concern. You are stable on medications, but whenever the dose is reduced, your symptoms return. This indicates chronic mixed anxiety–depression with long-term nervous system imbalance. But dont worry we are here to help you out😊

✅AYURVEDIC PLAN OF TREATMENT

You are already using Medhavati & Memorygrit – good choices, but for deeper effect consider these classical formulations:

1 Brahmi Vati (with gold) –1-0-1 after food enhances concentration, relieves anxiety, acts as Medhya Rasayana.

2 Manas Mitra Vatakam 2 tab crush and take with milk – very effective for long-standing anxiety, depression, insomnia.

3 Ashwagandharishta 15ml-0-15ml after food – adaptogen, balances stress hormones, strengthens immunity.

4 Saraswatarishta 15ml -0-15ml after food – improves mood, memory, and balances vata-pitta.

👉 These are not habit-forming, safe for long term, and can be taken along with your psychiatric medicines

✅PANCHAKARMA THERAPIES

Since the condition is chronic, cleansing + nourishing therapies are needed:

👉Abhyanga (daily warm oil massage with Ksheerabala Taila / Dhanwantaram Taila) Calms Vata, reduces body stiffness, improves sleep.

👉Shirodhara (oil stream on forehead with Brahmi Taila / Ksheerabala Taila) Scientifically shown to reduce cortisol, stabilize mood, and calm anxiety.

👉Nasya (nasal oil drops with Anu Taila / Brahmi Taila) Nourishes brain tissues, improves emotional stability, enhances clarity.

👉Matra Basti (oil enema with Ksheerabala Taila) Especially important in chronic Vata disorders, improves gut-brain axis, reduces depression relapse.

👉 Panchakarma is usually done in 21-day protocols, but even short 7-day courses (Shirodhara + Abhyanga) help tremendously.

✅LIFESTYLE AND ROUTINE

Regular sleep–wake cycle: Go to bed before 11 pm, wake before sunrise. Disturbed sleep increases anxiety.

Dietary guidelines: Prefer Sattvic diet: warm, light, freshly cooked food. milk with nutmeg/turmeric, khichdi, ghee, dates, soaked almonds, seasonal fruits, green vegetables

❌AVOID excess tea, coffee, alcohol, fried, spicy, sour, fermented foods.

Eat at fixed times, avoid late dinners.

✅Mind management: Meditation or mindfulness daily 15–20 min. Mantra chanting (Om Namah Shivaya) calms vibrations. Journaling – express emotions rather than suppressing them.

Work balance-Overworking, irregular eating, and screen overuse worsen vata – try structured daily planning.

Yoga & Pranayama (Manovaha Srotas Strengthening)

Pranayama.Anulom, Vilom Bhramari, Sheetali / Sheetkari Yoga Nidra.- very effective in depression, helps reduce medicine dependency.

✅Integration with Your Current Allopathy

Never stop antidepressants suddenly. Relapses are common.

Ayurveda + Yoga gradually increase resilience - your psychiatrist may then slowly taper the dose.

Many patients find that with regular Rasayana + Shirodhara + Pranayama, their requirement for high dose reduces over 6–12 months.

You have stability with allopathy, but Ayurveda can add resilience by calming Vata, nourishing the mind, and preventing relapse.

Slowly, your nervous system will strengthen and you won’t need heavy doses lifelong.

Wishing you a good health😊

Warm Regards Dr Snehal Vidhate

You can add medhavati with antidepressants And one more thing I want to add you should go for Shirodhara for better results along with medication

1.Medhavati Extra Power- Benefits-Sedative, anxiolytic, antidepressant, improves sleep and mood 2.Memorygrit- Benefits-Cognitive enhancement, memory, focus, mild mood support

Better options are: 1.Manasmithra vatkam 2 tab twice daily with milk after meals 2.Saraswatarishta 20 ml with 20 ml water twice daily after meals 3.Brahmi ghrita 1 tsp in gthe morning with warmwater or milk 4.Ksheer bala 101 aavarthi oil-2 drops in each nostril twice daily

Sattvic, Vata-Pacifying Diet - Warm, cooked meals: Soups, stews, khichdi, and porridges with ghee - Favor: - Whole grains: Rice, oats, barley - Root vegetables: Sweet potato, carrot, beet - Healthy fats: Ghee, sesame oil, soaked almonds - Mood-lifting fruits: Pomegranate, banana, ripe mango, stewed apple - Spices: Cumin, coriander, fennel, turmeric, nutmeg (calming) ❌ Avoid - Cold, raw, dry foods (increase Vata) - Excess caffeine, refined sugar, processed snacks - Sour, fermented, or overly spicy foods (aggravate Pitta) 🧉 Healing Tonics - Warm milk with nutmeg + Brahmi or Shankhpushpi at bedtime - Ashwagandha + Shatavari churna with warm water or milk in the morning - Herbal teas: Tulsi, rose, chamomile, or vetiver

Daily Routine (Dinacharya) - Wake before sunrise: Helps reset circadian rhythm and uplift mood - Abhyanga (oil massage): Use warm sesame or Brahmi oil daily before bath - Gentle movement: Yoga, walking in nature, or sun gazing - Pranayama: - Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril) - Bhramari (humming bee breath) - Sheetali (cooling breath if Pitta is elevated) -Mantra chanting

What you should do about your symptoms when the dose is decreased:

Crucially, do not change or stop your antidepressant medication without consulting your prescribing doctor. Sudden changes can be dangerous and are associated with a high risk of symptom return or withdrawal effects.

