Brain Fog: Ayurveda understanding

Article by Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S & Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay)

Brain fog is an ill-defined phenomenon but many people suffer from this condition. It is an effect of fast paced and competitive modern-day life.

Understanding ‘Brain Fog’ through Ayurveda Lens

It is difficult to correlate any condition explained in Ayurveda to ‘brain fog’. Modern science itself gives so much scattered and improperly defined information about this condition. This condition is a sum effect of many causes and its symptoms are also massively diverse.

In this article we will try to understand brain fog applying Ayurveda fundamentals to the disease and try to explore what it might mean through Ayurveda lens.

By definition of Brain Fog

Brain fog may be caused by a wide array of causes and may present with a broad spectrum of symptoms but it briefly encompasses mental fatigue, forgetfulness, cognitive haziness and mainly mental exhaustion.

The disease has an organ link i.e. brain getting fogged but the symptoms are mainly related to mind.

So, we can consider brain fog as a condition involving manas and manovaha srotas – channels related to mind functions.

The Rajo-Tamo connect and the involvement of physical doshas in manifestation of ‘brain fog’

Rajas and Tamas are the mental doshas. When they are imbalanced they affect the mind and mind functions. They are even the contaminants of the mind channels.

Rajas can cause over-expression of mind functions and emotions like extreme anxiety, confusion, instability, irritability, anger, mood swings etc while Tamas quality of mind is responsible for slowing down of mind and its functions and milder emotions like depression, feeling low, loss of concentration and focus etc. Similar symptoms are found in brain fog.

Rajas and Tamas are interrelated with the physical doshas. Vata and Pitta are rich in Rajas quality while Kapha is rich in tamas quality.

Ayurveda considers body and mind as two sides of the same coin. So when there is disturbance in the balance of physical doshas they would in due course of time affect the mental doshas. Similarly when the mind doshas are disturbed they also disturb the physical doshas at some point of time in the long run. This shows the earliest description of psychosomatic disorders. In physical disorders there is a mind component involved, and in mental disorders there is a physical component involved. We can find mental symptoms in physical disorders and physical symptoms in mental disorders.

We can see that brain fog is also biphasic. It is not just the overuse of brain and cognitive functions that lead to the manifestation of brain fog, we also get to see a wide array of physical disorders like fibromyalgia, chronic inflammation etc to be causal of brain fog.

Causes of brain fog – Ayurveda perspective

Manasika – Any causes which bring about disturbance and imbalance in the mind, mind channels and in rajas or tamas or both attributes is causal of brain fog. Stress, tensions, anxiety, work pressure etc are contributory. Long standing worries and grief are also causal. Consumption of foods and indulgence in activities which influence rajas and tamas qualities of mind are important causative factors for brain fog.

Sharirika – Foods and activities which disturb the physical doshas i.e. vata, pitta and kapha, viruddha ahara – mutually incompatible foods, santarpana – excessive satiation / nutrition, apatarpana – deficit nutrition, untimely consumption of foods, wrong choices of foods, imbalances in trayopastambha – foods, sleep and celibacy or way of living, etc will cause many pathological changes in the body due to disturbed metabolism and cause wide array of physical and mental disorders including brain fog. These causes are responsible for inflammation and imbalance in the nervous, hormonal and immune systems which are all responsible for brain fog even according to modern medicine. Long standing diseases involved with severe aggravation of doshas or chronic – un-treated diseases will cause brain fog. This aspect is also explained in modern medicine.

The other causes include –

Asatmya Indriyartha Sannikarsha – excessive, deficit or wrong association between sense organs and their objects is causal. Example excessive exposure to screens is one of the causes for brain fog.

Prajnaparadha – doing mistakes in a state of consciousness, acting against one’s right consciousness / intellectual blasphemy – example, working in night shifts, staying awakened all night leading to insomnia or sleep deprivation which is one of the causes of brain fog.

Kala Parinama – effect of time – when we do wrong things in terms of physical deeds, mental actions, speech, foods, life activities etc they will sum up into conditions like brain fog by disturbing mental and physical doshas.

