Beat Seasonal Blues With Ayurveda

You react to the environment around you and as nature starts to dry and reveals brown branches and less sunlight your body naturally starts to slow down some of that energy that was in abundance in the summertime. Less sunshine also means lowered levels of dopamine, the brain chemical associated with pleasure and reward. Less dopamine can lead to decreased enthusiasm and drive during the winter. Which is why it’s important to be outside as much as possible in the sunlight or daylight breathing in the lifeforce energy.

Depression can be caused by traumatic experiences which tends to be long-standing. Or it can be seasonal when it comes in a breeze and goes away when the sun shines. Depression can be time for reflection and deep restful feeling. However, it should pass given its time and if it is not then there may be something we are not allowing to be addressed or embraced at the heart. Ayurvedic wisdom teaches that a forgiving heart is a healthy one! But really going into and figuring out the root cause of your depression is important to help you start to feel better. A health coach can help you to take the steps to know how you are feeling or where the root cause is. If you would like to look at natural ways to heal or look into the karma of what started that process, you can reach out for consultation here.

When we want to move away from dullness in the mind and connect with more light draw from the sun as the easiest source to connect too. Waking (even if you don’t want too) before dawn and getting out in the day as the sun rises for a morning stroll can give an instant sense of connection and awe at the dawning of a brand new day. This will get fresh air into the lungs and open you up to your breath body, removing stagnation from the system. So breathing deeply and in nature is an important step. Not everyone has nature on their doorstep but finding a nearby park and making the effort to be in green space will help. The impact of looking at trees or the sea or any body of water has been studied to have a positive effect on mood.

Eating foods which play a role in the body to produce serotonin and melatonin naturally will include a healthy whole foods diet with fresh local organic items. The four main foods that aid the body are tryptophan, magnesium, calcium and B6. These substances are found in organic dairy, nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits, veggies and grains will improve positive sleep patterns along with more restful sleep. It’s important to eat these substances fresh and buy them from local sources as this will lead to more vitamins in them.

Eating sweet, milky, starchy tasting foods such as rice pudding, almond milk, or carrot soup or salty miso before bedtime will help to soothe you into sleep. Whereas spicy foods, alcohol and high fat, protein-rich foods disrupt sleep when eaten too close to bedtime.

Gut health and toxins are also important to mention here as a support for overall wellbeing and is something that working with a health coach, nutritionist, neuropathic practitioner, medicinal doctor or functional medicine doctor can help you find the cause of your imbalances.