The World Health Organization (WHO) embraces the definition of health as “physical, mental, and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. The need for good Mental health or mental well being is something least considered and misunderstood among the community. Lack of awareness and the social stigma associated with mental health problems is a major barrier. Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.
Mental Health in Ayurveda
Traditional medicinal systems like Ayurveda have a holistic approach towards life, health and disease. They stand closer to the culture and lifestyle of people and primarily aim to maintain a healthy physical and mental status rather than treating the diseases. Ayurveda, the ancient traditional system of medicine gives utmost importance to the component of mental health in defining the state of well being and disease. It emphasizes the need of eliciting and addressing the psychological component associated with all sorts of diseases. The earliest descriptions regarding various psychiatric disorders, classification and detailed treatment options are available in various Ayurveda treatises; centuries before the development of modern psychiatry. Among the major eight branches of Ayurveda (Ashtanga Ayurveda) one deals exclusively with psychology and psychiatry.
The detailed literature pertaining to manas (mind), atma (soul), indriya (sensory and motor organs) and indriya artha (object of senses), their role in the process of cognition and maintaining a healthy mental status is narrated. One feature of good mental health depends on Satva (resilience), which is meant resistance towards mental disorders in the face of life adversities. One with a low level of satva finds it difficult to cope with the life stressors and hence more vulnerable to psychological disturbances and psychiatric disorders.
Various psychiatric disorders are explained under unmada spectrum of disorders where eight cognitive and behavioural domains like budhi (intellect) smriti (memory) sajnagyana (orientataion) etc. are affected. Mainly three modes of treatments; Yuktivyapasraya chikitsa (Pharmacological Intervention), Satvavajaya Chikitsa (Psychotherapeutic measures) and Daiva vyapasraya chikitsa (faith healing practices) are followed. Out of which the first two are more authentic and widely practised modes of treatment. Various forms of medications including medicated ghee, powders, decoctions tablets etc and panchakarma procedures like Vamana (therapeutic emesis), Virechana (Therapeutic purgation), Basti (medicated enema), Nasya, sirodhara etc are used for intervention.
Regular intake of balanced diet and engaging in physical activities, being analytical/ proper planning, Sensory detachment, being kind and helpful, emotional equanimity, being truthful, developing forgiveness, respecting others, serving others, worship of god etc. practices are helpful in developing a positive mental health status.
Ayurveda Psychiatry – Present Status
Manovigyan avum Manasroga ( Ayurveda Psychiatry) is a speciality that is gaining more popularity in recent days. In India, five institutes offer post-graduation course in this speciality following the norms of the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM). Anyone completing a bachelor degree in Ayurveda (BAMS) can pursue it from any of these educational institutions. Out of these VPSV Ayurveda College Kottakkal, Kerala and SDM Ayurveda College Hassan, Karnataka is training postgraduates since two decades and providing outpatient and inpatient services, especially for psychiatric cases. The legal issues associated with psychiatric problems are numerous and often the patients are exploited by faith healing practitioners, quacks and under-qualified physicians. The Mental Health Act 2017 recognizes one with post-graduation (MD) in this speciality as a mental health professional legally eligible to consult and treat patients with psychiatric problems.
Government Ayurveda Research Institute for Mental diseases (GARIM) Kottakkal, is a pioneer institute in Kerala in the field of Ayurveda Psychiatry under ISM department, Govt of Kerala. It is a sixty bedded Ayurveda psychiatric hospital running since more than four decades. The institute has a child psychiatry speciality unit and postgraduates scholars and house surgeons across India are posted here for training. A multidisciplinary team including Ayurveda psychiatrists, clinical psychologist, yoga therapist, panchakarma therapists and trained nurses are available at the institute for patient care. It is the coordination centre for various state-level projects related to psychiatry and organizes various public awareness programs and research-oriented training programs for the professionals. Approximate patient attendance in the OPD is 10000 and 800- 1000 in the IPD in a year.
Department of Integrative Medicine,
NIMHANS is one of the first of its kind department in an Institute of National Importance in India, which integrates traditional Indian knowledge from Ayurveda and Yoga with Modern Medical Science in providing clinical services, academic training and research activities with a special focus on Mental Health and Neurosciences. The department started functioning since 2019.
Conclusion
Mental health should be considered equal to or more important than physical health. Proper public awareness and development of supporting systems should address the social stigma associated with psychiatric problems. Traditional medicinal systems like Ayurveda are having a separate branch which deals with psychiatric disorders and their management. It is always easy and better to maintain a healthy mental status by modifying our lifestyle and by leaving the negative emotions aside.