Best Rehabs with Ayurveda

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian medical system relying on natural approaches to enhance mental and physical health. It’s one of the world's oldest forms of medical care, and is still used as traditional medical treatment in India. Ayurveda combines lifestyle, diet, and exercise changes with supplements (herbal, mineral, metal, animal). Though few clinical trials have concretely proven its effectiveness, Ayurveda’s ancient wisdoms can still help you holistically recover from addiction and mental health conditions.

Ayurveda in Addiction Treatment

Ayurvedic medicine aims to restore the balance of your mind, body, and spirit, which can then promote or enhance self-healing. As defined by Ayurveda, addiction is living inharmoniously and without balance. Ayurvedic medicine strives to restore that balance and harmony through energy treatment and highly holistic care.

Ayurveda in addiction treatment focuses on detox and body/energy cleansing, meditation, supplements, and shirodara (pouring warm oil on the 3rd eye), among other naturopathic routes. Ayurvedic practitioners may also use breathwork and purifying massages with herb-infused oils to restore mind and body.

To manage withdrawal symptoms, Ayurvedic practitioners often replace a substance, like alcohol, with a tapered dose of a similar substance or herbal remedy. For alcohol withdrawal, Ayurvedic practitioners may use small doses of shrikhandasava, which contains a minor amount of alcohol and herbs. You’ll take less of the tapering medicine each day until you’re completely off all substances.

Ayurvedic Diet Changes for Addiction Treatment

Diet changes in Ayurvedic medicine reflect balance and renewal. For example, you may eat a balanced blend of dry and wet foods. Dry foods include nuts and other hard, more brittle foods. Wet foods like ghee (clarified butter) nourish damaged bodily systems and balance out dry foods. Ayurveda also focuses on herbs and herb blends to relieve withdrawal symptoms, help with cravings, and rebalance the body.

Common herbs used in Ayurveda include turmeric, ashwagandha, shatavari, brahmi, licorice, manjistha, and haritaki. You may take these in careful combinations or singularly.

Lifestyle Changes in Ayurveda

Ayurveda lifestyle changes typically include gentle exercises and a focus on mindfulness. Your Ayurvedic practitioner, or vaidya, may suggest daily walks, yoga, and meditation. You’ll also create a stress-management plan to optimize your sleep, lower stress levels, and improve your overall wellbeing.

The Benefits of Ayurvedic Remedies

Ayurveda can benefit those who prefer a more natural route to recovery, or someone who’s found traditional medicine can do more harm than good for them. Intolerance and unpredictable side effects of medications (for mental and physical health) may make Ayurveda more beneficial for some.

Ayurveda’s holistic nature can also benefit those needing more whole-picture care. And, you can continue Ayurveda remedies as long as you need, unlike some traditional remedies that must start and stop at certain times.

Ayurveda for Mental Health

By rebalancing your mind, body, and spirit, Ayurveda can alleviate the symptoms of mental illness and promote self-healing. Your vaidya will likely suggest certain herbal, diet, and lifestyle remedies focused on your mental health.

Risks of Ayurveda

Ayurveda isn’t a replacement for traditional medical care—using it that way can put you at risk of health complications and untreated needs. For serious physical or mental health conditions, Ayurveda may not be the level of care you need. For example, Ayurveda can’t replace surgery, strong pain medications, or a consultation from your primary doctor. Also, let your doctor know if/when you use Ayurveda, so they know exactly what supplements you’re using.