Ayurveda Remedy: Healing Depression

Unfortunately, at least one client a day comes into Niagara Ayurveda complaining of depression or anxiety. As I listen to their stories it becomes clear that there have been events in their lives that have threatened their sense of "safety and security."

Okay, that may sound obvious, or even a little silly, but this is where we look, from a holistic perspective, in order to heal depression. So how do we use this information to help them restore balance and heal?

In my clinical practice I have always found an imbalance in the root chakra when depression is present. Chakra are centers of the body from which a person can collect energy. They are connected to major organs or glands that govern other body parts.

In Ayurvedic medicine, the world's oldest system of medicine and healing, ayurvedic herbs are often recommended to restore balance to the underlying "dosha" imbalance. Yet frequently, the practitioner does not address the chakras,(energy centers) or energy field. Without looking into these other areas, herbal therapies are often no more successful than western medicine at relieving depression.

If you suffer with depression and you want to use a more holistic approach and get off of prescription medications you have to be willing to look beyond the basic mainstream, "talk therapy". As Albert Einstein said, "Problems cannot be solved by the level of awareness that created them."

Energy medicine and the chakra system offers one of the best solutions for healing. In one particular case, a client conveyed a story to me about her childhood, which was filled with verbal and physical abuse. She learned at a young age to fear that her very existence may be threatened because of the physical abuse.

When events like this happen our subconscious mind and our energy system team up to create imbalances that support our physical reality. The root chakra that correlates to our "right to be here" and our feeling of safety and security is now weakened and deficient. Is it really truly life threatening? No. But the body remains healthy and balanced when all of the energy centers remain open and balanced.

So in this case, her root chakra remained closed and over time depression set in. A qualified practitioner, such as a Certified Healing Touch Practitoner, can assess and treat energy imbalances and help to restore balance. Like any other imbalance in the body, it can take several sessions to allow the body to get used to it's new energy pattern, but it can produce lasting, long term results.

One of the benefits of this healing modality is that the client doesn't have to relive painful past events. They only have to be open and willing to release the old, stored energy pattern. Usually just setting an intention for this is enough to start the healing process in motion.

Another important factor to consider when using a holistic or ayurvedic approach to healing depression is to determine your body type. In Ayurveda, Kapha types have a tendency towards heaviness which can lead to depression. there are many simple actions that can prevent a kapha imbalance and ward off depression.