Asatmya indriyartha sannikarsha and Prajnaparadha are responsible for aggravation of all doshas – mental and physical and also head towards kala parinama.

Dharaniya Vegas – These are the mental urges which we need to control and have them in a state of balance. They are –

Irshya – malice, jealous
Shoka – despair, grief
Bhaya – fear
Krodha – anger
Mana – vanity and
Dvesha – hatred, etc

These bad emotions are also included under mental disorders and prajnaparadha.

Causes of vitiation of manovaha srotas – mind carrying channels –Most of the causes are the same as described above. They also disturb the rajas and tamas and imbalance the sattva attribute of the mind. These imbalances will lead to many mental imbalances leading to brain fog. The causes include –

Foods and activities which aggravate and imbalance rajo and tamo gunas of the mind and deterioration of sattva quality of mind
Foods and activities which cause aggravation of physical doshas – vata, pitta and kapha
Excessively expressing the emotions related to the mind like anger, greed, lust, fear, panic, jealousy etc
All etiological factors mentioned in the context of insanity, epilepsy or fainting disorders, atattvabhinivesha
Mental injuries / mental trauma and any causes leading to the same
Incompatible or inappropriate association of the sense organs and sense objects
Mistakes done in a state of consciousness
Weak mindedness
Long standing physical and mental disorders

Chintaka – Chintaka means a thinker, a person who is always indulged (excessively) in mental activities and works. Initially the term ‘brain fog’ was used to describe mental exhaustion among those immersed in intense cognitive pursuits, the term evolved over time, eventually finding a place in the DSM-4 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) in 1960, associating it with the rigors of excessive academic demands. These persons are ideal candidates for ‘brain fog’. In the indications of sneha, master Charaka has mentioned ‘chintaka’. This means to say that oleation or administration of small quantities of sneha – medicated ghee / oil daily in small quantities may help these people to overcome brain fog.

Dosha relationship in symptoms of brain fog

Vata / rajo guna relation – most symptoms of brain fog like difficulty concentrating, impaired attentiveness, learning difficulties, short term memory loss, trouble in grasping information, struggles with multitasking, dissociative feelings, forgetfulness, distraction, difficulty in recalling, insomnia, headaches, mood swings, low energy, mental fatigue are all due to high vata (vata-pitta) and compromised kapha.

Kapha relation – Difficulty in focusing, learning difficulties, trouble in grasping, forgetting things can also be due to extremely high kapha and mandagni. Decreased motivation and depression are definitely due to kapha.

Pitta relation – Mental fatigue, headaches, low energy, easy comprehension, burn-outs, and disturbance in other cognitive functions can be due to increased pitta activity as in chronic inflammations in the body.

Sub-dosha relationship

Prana Vata, Sadhaka Pitta and Tarpaka Kapha are the doshas located in the head. They help in balanced functioning of the brain and the entire nervous system. Imbalance in these doshas, individually or collectively or relatively might cause many disorders including brain-fog. Udana Vata which is related to speech, efforts, energy and enthusiasm, and memory may also be imbalanced in brain fog conditions and so also the budhi vaisheshika component of Alochaka Pitta which contributes towards processing the visual thoughts in the brain.

The brain link

Brain is called mastishka or mastulunga – i.e. the marrow inside the cranial cavity. Shira – head is considered as uttamanga – the best organ in the body and mastulunga is located inside the shira. In other words the word shira is inclusive of then brain. The shiras behold the sense organs and many vital points i.e. marmas. Shiras is also the seat of manas – the mind.

Bhrama – giddiness, partial loss of consciousness, Murcha – fainting, loss of consciousness and Tamo Darshana – experiencing darkness in front of the eyes, black-outs, are some of the symptoms of contamination of majjavaha srotas. These symptoms clearly indicate the explanation of majja pertains to brain matter. Therefore when majja is vitiated, the symptoms pertaining to vitiation of bone marrow tissue and also affliction of brain tissue and nerves are manifested. Though not exactly, these symptoms may be correlated to symptoms of brain fog.

