Brain fog can be an underlying symptom for many conditions. They can include multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, sleep disorders, certain heart conditions, pregnancy, or specific lifestyle triggers like stress, anxiety and poor work-life balance. Brain fog can show up in different ways. You may experience lack of clear thinking, slower cognitive process, forgetfulness, fatigue, poor memory retention, difficulty in paying attention, among other things. Here are a few things Ayurveda suggests you can do to emerge out of a foggy brain.
-
Have a diet rich in antioxidants
Make sure your diet is replete with sources of antioxidants. You can do find plenty of it in berries, amla, giloy, avocadoes, leeks, eggplant, pumpkin, apricot, mangoes, milk, nuts among other foods. You need antioxidants in your diet because the brain which is working round the clock, uses up oxygen to keep going and the brain cells are susceptible to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is when rogue free radicals, which are harmful and reactive molecules increase in the body with not enough antioxidants to counter their damage. The free radicals act against your brain health. That is the reason you need a diet that replenishes the antioxidants in your body.
-
Manage stress
The connection between mental stress and mind fog is pretty intuitive. The stress sitting in the form of toxins in your body can lower your productivity, reduce the clarity of thought, increase anxiety and tension while increasing risk factors for a host of other lifestyle conditions. When the mind is free of stress, it is centered, clear, have more attention span and higher problem-solving skill. Meditation, aromatherapy, and seasonal massage therapy or daily Abhyanga are few of the ways you can manage this stress.
According to Ayurveda, each dosha governs a specific cognitive function. For example, Vata dosha governs learning and understanding (called Dhi). The Pitta Dosha is responisble for retention and processing of information. Kapha dosha takes care of the memory.
Experts recommend the use of essential oils made from select herbs for regular use as a moisturizer, bath oil or for body massages that helps rebalance the tridoshas. This is because imbalance in any or all the three doshas, can affect cognitive function. Shankara’s Soothing Body Oil is a soothing blend of essential oils that are known for their relaxing and de-stressing qualities. Made using essential oils like almond, grapeseed, sunflower, borage, evening primrose, lavender, sandalwood, and chamomile, this nutrient-rich body oil also helps address worries of the mind, over critical thinking, irritability, and anger! An oil for hypertension is also an oil for a perfectly calm and relaxed mind!
Also, read here, how stress can cause your hair to gray rapidly and what you can do about it.
-
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy with specific oils like rosemary, basil oil, peppermint and lemon can bring about the following benefits for your brain:
- Mental clarity
- Overcome mental fatigue
- Improved concentration and focus
- Revitalization
- Calm and soothing effect that lingers throughout the day
What oils are good for you? How to use it? Here, are the seven commonly asked questions about aromatherapy.
-
Ayurvedic herbs
Medhya Rasayana in Ayurveda is a collection of powerful herbs that work to improve cognitive function. They also power up the process of learning, retention, assimilation of information and creativity. These herbs include Shankhapushpi, Brahmi, Gotu Kola, Ashwagandha, and giloy.
-
Quality sleep
Even if you have fulfilled all the above, disturbed sleep is bound to lower your cognitive abilities, especially when you have started to live with it. The quality of your sleep is just as important. A good 8-hour sleep, for example, recharges your brain, giving it complete rest. It also affectshow nerve cells interact with each other. Good sleep helps get rid of toxins built up during the day in the form of impressions and memory. The more time you spend in REM the better is the quality of your sleep, and better is the quality of rest. Here, are six quick ayurvedic tips to sleep well.
