<p>Mental health problems are being recognised as an epidemic across the world, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. From anxiety to depression, people of all ages are increasingly struggling with their mental well-being. Conventional treatments often focus on medications, but there is growing interest in lifestyle interventions such as yoga and Ayurveda. These practices, which have been around for centuries, offer a holistic approach to mental health, integrating the mind, body, and spirit.</p>.<p>Yoga has emerged as a popular tool for managing mental health. What makes yoga unique is its ability to empower individuals to take control of their healing process. By incorporating breathing exercises, meditation, and physical postures, yoga helps reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and promote relaxation. Research conducted at NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences) in Bengaluru has demonstrated yoga’s effectiveness in treating a wide range of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, addiction, and even schizophrenia. Studies have also shown that yoga can be four times more effective than exercise in alleviating negative symptoms like social withdrawal in people with schizophrenia. Prof Shivarama Varambally’s research in 2013 showed this significant finding which later helped bring yoga into treatment guidelines for schizophrenia by NICE, UK.</p>.<p>Once a person learns the practice of yoga, they can continue doing it on their own, making it a cost-effective, stigma-free, and scalable intervention. It has been particularly useful for reducing technology addiction among young people, improving their ability to focus, sleep better, and manage emotions as demonstrated in a Department of Science and Technology, Science and Technology of Yoga and Meditation (DST-SATYAM)-funded project at NIMHANS. Research by Streeter et al (2010, 2012) has shown that yoga enhances brain plasticity and stimulates the release of neurotransmitters like GABA, which play a crucial role in managing anxiety.</p>.<p>While yoga offers mental and physical benefits, Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine from India, provides a complementary approach to holistic health. Ayurveda focuses on the balance of three energies (called doshas) – vata, pitta, and kapha – which are believed to govern our physical and mental health. For instance, an imbalance in vata (air and space elements) can cause anxiety, insomnia, or attention deficits. Kapha (earth and water) imbalance can lead to depression, while pitta (fire and water) imbalance may result in irritability and anger. Ayurveda works on bringing these energies back into harmony through lifestyle changes, diet, exercise, and mental wellness practices.</p>.<p>At NIMHANS, researchers have explored how Ayurveda can work alongside systems in modern medicine to improve mental health outcomes. One study conducted on people with Major Depressive Disorder found that combining Ayurveda-based treatments – like shirodhara (oil pouring on the forehead) and specific herbal remedies – along with standard medical care helped improve symptoms, enhance autonomic functions, and lower stress hormone levels (cortisol). Another study found that Ayurveda helped reduce symptoms of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), improved sleep quality, and increased social functioning.</p>.<p>Integrating yoga and Ayurveda with modern treatments can enhance the overall effectiveness of mental healthcare. Research by this writer has shown that adding a two-week shirodhara treatment to a yoga intervention significantly improved the quality of sleep and memory in patients with anxiety disorders.</p>.<p>The Ministry of AYUSH has recently funded a Centre of Excellence in AYUSH research at the Department of Integrative Medicine, NIMHANS. This centre has started a mega project of understanding the neurobiological correlates of Ayurveda-based dosha constitution in 2,000 participants through fMRI scans and has planned randomised controlled trials of combined yoga and Ayurveda intervention in four major disorders: depression, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, and mild cognitive impairment, and early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Recruitment for this research is ongoing.</p>.<p>New era in mental healthcare</p>.<p>The future of mental healthcare lies in integration – bringing together the strengths of both modern and traditional systems of medicine. Emerging research from institutions such as NIMHANS suggests that blending Western treatments with yoga and Ayurveda can offer more effective <br>solutions to today’s mental health challenges.</p>.<p>However, it is important to approach this integration with scientific rigour. While early results are promising, more research is needed to ensure that combining these systems is safe and beneficial for patients. With proper evidence-based protocols in place, the collaboration between modern medicine and traditional practices like yoga and Ayurveda could redefine mental healthcare in the 21st century.</p>.<p><em>(The writer is an associate professor at the Department of Integrative Medicine, <br>NIMHANS, Bengaluru; this is the tenth article in a DH-NIMHANS series on mental health)</em></p>
