Ayurveda For Mental Health: How To Use It For Calm & Clarity

Ayurveda helps us eliminate imbalances, live according to our true nature, and align our mind, body, and soul. But what does the ancient practice have to say specifically about our mind? The part of us that always has something to say, that wrestles with emotions, that holds onto subconscious beliefs that are simply untrue?

In an age when deconstructing limiting beliefs and exploring our subconscious mind is essential, can Ayurvedic principles help lead the way?

I recently got curious about this topic with one of my teachers, oriental medicine and Ayurveda expert Claudia Welch, DOM. During an interview for my podcast, Welch explained that in ancient Ayurveda texts, there are three channels of the body that are connected to the mind: pranavaha, rasavaha, and manovaha srota. (Srota means "channels.")

This channel carries vital breath to the lungs and respiratory system.

On a physical level, we can heal this channel by being mindful of what smells we are taking in like avoiding harsh chemicals and polluted environments.

On an energetic level, we can heal this channel by breathing more mindfully.

This channel carries the sweet juice of the body—the chyle, chyme, and plasma. Physically, the timeless practice of abhyanga, Ayurvedic self-massage, can directly affect this channel by detoxifying and nourishing the tissues of the body.

This channel is directly related to the mind. Overwhelm, frustration, anger, dullness, and depression are all associated with this channel. On a physical level, herbs like ashwagandha can help calm the nervous system and assist in healing our manovaha srota.

How come there is no direct mention of the kinds of thoughts each of us has in this framework? For an explanation, Welch says we can look to this quote from ancient Indian physician Sushruta: "For matters that are only touched on in these treatises and are expounded on elsewhere, you have to go to that elsewhere to find out the full picture."

Could it be that the wise scholars and ancient rishis of Ayurveda knew that the best way to heal the mind is to heal the heart? Could it be that they wanted to preserve Ayurveda as an empowering science and trust us to fill in the rest?