Master Charaka has included ‘being well learned’ and ‘one having special knowledge of science’ among the majja sara lakshanas i.e. persons having enriched majja. (Cha.Vi.8/108)

Other aspects of manas which indicates the imbalance of mind in ‘brain fog’ through Ayurveda lens

Word derivation and meaning of the term manas

मन्यते अवबुध्यते ज्ञायते अनेन इति मनः।
manyate avabudhyate jñāyate anena iti manaḥ|

That which helps in knowing something is called manas. That which helps in obtaining the knowledge of something is called mana.

That which has the capability to think is called mana or manas. This capacity is lost due to brain fogging or when the manas cannot think it is a state of ‘brain fog’.

Signs and characteristic features of mind

लक्षणं मनसो ज्ञानस्य अभावो भाव एव च।॥च.शा.१/१८॥
मनः पुनः सराणि इन्द्रियाणि अर्थ ग्रहण समर्थानि भवन्ति।च.सू.८/७।
lakṣaṇaṃ manaso jñānasya abhāvo bhāva eva ca|||ca.śā.1/18||
manaḥ punaḥ sarāṇi indriyāṇi artha grahaṇa samarthāni bhavanti|ca.sū.8/7|

Absence or presence of knowledge is the main characteristic feature and sign of presence of mind. Being in a suspended animation between these two aspects is a state of brain fog.

The senses can perceive their objects only in the presence of the mind i.e. when the senses are connected to the mind. This connection is lost in brain fog and hence the person suffers from symptoms like loss of concentration and focus, dissociation, etc.

Subjects of the mind

चिन्त्यं विचार्यं ऊह्यं च ध्येयं सङ्कल्पम् एव च।
यत् किञ्चिद् मनसो ज्ञेयं तत् सर्वं हि अर्थ संज्ञकम्॥च.शा.१/२०॥
cintyaṃ vicāryaṃ ūhyaṃ ca dhyeyaṃ saṅkalpam eva ca|
yat kiñcid manaso jñeyaṃ tat sarvaṃ hi artha saṃjñakam||ca.śā.1/20||

Below mentioned are the subjects of the mind –

Chintya – thinking about many things
Vicharya – scrutinizing and analyzing between good and bad
Uhyam – making guess and inference
Dhyeya – aiming, focusing on something with concentration of mind
Sankalpam – determination and decision on the basis of discrimination made between good and bad

Apart from these, any other subject which falls into the territory of grasping and understanding to the mind, those which are fit to be understood by mind, i.e. happiness, grief, desire, hatred, rejection etc are all the subjects of the mind. There is a failure in all these subjects in a person with brain fog.

Functions of mind

इन्द्रियाभिग्रहः कर्म मनसः स्वस्य निग्रहः।
ऊहो विचारः च, ततः परं बुद्धिः प्रवर्तते॥च.शा.१/२१॥
indriyābhigrahaḥ karma manasaḥ svasya nigrahaḥ|
ūho vicāraḥ ca, tataḥ paraṃ buddhiḥ pravartate||ca.śā.1/21||

Below mentioned are the functions of the mind

Indriyabhigraha – to indulge / associate the sense organs in their respective objects
Swasya nigraha – to control self and keep detached from undesired subjects / objects
Uha – to understand out the meaning of subjects and treatises skillfully and establish (understand) their precise meaning
Vichara – to have a thought process and reasoning about accepting or rejecting a subject / thought

Following the functions of the mind (on its backdrop), the intellect comes into action and the actions are taken accordingly, depending on what needs to be done and what not.

We can see that all these functions are disturbed to various proportions in those suffering from brain fog.

Ayurveda Treatment Principles for ‘Brain Fog’

Nidana Parivarjana

It is very important to keep away any and all causative factors which are causing the brain fog, be it physical, mental, emotional or social cause or related to food, activity or behavior. The first and foremost duty of the physician is to identify these factors and educate the persons about their consequence and importance of isolating them. Any negative emotions or factors related to asatmya indriyartha sannikarsha, prajnaparadha and manasika vegas should be screened for while examining the patient.

