Depression

 Depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of loss, anger, sadness, or frustration interfere with everyday life .

                  Causes of Depression : Depression seems to be related to a chemical imbalance in the brain that makes it hard for the cells to communicate with one another. It also seems to be genetic (to run in families). It is caused by Sleep disturbances, Amount of exposure to light, Heredity, Nutritional deficiencies or Serious medical conditions, such as heart attack or cancer.

Depression Symptoms : Sadness, Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, Difficulty in Concentrating, Difficulty in making decisions, Crying easily or Crying for no reason, Aches and pains (such as recurrent headaches), Sexual problems (for example, decreased sex drive), A change in appetite causing weight loss or gain, Thoughts of death or suicide.

Depression Prevention : Using mind/body techniques, such as biofeedback, and meditation are effective ways to prevent or reduce symptoms associated with depression, Adequate sleep, regular exercise, and a balanced healthy diet may help prevent depression and diminish symptoms of this mood disorder.

Diet and Lifestyle : Avoid coffee, sugar, alcohol, dairy products: Depression has been associated with a high intake of caffeine. If you drink four or more cups of caffeine in a given day, try substituting decaffeinated coffee and soft drinks. Avoid any processed food, artificial colors, stimulant food, canned foods, smoking, dairy products, meats, eggs, and fish. Limit your total daily fat intake to 30 percent of your total calories. Try not to consume more than 300 milligrams of cholesterol a day, Vitamin B1 is necessary for the brain to metabolize carbohydrates. A deficiency of B1 can result in fatigue, irritability, memory lapses, insomnia, loss of appetite, and stomach upset. Don't believe all of your negative thinking. Avoid drugs and alcohol. Both make depression worse. Avoid making big life decisions when you're depressed.                                                                

   ”siddhars way of yoga and meditation certainy help to reduce depression’’.

                                       

                                                                                                                                                                        - Dr. S. Senthil Karunakaran

 

 

 

 

Treatment : Vata, Pitta and Kapha type Kiriyai

                  Mental disorders, including schizophrenia treatments are similar that neurosis type and  Pancha karma treatment is recommended as a stronger method.

                  Vata kiriyai: Nourishing and Sedating herbs are recommended. especially Amukkara and its various preparations. Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentine), is an important  herb for mental disorders. Other good herbs include Valerian, Guggul, Sadaamanjil and Calamus. Other therapies recommended are oil and ghee therapies, including oil   enemas. To regulate Abanan, Oil and ghee therapy is advised and In addition laxatives are added to remove Abanan blockage.

Pitta kiriyai:  Purgation is recommended, even strong purgatives are often helpful. The more violent type, the more purgation is required. Good herbs for this include Senna and Aloe. Gotu kola is generally the best herb others are Karisalai, Sandalwood and Lemon. Shatavari is good for promoting a sense of love and compassion and is better for weaker types of Pitha Kiriyai. Oil bath (Vilvadhi and Sandanathi Thylam) and fomentation therapies are recommended followed by purgatives and emetics. Medicated enemas with Indhuppu  and Tharanam with Sadamanjil and Agathi are also advised.

Kapha kiriyai:  Spicy brain-stimulating herbs are recommended . The treatment is mainly with expectorant, to clear phlegm from blocking the channels and obstructing mental functioning. Important herbs are Calamus, Thulasi, Adhimathuram, Aadathodai, and Guggul. Other formulas include Trikadugu with ghee or Calams ghee. Peranda Parpam is advised for all types of Kiriyai.

