1. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES FOR DEPRESSION?
2. HOW SUCCESSFUL IS THIS TREATMENT?
3. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THIS TREATMENT?
4. WHAT ARE THE DRAWBACKS?
5. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY

RUVI RODRIGO Ayuwanna by Barberyn, Ayurveda Medical Center

1. Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders, affecting individuals at various stages of life. While conventional Western medicine is widely utilized for its treatment, many people are increasingly exploring alternative and natural healing traditions, such as Ayurveda, yoga, and acupuncture. These approaches offer holistic treatment options designed to manage depression and enhance overall quality of life. Ayurveda, in particular, provides a thorough and integrative approach to treating depression. It combines internal herbal medicines and supplements with a range of therapeutic practices. Central to Ayurvedic treatment are the Panchakarma therapies, and other therapies like Abhyanga which involves an oil massage using medicated herbal oils, which enhances circulation, promotes relaxation, and strengthens the connection between the mind and body, and Shirodhara, a soothing treatment where warm oil is continuously poured on the forehead to calm the mind and strengthen the nervous system. These therapies are designed to reduce stress, alleviate anxiety, and improve emotional well-being. Additionally, Ayurveda focuses on enhancing cognitive functions, including memory and concentration, while promoting better sleep patterns.

Another fundamental aspect of Ayurvedic practice is Dinacharya, which emphasizes the importance of maintaining a consistent daily routine aligned with our circadian rhythms or internal body clocks. By following Dinacharya, individuals can set a positive tone for their day, fostering a sense of calm and well-being. This practice supports mental health and contributes to a balanced and harmonious lifestyle, thereby enhancing its effectiveness in managing depression. Moreover, Sattvavajaya therapy plays a crucial role in Ayurvedic treatment. This therapy involves counselling that aims to boost self-awareness and mental clarity. The overall effectiveness of Ayurvedic treatments is further enhanced by integrating complementary practices such as Yoga, Pranayama (breath control exercises), and Meditation. These additional modalities support mental health and contribute to overall physical well-being, making Ayurveda a comprehensive alternative approach to managing depression.

2. Ayurveda, with its extensive history spanning thousands of years, is recognized for its holistic approach to managing various health conditions, including depression. According to Ayurveda physicians, Ayurvedic treatments have the potential to effectively manage depression and enhance overall quality of life. Many patients who have undergone Ayurvedic therapies report positive outcomes across multiple aspects of their lives—mental, physical, social,  and spiritual. Although Ayurveda has been practised for thousands of years, and some research has been conducted, much of its efficacy is based on traditional knowledge and anecdotal evidence. The highly personalised nature of Ayurvedic treatment, which is tailored to each individual’s unique needs, presents challenges for large-scale clinical trials; however, enhanced scientific investigation could clarify how Ayurvedic treatments work and their potential benefits in a modern context.

3. Ayurvedic treatments offer numerous benefits due to their holistic approach, which integrates the mind, body, and soul to promote overall well-being with long-term effects. By considering the interconnectedness of these elements, Ayurveda aims to foster comprehensive health improvements and balance. A key advantage of Ayurveda is its use of natural ingredients in its therapies. The reliance on herbal and plant-based remedies generally leads to minimal or no side effects, making Ayurvedic treatments a gentle alternative. This holistic approach not only supports physical health but also enhances mental and emotional balance, contributing to a sustainable and harmonious state of well-being.

4. Implementing Ayurvedic treatment lines requires significant time and commitment. Ayurveda views each individual as a unique being with specific needs, leading to highly personalised treatment plans. This personalised approach demands a thorough assessment and ongoing adjustments, which can be time-consuming and may require considerable effort from both patients and their families. Moreover, the holistic nature of Ayurveda means that treatment often involves a combination of therapies, lifestyle changes, and dietary adjustments. This comprehensive approach can be demanding and may not always align with the fast-paced lifestyles of modern individuals. The need for continuous monitoring and adaptation of treatment plans can pose practical challenges for patients seeking immediate relief.

5. Ayurveda addresses depression by restoring the balance of body, mind and soul through Panchakarma, customised diets, natural herbal treatments, and lifestyle adjustments. It includes practices like yoga and meditation for effective and holistic care. Consulting a qualified and experienced Ayurveda physician or psychiatrist is recommended for a comprehensive treatment plan.

RAEESAH ADJIE, Counselling Psychologist

1. Alternative medicines are great remedies to combat mild to severe depression without needing to rely on medications, unnecessarily. Alternative medicines are evidence-based interventions derived from well-researched theoretical concepts and have been proven to be efficient in the treatment of depression and act as a significant assistant towards treatment. As a counselling psychologist, I myself have opted for the effectiveness of alternative medicines. However, being mindful of the severity of depression acts as a mediator for each client, as each individual’s suffering can be subjective and unique. In my experience, there is no one solution that fits all. Every human being is wired differently to each other due to a gamut of factors such as values, past experiences, knowledge, culture, attitudes, personality etc. This means one treatment approach may be effective for one individual, while another person with the same condition may not experience the same effect.

2. Many people are turning to alternative medicines due to their proven success. Talk Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI) are common and highly effective interventions for depression. The majority of the population who receive alternative medicine interventions have proven to be recovered holistically (physical, psychological and social functions), rather than through pharmacological interventions as they offer a complete cure over managing the depression conditions with medications. Hence, the individual is well-geared to encounter life challenges effectively in terms of decision-making, emotion regulation, behavioural/social interactions etc.

3, Talk therapies and MBI offer a wide range of advantages to many clients. Firstly, there are no potential side effects in these psychological interventions as compared with pharmacotherapies. Talk Therapies or CBT helps to identify thoughts that could lead to depression, and hence replace them with rational thoughts. It enables individuals to understand their condition and take effective steps to alter it. Additionally, it helps you recognize any behavioural changes that may contribute to enhancing one’s mood. MBI is a proven intervention that enables a person to stay focused on the present moment instead of being distressed about past or future events. As a result, this can benefit in alleviating worry and helps to uplift one’s mood. MBI has also been proven to be as effective as an antidepressant with no observed side effects. Practising MBI does not require complex tasks, it may include simple day-to-day activities such as mindful walking, and practising self-awareness in daily tasks such as; dressing up, cooking etc.

4. In some instances, alternative medicines for depression as discussed earlier, can be time-consuming in terms of the number of sessions. There are no immediate solutions or cures and some sessions stretch from 8 – 24 weeks. Meanwhile, success depends on the client’s commitment to the treatment interventions.

5. I think raising awareness of the insights of alternative medicines to the public will make a positive impact on the scope of psychological interventions in the future. Last but not least, as a progressive nation we must strive to eliminate discrimination against psychological intervention service recipients.

By Kshalini Nonis