Suffering from High Stress Levels? Try These 9 Ayurvedic Practices for Balancing Your Nervous System
Nine Ayurvedic Habits for a Healthier Nervous System
The ancient practice of Ayurveda offers a natural and holistic approach to regulating and nourishing the nervous system. By adopting these nine simple habits, you can bring more balance into your body and mind, reducing stress and promoting overall well-being.
- Deep Belly Breathing
Deep, slow, and counted breathing, such as inhaling for five seconds, holding for four, and exhaling for seven, can help calm an overactive nervous system. This technique, also known as Pranayama, is a powerful tool for reducing stress and promoting inner peace.
- Abhyanga
Massaging the body with warm sesame or herbal oils, particularly on the scalp, limbs, and feet, can help relax nerves, improve circulation, and promote a sense of peacefulness. This self-massage, known as Abhyanga, is a key practice in Ayurveda for maintaining a healthy nervous system.
- Sattvic Diet
Emphasizing whole grains, fresh vegetables, and ghee, while avoiding heavy or processed foods, can help promote calmness and balance in the body. This dietary approach, known as a Sattvic diet, is a cornerstone of Ayurveda and can support a clear, calm, and focused mind.
- Shirodhara Therapy
Pouring warm herbal oil onto the forehead can induce deep mental relaxation and reduce anxiety. This therapy, known as Shirodhara, is a popular Ayurvedic treatment that can help promote a state of deep relaxation and nervous system health.
- Meditation
Regular meditation can help calm the mind, enhance nervous system strength, regulate emotions, and reduce mental fatigue. By taking a few minutes each day to sit in stillness and focus on the breath, you can help promote a healthier nervous system.
- Calming Herbs
Herbs like Ashwagandha, Brahmi, and Jatamansi can help reduce stress hormones and support nervous system health. These herbs are often used in Ayurvedic practices to help promote relaxation and nervous system balance.
- Pranayama Breathing Techniques
Practicing Pranayama breathing techniques, such as Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing), Kapalabhati, and other calming breath practices, can help balance energy and reduce anxiety. These techniques can help increase oxygen flow and calm an overactive mind.
- Nasya
Lubricating the nasal passages with warm ghee or sesame oil can help clear sinuses, sharpen mental clarity, and maintain nervous system equilibrium. This practice, known as Nasya, is a key part of Ayurvedic self-care for maintaining a healthy nervous system.
- Establishing a Daily Routine and Ensuring Sufficient Restful Sleep
Maintaining a consistent daily routine and ensuring sufficient restful sleep can help stabilize nervous system function. Going to bed by 10 PM and waking up before sunrise supports nervous system repair, as the brain detoxifies and rejuvenates during this time.
These nine habits collectively support nervous system balance by calming mental agitation, enhancing circulation, promoting detoxification, and fostering relaxation through natural Ayurvedic methods. They can be practiced with mindful attention to individual constitution (dosha) and under guidance when necessary, especially for Nasya or specific breathing techniques.
In addition to these practices, spending time in nature, limiting screen time before bed, and sipping herbal teas made with calming herbs like Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Tulsi, Chamomile can help further support a healthy nervous system. Abhyanga is particularly beneficial for balancing Vata dosha, which governs the nervous system, and a sattvic diet, consisting of fresh, wholesome, plant-based, and minimally processed foods, supports a clear, calm, and focused mind. Finally, daily meditation can quiet the mind and regulate the nervous system, while Dhyana (meditative focus) can help balance mental activity, improve emotional control, and reduce overthinking.
*Incorporating a Sattvic diet, rich in whole grains, fresh vegetables, and ghee, and avoiding heavy or processed foods, can aid in promoting mental health and balanced well-being, a key principle of Ayurveda.
*Regular practice of meditation, a component of health-and-wellness, can foster a healthier nervous system by calming the mind, enhancing nervous system strength, and reducing mental fatigue.
