AYURVEDA AND MENTAL WELLBEING: CLASSICAL INSIGHTS FOR MODERN-DAY STRESS

The escalating prevalence of mental health disorders, driven by modern stressors such as demanding schedules and digital overload, has prompted exploration into integrative approaches combining conventional mental health care with Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old holistic healing system from India. This article examines how Ayurvedic principles, including the balancing of doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), Sattvic diet, herbal remedies (e.g., Ashwagandha, Brahmi), meditation, Pranayama (e.g., Nadi Shodhana), lifestyle practices (Dinacharya, Abhyanga), and Panchakarma (e.g., Shirodhara), address mental health challenges like anxiety, irritability, and depression. By cultivating Sattva (mental clarity) and personalizing interventions based on individual constitution (Prakriti) and imbalances (Vikriti), Ayurveda offers a comprehensive framework to enhance resilience and well-being. Scientific evidence supports the efficacy of practices like yoga and meditation, though challenges such as limited access to qualified practitioners and the need for further research persist. Integrating Ayurveda with modern mental health care holds promise for holistic management of stress-related disorders.