<p>Mental health problems are being recognised as an epidemic across the world, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. From anxiety to depression, people of all ages are increasingly struggling with their mental well-being. Conventional treatments often focus on medications, but there is growing interest in lifestyle interventions such as yoga and Ayurveda. These practices, which have been around for centuries, offer a holistic approach to mental health, integrating the mind, body, and spirit.</p>.<p>Yoga has emerged as a popular tool for managing mental health. What makes yoga unique is its ability to empower individuals to take control of their healing process. By incorporating breathing exercises, meditation, and physical postures, yoga helps reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and promote relaxation. Research conducted at NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences) in Bengaluru has demonstrated yoga’s effectiveness in treating a wide range of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, addiction, and even schizophrenia. Studies have also shown that yoga can be four times more effective than exercise in alleviating negative symptoms like social withdrawal in people with schizophrenia. Prof Shivarama Varambally’s research in 2013 showed this significant finding which later helped bring yoga into treatment guidelines for schizophrenia by NICE, UK.</p>.<p>Once a person learns the practice of yoga, they can continue doing it on their own, making it a cost-effective, stigma-free, and scalable intervention. It has been particularly useful for reducing technology addiction among young people, improving their ability to focus, sleep better, and manage emotions as demonstrated in a Department of Science and Technology, Science and Technology of Yoga and Meditation (DST-SATYAM)-funded project at NIMHANS. Research by Streeter et al (2010, 2012) has shown that yoga enhances brain plasticity and stimulates the release of neurotransmitters like GABA, which play a crucial role in managing anxiety.</p>.<p>While yoga offers mental and physical benefits, Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine from India, provides a complementary approach to holistic health. Ayurveda focuses on the balance of three energies (called doshas) – vata, pitta, and kapha – which are believed to govern our physical and mental health. For instance, an imbalance in vata (air and space elements) can cause anxiety, insomnia, or attention deficits. Kapha (earth and water) imbalance can lead to depression, while pitta (fire and water) imbalance may result in irritability and anger. Ayurveda works on bringing these energies back into harmony through lifestyle changes, diet, exercise, and mental wellness practices.</p>.<p>At NIMHANS, researchers have explored how Ayurveda can work alongside systems in modern medicine to improve mental health outcomes. One study conducted on people with Major Depressive Disorder found that combining Ayurveda-based treatments – like shirodhara (oil pouring on the forehead) and specific herbal remedies – along with standard medical care helped improve symptoms, enhance autonomic functions, and lower stress hormone levels (cortisol). Another study found that Ayurveda helped reduce symptoms of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), improved sleep quality, and increased social functioning.</p>.<p>Integrating yoga and Ayurveda with modern treatments can enhance the overall effectiveness of mental healthcare. Research by this writer has shown that adding a two-week shirodhara treatment to a yoga intervention significantly improved the quality of sleep and memory in patients with anxiety disorders.</p>.<p>The Ministry of AYUSH has recently funded a Centre of Excellence in AYUSH research at the Department of Integrative Medicine, NIMHANS. This centre has started a mega project of understanding the neurobiological correlates of Ayurveda-based dosha constitution in 2,000 participants through fMRI scans and has planned randomised controlled trials of combined yoga and Ayurveda intervention in four major disorders: depression, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, and mild cognitive impairment, and early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Recruitment for this research is ongoing.</p>.<p>New era in mental healthcare</p>.<p>The future of mental healthcare lies in integration – bringing together the strengths of both modern and traditional systems of medicine. Emerging research from institutions such as NIMHANS suggests that blending Western treatments with yoga and Ayurveda can offer more effective <br>solutions to today’s mental health challenges.</p>.<p>However, it is important to approach this integration with scientific rigour. While early results are promising, more research is needed to ensure that combining these systems is safe and beneficial for patients. With proper evidence-based protocols in place, the collaboration between modern medicine and traditional practices like yoga and Ayurveda could redefine mental healthcare in the 21st century.</p>.<p><em>(The writer is an associate professor at the Department of Integrative Medicine, <br>NIMHANS, Bengaluru; this is the tenth article in a DH-NIMHANS series on mental health)</em></p>
