Know about Anxiety and Natural solutions for Anxiety

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is becoming much common in younger age groups nowadays, especially younger men and women from IT, ITES, BPO etc are more reported than other industrial groups. Many companies have introduced the EIS – Emotional intelligence Score to analyze the employee’s psychological abilities, stress resistance, etc.

Anxiety disorder is characterized by the following symptoms

a. Unrealistic worries lasts more than six months – Subject could be anything job, money, marriage etc
b. Trembling
c. Feeling body or head ache all the times
d. Insomnia or Disturbed sleep
e. Abdominal upset, Frequent motions
f. Dizziness
g. Constant and un wanted irritability
h. Poor concentration
i. Reduced memory

Anxiety disorder is classified based on the cause as follows

a. OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
b. Panic Disorder
c. PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
d. Social Anxiety Disorders
e. Phobias

General causes include hereditary, brain chemical imbalances, life experiences etc.

Ayurveda concept of anxiety disorder

Ayurveda, unlike the modern medical system, takes a comprehensive approach in the management of Anxiety disorder. Ayurveda considers this condition is due to the vitiated Prana Vata which weakens the CNS and triggers the psychological imbalance. It also affects the Neuro-Hormonal systems and functions.

Ayurveda recommends a holistic approach to manage and heal anxiety disorder through diet,  aromatherapy, color therapy, sound therapy and touch (massage) therapy along with yoga and meditation.

Ayurveda therapies for Anxiety Disorders

Ayurveda recommends a fourfold therapy process to heal Anxiety Disorder.

a. Abhyangam – Ayurveda Herbal oil Application: After the understanding the nature of the person and nature of the diseases, suitable medicated oil is selected. This medicated oil is applied all over the body in a rhythmic action to reduce the vitiated Vata dosha.

b. Ayurveda medicated enema- Administration of a mild herbal enema after the massage and heat treatments completes the cleansing process. Ayurveda theory describes how the massage and heat treatments drive many of the impurities into the lower bowel area and, therefore, it is necessary to administer enema as the last step in the purification process.

c. Ayurveda Oleated sudation Therapies – This is again divided into three therapies.

Shirodhara: Ayurveda medicated oil is poured on the third eye as a stream for 45-55 minutes. This therapy enhances the nervous system and removes the mental fatigue in no time.

Pizhichil: Warm medicated herbal oil poured all over the body as a continuous stream for 45- 55 minutes. This improves the regeneration process and removes the psychological fatigue.

Swedana: Herbal steam application to improve the blood circulation / to remove the impurities.

Pinda Swedana: Application of medicated bolus prepared from rice, herbs, meat and processed with herbal powders. This helps to regularize the excessive metabolic activities and eliminate the unwanted the toxic byproducts.

An Ayurveda physician after considering the ten diagnostic factors of Ayurveda recommends a treatment schedule varies from 14-28 days inclusive and mixture of the above mentioned therapies. This process helps the patient to completely detoxify and rejuvenate which in turn helps the patient to come out the illness quickly.

Herbal remedies good for Anxiety Disorders

Common Name	Botanical Name	Health Benefits
California Poppy	Eschscholtzia californica	Tension, stress, Anti Anxiety, Anti spasmodic. Helps in Insomnia, headache, muscular pain, Safe for children
Hops	Humulus lupulus	Calms the CNS, restlessness and tension. Good for Insomnia, stress, sleep loss, indigestion and alcohol withdrawal
Kava kava	Piper methysticum	Reduces anxiety, fear and tension. Good for emotional stress, improve interpersonal and career performance, redice grogginess. Muscular relaxation and improves sound sleep
Lemon barln	Melissa officinalis	Tonic, reduces anxiety, restlessness and nervousness. Good for panic disorder, palpitation, Hyper activeness. Good for stress, anxiety, nausea, indigestion and colic
Linden	Tilia europea	Reduces tension, helps relax. Good for stress, anxiety, hypertension, palpitation and ulcers
Passion Flower	Passiflora incarnate	Mild sedative, good for anxiety, tension, spasms, pain and neuralgia. Good for sleep, induces relaxation. Suitable for children and elderly – specially for nervousness
Skullcap	Scutellaria laterifolia	Relaxation, tones the nervous system, good for Hypersensitivity. Helps hysteria, depression, exhaustion and stress during PMS
St. John’s Wort	Hypericum perfoliatum	Anxiety and tension, Irritability and depression. Very effective for mood swings, menstrual problems related to anxiety
Valerian	Valeriana officinalis	Sedative and muscular relaxant good for anxiety and stress, muscular tension, pain, cramps, restlessness, insomnia, over work and over study, Improves poor concentration, Liver Tonic
Wild Lettuce	Lactuca virosa	Anxious children and adolescents, Good for Insomnia, pain, anti spasmodic and irritable coughs
Wood Betony	Stachys officinalis	Sedative, reduces tension, anxiety and nervous exhaustion. Calms hyperactive, Good for headache, pain. Improves memory and clarity, IQ

Source: Dr Gowthaman, Medical Director, Dr Gowthaman’s Ayurveda Panchakarma Center, Chennai. For appointments write to drkgowthaman@gmail.com / 91 99400 79511