|
Ayurvedic
Treatment For Following Diseases
Causes
of Stress
The causative factors of stress are broadly divided into two
types
External
stressors: include adverse physical conditions (such
as pain or hot or cold temperatures) or stressful psychological
environments (such as poor working conditions or abusive relationships)
, rules, regulations, "red tape," deadlines. It
also includes major life events: death of a relative, lost
job, promotion, insults, being ignored etc.
Internal
stressors: can also be physical (infections) or psychological.
Lifestyle choices: caffeine, not enough sleep, overloaded
schedule.
Negative Thinking: Pessimism, self-criticism, over-analyzing.
Mind traps: unrealistic expectations, taking things personally,
exaggerating, rigid thinking.
Stressful personality traits: perfectionist, workaholic, pleaser.
Vata and Pitta constitution people.
Type
of stress: Stressors can also be defined as short-term
(acute) or long-term (chronic).
Acute Stress: Acute stress is the reaction
to an immediate threat, commonly known as the fight or flight
response. The threat can be any situation that is experienced,
even subconsciously or falsely, as a danger. Common acute
stressors include: noise, crowding, isolation, hunger, danger,
infection, and imagining a threat or remembering a dangerous
event.Under most circumstances, once the acute threat has
passed, the response becomes inactivated and levels of stress
hormones return to normal, a condition called the relaxation
response. Chronic Stress: Frequently, however, modern life
poses on-going stressful situations that are not short-lived
and the urge to act (to fight or to flee) must be suppressed.
Stress, then, becomes chronic. Common chronic stressors include:
on-going highly pressured work, long-term relationship problems,
loneliness, and persistent financial worries.
Common
manifestations of stress -
Digestive system. It's common to have a stomachache or diarrhea
during stress. This happens because stress hormones slow the
release of stomach acid and the emptying of the stomach. The
same hormones also stimulate the colon, which speeds the passage
of its contents. Chronic stress can also lead to continuously
high levels of cortisol. This hormone can increase appetite
and cause weight gain.
Immune system. Chronic stress tends to dampen the immune system,
making one more susceptible to colds and other infections.
Nervous system. If fight-or-flight response never shuts off,
stress hormones produce persistent feelings of anxiety, helplessness
and impending doom. Oversensitivity to stress has been linked
with severe depression, possibly because depressed people
have a harder time adapting to the negative effects of cortisol.
The byproducts of cortisol act as sedatives, which contribute
to the overall feeling of depression.
Cardiovascular system. High levels of cortisol can also raise
your heart rate and increase your blood pressure and blood
lipid (cholesterol and triglyceride) levels. These are risk
factors for both heart attacks and strokes.
Other systems. Stress worsens many skin conditions —
such as psoriasis, eczema, hives and acne — and can
be a trigger for asthma attacks.
Ayurvedic
Stress Management
Providing understanding and guidelines for balance in body,
mind and spirit, Ayurveda gives us Panchakarma Therapy as
well as herbal healthcare to maintain the 'Tridoshas' in balance
throughout our mind and body.
Pancha
Karma therapies has been used for centuries in the Ayurvedic
management of disease. Pancha Karma is the process which gets
to the root cause of the problem and corrects the essential
balance of 'Tridosha' in body.The therapies specific for Stress
conditions are Shiroabhyanga, Shirodhara, Shirovasti, and
Abhyanga.
The
drug used in the treatment are mostly medhya drugs or medhya
rasayanas which are believed to act as specific molecular
nutrients for the brain affording a better mental health leading
in turn to alleviation of the behavioral alteration and to
cope up day to day stress. The herbs of adaptogenic properties
are Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Brahmi (bacopa monniera),
Shankh pushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis), Vacha (Acorus calamus),
Madhuyashti (Glycrrhiza glabra), Amrita(Tinospora cordifolia),
Amalaki (Embelica officinalis) etc.
Ashwagandha
ghrita, Brahmi ghrita in dosage of 5gm with hot milk and Amrut
Bindu nasya is of great help.
Proprietary Ayurvedic medicine 'Prasham' has also got best
results in stress reduction
Yoga:Progressive
deep relaxation , i.e., Shavasana brings about a relaxed state
of mind and practicing it daily is very useful in reducing
stress. Daily practice of 'Yoganidra' is also useful for making
your mind calm and tension free.
|
