Bipolar - #798

It sounds like your wife might be experiencing something like cyclical mood changes, which could be linked to an imbalance in her doshas, yes, particularly related, possibly, with her pitta and maybe kapha too. Ayurveda sees mental health as deeply tied to these doshas, with pitta often linked to intensity and mental passion, and kapha to calmness and sometimes inertia.

During her “hyper” periods when she’s active and struggling with decreased sleep, vomiting and adamance, it seems like pitta might be high, which can spike when there’s excess heat, whether it’s physical or mental. Consider incorporating cooling activities - staying calm, physically cool, using cooling herbs like guduchi or dallop of aloe vera juice, and having a light diet rich in sweet, bitter, and astringent things - think cucumbers, melons, and leafy greens – actually makes a big difference. Meditation can aid too, in soothing that fiery pitta energy.

When dull periods strike, it’s often kapha’s heavier influence, which can manifest as lethargy or lack of motivation. Here, warmth and stimulation are vital. Encourage her to engage in energizing activities like brisk walking, dance - something rhythmic that gets her moving. Foods that are light and dry – like lentils and brussel sprouts, spices like ginger or turmeric - can help bring balance to kapha. Incorporating more vigorous breathing exercises, yoga specifically with sun salutations adds to regimen to break through that dullness too.

It’s crucial to maintain a consistent daily routine, as the regularity helps balance all doshas by creating rhythm and predictability, which grounds mental energies. But one more critical thing: Please don’t hesitate to check in with a mental health professional, cyclic moods or intense shifts like this warrant a comprehensive approach that ideally combines affected areas and brings cohesive support. Your effort in supporting her shows how much you care, keep listening to her needs - that’s always a good start!