Hello, I understand your concern as a parent, and it’s completely natural to feel worried when your 17-year-old son is going through depression and ADHD. Please be reassured — with timely support, the adolescent brain responds very well to gentle, consistent treatment.
Your son has been experiencing symptoms for 3–6 months, has very poor mood and constant fatigue, and is currently taking only over-the-counter supplements. This suggests a functional imbalance rather than permanent damage, which is encouraging.
Your treatment will focus on improving focus and memory, lifting mood gently, reducing mental restlessness, and restoring energy, in a safe, age-appropriate way.
🔎 Recommended Investigations (Only if not done recently or if fatigue is severe) 1. Hemoglobin (to rule out anemia) 2. Vitamin D3 & Vitamin B12 3. Thyroid Profile (TSH) 4. Sleep pattern assessment
💊 Internal Medicines Phase 1 – 4–6 weeks (Focus + Mood lift + Mental calm) 1. Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) capsule or tablet – Dose: 250 mg once daily after breakfast – If well tolerated after 1 week → 250 mg twice daily (morning & evening) – Improves focus, memory, attention span, and mood 2. Magnesium supplement – Yes, Brahmi can be safely taken with magnesium – Best taken at night after dinner – Helps calm nerves, improves sleep, reduces fatigue ✔ No known interaction with Brahmi 3. Ashwagandha (low dose, optional if fatigue is severe) – 250 mg at bedtime – Improves energy, stress tolerance, and sleep – Avoid higher doses at this age
Phase 2 – 6–8 weeks (Stability + Confidence building) 1. Brahmi – continue – Same dose 2. Shankhapushpi syrup – 5 ml twice daily after meals – Enhances learning, reduces mental restlessness (very useful in ADHD)
🌿 Diet & Lifestyle Recommendations ❌ Avoid 1. Excess sugar, junk food 2. Energy drinks, excess caffeine 3. Late-night screen use 4. Skipping meals
✅ Include 1. Regular meals at fixed times 2. Warm, home-style food 3. Milk at night (if digestion allows) 4. Fruits like banana, apple 5. Nuts – almonds (2–3 soaked)
🧘🏻♂️ Mind & Body Support (Very Important) 1. Daily sunlight exposure – 15 minutes 2. Light physical movement – walking, stretching 3. Breathing practices – Anulom Vilom – 10 minutes – Bhramari – 5 rounds
❌ Avoid forcing meditation or strict routines initially
* Brahmi is safe for long-term use in adolescents * It works slowly but deeply — not like stimulants * Initial improvement in calmness and focus: 2–3 weeks * Mood and energy improvement: 4–6 weeks * Emotional support, patience, and reassurance from family are as important as medicine
✨ Your son is not broken, and this phase is not permanent. With gentle support, correct nutrition, and time, his mind can regain balance and strength. You are already taking the right step by seeking guidance early.
With kind regards, Dr. Sumi MS (Ayu)
YES – Brahmi is excellent & 100 % safe for teenagers with depression + ADHD. It calms racing thoughts, improves focus & concentration, reduces irritability, and gently lifts mood without any drowsiness or addiction.
Safe Dosage (17 yrs) 1 Brahmi Ghan Vati OR Brahmi pearls – 1 tablet (500 mg) morning + 1 tablet night after food with warm water/milk OR Brahmi powder – 3 gm (½ tsp) morning + night with warm water
Magnesium – YES, take together, no problem Magnesium Glycinate OR Citrate – 200–300 mg night (best for ADHD + sleep + mood) Brahmi morning + Magnesium night is perfect combo
Extra 2 safe additions (highly recommended for teenage depression + ADHD) 1 Ashwagandha Lehyam – 5 gm morning with warm water (reduces fatigue & stress) 2 Saraswatarishta (gold) – 10 ml + 20 ml water after dinner (improves focus & memory)
Continue any doctor-prescribed ADHD/depression medicines unchanged – these are safe alongside. No tea/coffee after 4 PM Sleep 10 PM – 6 AM strictly 30-min outdoor walk daily
Regards Dr Gursimran Jeet Singh MD Panchakarma
He can take Brahmi gritha 1 tsp at morning with warm water Keep a gap of atleast 1 hour between allopathic and ayurvedic medicines
Don’t worry take 1tab bd ,also take shankapushi syrup 20ml bd, manasamithra vatakam 1tab bd enough
Dr RC BAMS MS
Give brami 2 bd Do nasya with bramhi ghurth 2 drop each nostril 6 am and 6 pm Avoid screen time and Usko ap nature taraf le javo social active karo
Hello, thank you for contacting Ask Ayurveda . I understand your concern for your son, and at this age emotional and attention related issues can be very worrying for parents.
Brahmi is commonly used to support focus, memory, mental calmness and mood. For a 17 yr old, it is generally safe when used in the correct dose. If you are using Brahmi capsule or tablet, starting dose is one capsule or tablet once daily after food, preferably in the early evening. If it is Brahmi powder,half a teaspoon once daily with warm milk after food is enough,It is better to start with a lower dose and observe his response for 1–2 weeks.
Brahmi can be taken along with magnesium supplements. There is no known harmful interaction between the two .magnesium often helps with relaxation, sleep and fatigue, so the combination is usually well tolerated. Just make sure they are taken after food and, has to be taken with a gap of 30–60 minutes.
Since your son has very low energy and persistent low mood, medicines alone will not be enough. Regular sleep, reduced screen time, simple physical activity like walking are very important for recovery. Avoid excessive caffeine, energy drinks and junk food, as they worsen both mood and attention.
If his depression symptoms are severe, worsening, or associated with withdrawal, hopeless thoughts or major behavior changes is seen, then Professional mental health support is very required at this stage
Regular follow up with a doctor so his progress can be monitored and treatment adjusted if needed
Bhrami ghrit 1 tsp in two meals or twice a day whatever is possible.
Bhrami oil head massage and if you have a panchakarma clinic near you go for bhrami oil SHIRODHARA for 21 days starting from 15 mins to 45 mins and taper down to 15 mins again. 3 sets of 21 day therapy will do miracle.
Syp. Prasham 4 tsp at bed time with a cup of cow milk.
BHRAMARI PRANAYAM will show you MIRACLE in your son.
1.Brahmi vati 1 tab twice daily with water after meals 2.Ashwagandha churna 1 tsp twice daily with warm milk after meals 3.Shankhpushpi Syrup 2 tsp twice daily 4.Saraswatarishta 20 ml with 20 ml water twice daily after 5.Ksheerbala oil-2 drops in each nostril once daily
🥗 Supportive Diet & Lifestyle - Diet: Warm, nourishing foods — milk, ghee, almonds, dates, seasonal fruits. Avoid excess junk, caffeine, and very spicy food. - Routine: Early sleep, daily light exercise or yoga. - Mind practices: Meditation, pranayama (Anulom Vilom, Bhramari) for 10 minutes daily. - Screen time: Reduce late-night phone/computer use to improve sleep and focus.
Yes you can give ayurvedic medicine with allopathic medicine, keep gap of 45 minutes between 2 system of medicine. For depression you can give Ashwagandha churan 0-0-1tsp at bedtime with warm milk. Brahmi tablet 1-0-1 after food with water Add also Saraswatarist 10ml twice daily after food with water Light Head massage with Brahmi oil Do Nasya with Brahmi grith 2 drops in both nostril once daily.
