Seasonal changes deeply impact human life and can directly affect a person's physical and mental health.

In Ayurveda, there is a detailed description of different foods and lifestyles for six different seasons so that we can remain healthy in every season.

But knowingly or unknowingly, we violate the Ayurvedic principles of diet and lifestyle according to the season resulting in various types of mental and physical problems. One of these is seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or seasonal depression.

It is a type of depression, which is usually seen in the winter season.  In this mental health disorder, a person feels sad, lonely, tired, and less energetic.

The main causes of SAD include changes in weather, lack of enjoying sunlight regularly for long periods, lack of physical activity due to shivering weather, and changes in hormones like melatonin and serotonin in the human body.

These changes can affect a person's mood, performance, and sleep.  Symptoms of this disease may include sadness, lack of energy, trouble sleeping, irregular eating habits, and disinterest in social activities.

This problem starts from the beginning of autumn and continues till the arrival of spring.  A holistic approach should be adopted to tackle this problem, including counselling, diet, light therapy, medicines, and Panchakarma therapy.

Light therapy proves to be very effective in this, under which the person is made to sit in sunlight or a chamber with high-intensity light in the absence of sunlight.

Additionally, practicing yoga and meditation, exercising regularly, eating healthy foods, and improving daily routines prove to be quite helpful.  A person suffering from this problem should follow a moderate and healthy lifestyle.                

Herbs like Ashwagandha, Shatavar, Mandukaparni, Brahmi etc. are used for its treatment.  Ayurvedic medicines like Brahm Rasayan, Ashwagandhadi Avaleh, Shatavaryadi Churna, Saraswat Churna, Brahmi Ghrit, Jatamansyadi Kwath etc. are especially beneficial in the treatment of this disease.

Shirodhara therapy under Panchakarma treatment is highly beneficial.  However, it is necessary that after identifying the symptoms of this disease, help and treatment of the patient should be started immediately so that the disease does not progress further.