                                                             

                                                                        - Dr.A.Kirubagaran

Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)

                  Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) has been in use since ancient times as a potent nerve tonic for rejuvenating mental health and promoting intellect and memory.  Preclinical Neuropharmacological studies demonstrate that both the standardized extract and bacosides improve short-term and intermediate memories thus improving the long-term memory. The bacosides also significantly enhance protein synthesis in those regions of the brain, which are implicated in the memory formation, a possible explanation for its memory improving effect. Double blind cross over clinical studies have been carried out in children, elderly persons and normal healthy volunteers. Studies carried out in normal healthy volunteers, elderly subjects with age associated memory impairment and children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have shown that the drug was safe, well tolerated and efficacious. Study on children with ADHD has shown that the preparation significantly improves sentence repetition, logical memory and paired associate learning.

Five ways To Sort Out the Stresses

Five ways To Sort Out the Stresses & Improve Mental Health :

1.A balanceddiet, exercise and rest can help you to reduce stress and enjoy life.Challenge yourself with

 a jigsaw puzzle, solve riddles or read a good book. Even better, involve others with these activities.

2.Make plans with family members, loved ones and or a tour group to visit a place you’ve always 

wanted to go.

3.Join a club, start a new hobby or learn a new skill such as gardening, bird watching or dancing.

4.Invite family &  friends to join you once a week for dinner &  take turns preparing meals.

5.World Mental Health Day Quotes.“Mental illness is no myth, as some have claimed. It is a disturbance

 in our sense of possession of a stable inner self that survives its personae.”

 “MARUPATHU ULANOI   MARUNTHENA SALUM’’                                     - THIRUMOOLAR

MENTAL HEALTH WEEK: OCTOBER 9-15

                  Mental Health Week in 2011 will run from the 9 October – 15 October.The theme for Mental Health Week 2011 is – “Keeping the Balance: Investing in Your Mind and Body”                 

    05 Facts About Mental Health

1. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.

2. 33% of countries have no mental health budget.

3. 80% of the global burden of disease due to mental disorders is found in low- and middle-income countries.

4. On average about 8,00,000 people commit suicide every year, 86% of them in low- and middle-income countries. More than half of the people who kill themselves are aged between 15 and 44. 

5. War and other major disaster have a large impact on the mental health and psychosocial well being.

From the Editors Desk

                                                               

                                          NEW SIDDHA  P.G . COURSES

                 

                  We all know siddha systems of medicare is having its own uniqueness in not only treating but also in the regulating life style. Even though siddha system is having wide spread nowadays among public, still there are many treasures to be explored in the system for welfare of man kind.

Most of public, thinking that siddha is having a large limitation in treating disease. They have been aware that certain diseases only could be treated by siddha such as Jaundice, Arthiritis and skin diseases  but siddha physician are making impact in treating Neurological, Gynecological and even ophthalmological diseases.

People are in demand of treating various disease by an eco-friendly and cost effective treatment methodology. So it is time to expand our siddha teaching methodology by creating various specialties in M.D and P.G. Diploma courses.

From varma, to fertility care is to established to explore various treatments in our siddha system of Medicare. 

It is time bound, duty to be carried out by central council of  Indian Medicine (CCIM) to act and  make  publish In Indian Gazette.

        Thanking you

               Yours

        D.Velayudam    

NATIONAL NUTRITION WEEK : SEPTEMBER 1-7

              National Nutrition week is celebrated from September 1-7 every year . Nutrition is the focal point of health and well-being. In other words, it allows you to be strong, provides you with the energy to do the things you want to do, and makes you look and feel your best.

              The theme for National Nutrition Week 2011 is "Eat Right with Color." By eating a rainbow of colors, including fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, healthy nutrition is achievable.

Guidelines for Healthy Eating for Children:

1. Encourage children to eat a variety food .

2. Feed children five small meals a day.

3. Make starchy foods the basis of a child’s main meals.

4. Children need plenty of vegetables and fruit every day.

5. Children need to drink milk every day.

6. Children can eat chicken, fish, meat, eggs, beans, ground nut, peanut, butter every day.

7. If children have sweet treats or drinks, offer small amounts with meals.

8. Offer children clean, safe water regularly.

9. Take children to the clinic every three months.

10. Encourage children to play and be active.