Treatment of phobias with Ayurveda

Phobias according to the prisms of the Ayurvedic medicine

Types of phobias

Phobias are a form of anxiety disorder, which is expressed in excessive, irrational fears of certain objects, phenomena and situations. Although there are a variety of phobias, the most common are:

• agoraphobia, social phobia, as well as some specific phobias such as
• claustrophobia (fear of closed and narrow spaces)
• aerophobia (fear of flying)
• acrophobia (of heights), zoophobia (of animals)
• arachnophobia (of spiders and arachnids)
• hypophobia (of horses).

There are also much more unusual and bizarre phobias such as the dwarf phobia, long words phobia, phobia of pickles and phobia of holes/surfaces with holes – these are only some really  irrational fears. They, however, can be no less exhausting than the more common and „justified“phobias.

Symptoms of phobias often include panic attacks, so people who suffer from this seem more likely to avoid various situations that can cause unpleasant sensations. However, this leads to alienation and poor quality of life.

It is interesting to note that agoraphobia is not a fear of open spaces in general, as we are accustomed to see it in the modern Hollywood productions. Agoraphobia is a fear of getting, in one way or another, in a situation from which there is no exit, or the exit would be too hard or humiliating. Agoraphobia often manifests in combination with the full spectrum of symptoms of the panic disorder, which makes it more difficult to diagnose.

To a great extent phobias remain untreated, probably due to the fact that many people are not able to realize the irrationality or the excessive degree of their own fears. That is why statistics on the number of people suffering from phobias vary widely. In fact, phobias are very common, as they are believed to occur mostly in women than in men.

Treatment of phobias according to the Ayurvedic medicine?

Treatment of phobias by the modern conventional medicine often includes medications, sometimes combined with methods such as desensibilization, cognitive behavioral therapy, and so on.

If it is not treated properly, phobias may become worse to an extent that seriously damages our quality of life, even only with our attempts to hide it, and what about the side effects on our health. Fear of flying, for example, can make us give up all sorts of air travel, and therefore miss important opportunities for realization that can change our lives for the better.

There are a number of other situations where phobias have caused problems in the personal life of people, as well as in education and professional achievements. Although sometimes there are periods of spontaneous improvement, phobias usually never disappear without treatment.

The healing methods applied by Ayurveda in the treatment of various phobias do not have any side effects because they are based entirely on natural herbal remedies. Unlike the drugs prescribed by the conventional medicine, Ayurveda uses natural substances and their interaction on the biochemical processes in our organism. Ayurvedic treatment of phobias is holistic and complete, and it is expressed in a list of recommendations for a program that includes physical exercises, diet and sleep, as well as general lifestyle.

According to Ayurveda, phobias can be caused by an imbalance in Vata dosha. At the same time, problems with phobias and anxiety further disturb the balance of our Vata energy. This is because it is composed predominantly of the wind element and is symbiotically linked to our nervous system, Vata dosha can easily be disturbed by stressful factors, such as fear.

People with increased Vata dosha are usually dreamers, they find it difficult to concentrate on things that they do not personally care about. Although very creative, usually they experience difficulties with organization and are terrified by the routine.

The herb Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) is very effective in overcoming the symptoms of anxiety accompanying phobias. With the active substances it contains, this herb has an extremely soothing effect, it also treats insomnia. The Baikal skullcap is widely known for its beneficial properties in the Chinese traditional medicine.

Another herb, which can help modulate the body’s emotional response to stress and help us stay calm and in balance, is the passiflora /passion flower/. It acts as a natural sedative and has a pretty rapid effect, which can be useful in tense situations. Many ayurvedic prescriptions for remedies and procedures treating phobias, nervousness and fear, include passiflora.

Cammomile also has powerful soothing properties, that is why it is often used for the symptomatic and deep treatment of phobias in Ayurveda. Kava is not as popular (Piper methysticum) – it is a traditional herb used in ceremonies on the islands in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean. It also acts as a sedative, soothing the muscles of the body.

We can, for example, dissolve a root extract of kava in water, and drink this potion when we experience a phodbia episode. This plant has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract and provides relief of side symptoms such as heartburn and nausea.

To soothe the side physiological effects caused by the episodes of phobia, Ayurveda recommends juice of lemon or lime, which is very effective against dizziness and nausea. You can cut the fruit in half and smell it for a while instead of making a juice, and you will overcome the unpleasant episode.

„Nasya“ is an Ayurvedic practice that includes the introduction of medication oil in the nostrils. This is done every morning and soothes these delicate tissues, releases the respiratory channels, relieves stress, helps us to achieve mental clarity. The “Nasya” ritual should not be applied to women when they are pregnant or during menstruation.

For phobic relief, Ayurvedic marma therapy should be applied, which is similar to acupressure and affects 107 main points of our organism. Marma is especially effective for the balance and soothing of Vata dosha.