Best remedies for a mind disorder

There are many ways in which mental disorders can be dealt with. Among them, the three basic principles of treating the mental disorders are –

Dhee – proper and skilful use of / training the intellect
Dhairya – seeding courage in one’s mind and removing negative thoughts
Atmadi Vijnanam – to make one to realize the importance of ‘self worth’

These include counseling of the patients and psycho-therapy – sattvavajaya chikitsa. The physician should work on deviations of dhee – intellect, dhrti – courage and decision making capacity and smriti – memory, all which are disturbed in case of ‘brain fog’.

Panchakarma

Vamana, Virechana and Basti / Vasti are beneficial for kapha, pitta and vata, influencing the body and mind in relation to brain fog. Nasya might work magic in these cases. These treatments also will help in comprehensively getting rid of morbid doshas, treating chronic inflammations, hormonal imbalances and compromised immunity which are responsible for causation of brain fog.

External Therapies

Below mentioned therapies will be helpful in relaxing the body and mind and hence addressing the ‘brain fog’ –

Abhyanga and Swedana
Sarvanga Dhara – Kshira Dhara or Taila Dhara
Murdni Taila – oil therapies on the head – Shirodhara, Shiro Abhyanga, Shiro Vasti, Shiro Pichu

Treatment principles of ‘contamination of majja vaha srotas’

Madhura tikta anna – sweet and bitter tasting foods and drinks
Vyayama – indulgence in exercises
Shodhana – evacuation / cleansing treatments – panchakarma therapies

Tikta Ghrta

Use of medicated bitter ghee in the form of oral consumption and enemas are ideal for balancing the richness of majja dhatu – bone marrow and brain tissue. Enemas can be administered in the form of anuvasana and matra vasti or tikta ksheera basti i.e. milk processed with bitter herbs.

Other treatment principles

Brain fog can be treated on the lines of treating –

Unmada – insanity, lunacy, mental disorders
Apasmara – epilepsy, memory disorders
Atattvabhinivesha – failure in judging between good and bad
Murcha – fainting
Long standing diseases which are causing mind symptoms and brain fog

Medhya Rasayanas

Juice of Mandukaparni – Centella asiatica
Powder of Yashtimadhu – Glycyrrhiza glabra mixed with milk
Juice of Guduchi – Tinospora cordifolia along with its root and flower
Paste of Shankhapushpi – Convolvulus pluricaulis

Important herbs

Brahmi – Bacopa monnieri
Shankhapushpi – Convolvulus pluricaulis
Kushmanda – Benincisa hispida
Ashwagandha – Withania somnifera
Shatavari – Asparagus racemosus
Amalaki – Emblica officinalis
Mandukaparni – Centella asiatica
Kapikachchu – Mucuna pruriens
Bala – Sida cordifolia
Tagara – Valeriana wallichii
Jyotishmati – Celastrus paniculatus

Important formulations

Brahmi Ghrta
Saraswatha Ghrta
Kalyanaka Ghrta
Tiktaka Ghrta
Panchagavya Ghrta
Saraswatharishtam
Balarishtam
Dashamularishtam
Ashwagandharishta
Ayaskriti
Brahmi Vati
Chyavanaprash
Kushmanda Rasayana
Amalaki Rasayana
Ashwagandha Rasayana
Manasamitra Vati

Other things to do

Eat foods on time
Sleep on time
Do not hold body’s urges
Keep away from negative mind emotions
Create a happy zone for help
Follow proper dinacharya and rtucharya
Achara Rasayana
Spend time with family and friends
Take breaks from work and screen
Travel to your favorite places
Do yoga
Exercise regularly
Meditate
Talk to people / help groups

Useful Yoga postures

Adhomukha Svanasana – Downward facing dog
Viparita Karani – Legs up the wall pose
Balasana – Child’s Pose
Shavasana – Corpse Pose
Garudasana – Eagle pose
Supta Baddha Konasana – Reclined butterfly pose
Janu Shirsasana – Head to knee forward bend
Chakravakasana, Bitilasana, Marjariyasana – Cat cow pose
Vrikshasana – Tree pose
Sethu bandhasana – Supported Bridge Pose
Uttanasana – Standing forward fold / bend
Padmasana – Lotus pose