The most important herbs for the treatment of depression are: brahmi, jatamansi, and vacha. In addition, speci.c herbs are used in vata-, pitta-, and kapha-type depression.
BRAHMI :
Brahmi is by far the most important herb for treatment of affective mood disorders. Its active principle, hersaponin, regulates brainwave activity, and aids production of malnutrition and serotonin. It contains iron, ribo.avin, vitamin B6 and oleic acid. In the treatment of depression, brahmi is taken as a tea, on teaspoon steeped for ten minutes in a cup of boiling water. It should be taken three times daily. At bedtime, for a more sedative effect, milk is used in place of water. In addition to brahmi tea, brahmi ghee is used both as a nasya and as a tonic: brahmi ghee nasya is taken .ve drops in each nostril daily; before bed. Brahmi ghee is taken as a tonic, one teaspoon on an empty stomach, twice daily. Brahmi oil may be made using either sesame or coconut oil. Brahmi-sesame oil is applied to the soles of the feet at bedtime and to the forehead, in cases of vata-type depression, and wil help calm the prana vayu and bring sound sleep. Brahmi-coconut or Brahmi-sun.ower oil is applied to the soles of the feet and forehead in the case of pitta-type depression, and helps calm anger. In severe cases of depression, basti is administered regularly, using brahmi decoction and sesame oil. Ayurvedic treatment of depression should not be deemed unsuccessful until brahmi teas, brahmi ghee tonic, brahmi ghee nasya and brahmi basti have been administered for several months.
JATAMANSI
Jatamansi is the Indian variety of valerian, and is a perennial plant with stems partly underground and a woody root stock, growing about two feet high. It is the source of the essential oil known as nard or spikenard, as is highly aromatic. Bitter and astringent by taste, cooling in energy and sweet in postdigestive effect, it has a balancing effect on all three doshas. It nourishes prana vayu, tarpak kapha and sadhak pitta and is important in treating all kinds of depression. Currently, the Indian government is not allowing export of raw jatamansi. It is still possible to obtain nard essential oil and the compound known as sarsvati, which contains equal parts of brahmi, jatamansi, and calamus root. Sarasvati, named for the goddess of knowledge and speech, is valuable in the treatment of depression, an should be taken as a dry powder, combined with herbs which are of special relevance for V-, P-, or K-type depression.
VACHA
Known in English as sweet flag, vacha is a rhizome which contains acorin, the active principle. It is pungent and bitter in taste, heating in energy, and pungent in post-digestive effect. It calms vata and kapha, but may provoke pitta, and is contra-indicated in cases of stomach ulcer and bleeding disorder. It is of great benefitt in V-K-type depression.
VATA-TYPE DEPRESSION
V-type depression should be treating using brahmi tea, brahmi ghee, and brahmi sesame oil massage. Sarasvati should be given, _ teaspoon twice daily followed by warm water. Guggulu is extremely valuable for fear, anxiety, nervousness and all vatatype mood disorders. Normally, for vata, it is best given as the compound Yogaraj Guggulu. If the pitta is high or there is a history of hyperactivity, the cooler compound, kaishore Guggulu, is used instead. Due to its scraping effect, Guggulu is NOT used in pregnancy. Oiling and sweating using brahmi oil will help to calm the prana vayu, as will a treatment known as shirodhara, which consists of pouring a gentle stream of warm sesame oil on the forehead, or shirobasti, in which the entire scalp is bathed in warm sesame or brahmi oil. Basti using brahmi decoction and four ounces of warm sesame oil, is also valuable in calming the vata dosha.
PITTA-TYPE DEPRESSION
In P-type depressin also the basic teatment consists of brahmi tea, brahmi ghee, and brahmi-oil massage. Sarasvati can be used, combined with herbs that are balancing for sadhak pitta. These include shankapushpi, rose, sandalwood, and lotus. If there is a history of drug or alcohol abuse, shankapushpi will be tremendously useful in healing the liver as well as in calming the mind and balancing the sadhak pitta. For overall balancing of pitta, a pitta-soothing diet should be taken, avoiding sour, pungent, salty, and oily foods. Amalaki should be taken at bed time, _ teaspoon steeped for ten minutes in one cup boiling water.
KAPHA-TYPE DEPRESSION
The same basic treatments are used in K-type depression. Where there is obesity, triphala Guggulu can be used. Otherwise, Trikatu can be added to the sarasvati mixture, for a more stimulating effect. Refraining from sleep during the day and taking vigorous exercise is essential in the treatment of a kapha-type depression.
Compiled by: Shree Ram Phuyal
11th (2063) Batch