Known Ingredients and Uses (General Information):

Divya Medha Vati Extra Power is often marketed for a broader range of cerebral complaints, including memory weakness, headache, sleeplessness, irritable temperament, and is explicitly indicated for Insomnia and Depression in some product descriptions. Its ingredients often include powerful adaptogens and calming herbs like Ashwagandha, Brahmi, and Shankhpushpi.

Divya Memorygrit is primarily focused on memory retention, focus, and reducing mental fatigue, making it suitable for students or work-related stress. Its core ingredients are usually Brahmi and Shankhpushpi.

1) sarasvatarishta 20 ml after food 2 times a day with water

2) tab smritisagar rasa 2 tab after food 3 times a day with water

3 panchagavya ghrita 10 ml 2 times a day

Yoga Therapy

Asana

Shavasana

Sarvangasana

Sheershasana

Pavanamuktasana

Pranayama

Anuloma-Viloma,

Other: Meditaion, Yoga nidra, Om mantra chanting

Diet and Lifestyle

Pathya

Gentle squeezing of body parts.

Drink a glass of cow’s milk before going to bed.

Listen to Melodious Music.

Drink Warm Milk.

Do some physical exercise during the day.

Keep Your Bed a Place for Sleep.

Progressive Relaxation.

Deep Breathing.

Visualize Something Peaceful.

Apathya Avoid NapTobacco Avoid Caffeine, Alcohol and Tobacco. Avoid Illuminated Bedroom Clocks

To explore Ayurvedic approaches for managing chronic depression, it’s important to acknowledge that Ayurveda views mental health issues through the lens of vata, pitta, and kapha doshas. Generally, vata imbalance is often linked with anxiety and restlessness, pitta with irritability and anger, and kapha with lethargy and sadness.

Firstly, since you are currently on antidepressants and experiencing symptom changes with dosage adjustments, it’s crucial not to alter your medication without consulting your mental health professional. However, you may consider integrating Ayurvedic practices to complement your ongoing treatment, but ensure to discuss these changes with your doctor.

Between Patanjali’s Memorygrit and Medhavati, Medhavati is traditionally known to support mental health as it often includes herbs like Brahmi, Ashwagandha, and Shankhpushpi. These are reputed in Ayurveda for supporting brain health, improving memory, and potentially easing symptoms of depression. But, remember, effectiveness can vary per individual, so it’s advisable to consult with an Ayurvedic practitioner who can assess your unique constitution (Prakriti) and imbalances (Vikriti).

To address depression, focus on stabilizing vata through regularity in your day-to-day life. Try waking up, eating, and sleeping at the same time each day. Incorporate a calming routine with warm oil self-massage (Abhyanga) before a shower, using sesame oil to ground vata. Pranayama, such as Anulom Vilom (alternate nostril breathing), can be very beneficial to calm the mind. Aim for a balanced diet that includes warm, cooked meals with spices like ginger and turmeric to promote good digestion and assimilation.

In terms of diet, ensure you consume sattvic foods, predominantly including fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Reduce caffeine and processed foods that might agitate your mental state. Herbal teas like tulsi or chamomile can provide soothing effects and support mental clarity.

Lastly, engage in regular physical activities like yoga or brisk walking which can aid in balancing all three doshas and enhancing your mood. Practices such as mindfulness meditation can significantly contribute to mental stability and peace.

Ensure any integration with current medications is safe and that your healthcare providers are aware of all additions. It’s essential to have a holistic and safe approach when seeking improvements in mental health. If symptoms persist or worsen, seek immediate professional care.

Chronic depression can deeply affect one’s life, and it’s essential to approach it holistically, especially when symptoms persist. In Siddha-Ayurvedic tradition, it’s crucial to consider balancing the doshas. Depression often indicates an imbalance in the Vata dosha, along with possible involvement of Kapha.

Considering your reliance on antidepressants, it’s important to continue consulting your healthcare provider when modifying medication. For integrating Ayurvedic support, focus on gentle lifestyle adjustments. A consistent daily routine (dinacharya) is key. Regular wake and sleep times help balance Vata. Include yoga, especially gentle asanas and pranayama like Nadi Shodhana, which calm the mind.

Diet plays a role in mental health too. Consume warm, grounding foods like stews, soups, cooked vegetables, whole grains, and include spices like turmeric and ginger to support digestion and foster calmness. Avoid excessively cold, light, or raw foods that may aggravate Vata.

Regarding Patanjali’s products, Memorygrit is typically used for cognitive function, while Medhavati is more specific to stress and anxiety support. If the choice is between the two for depression, Medhavati might be more aligned with addressing anxiety, but best to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner who knows the context of your condition more closely.

Mindful practices such as meditation or Abhyanga (self-massage with sesame oil) can be supportive, calming for Vata and grounding. It’s also important to engage in activities that bring joy and fulfillment.

Always consult a healthcare provider before making changes to your healthcare regimen. Implementing these holistic steps can support a gradual path to balance, but remember to prioritize safety and informed decision-making.