Healing Young Minds: Ayurvedic Solutions for Screen Addiction in Children – A Critical Evidence-Based Review
Keywords:
Ayurveda, Mana, Mental health, Screen addictionAbstract
Screen addiction is an emerging pediatric behavioral concern with multifaceted effects on cognitive, emotional, and sensory development. This review critically examines the problem through the lens of Ayurvedic concepts such as Vishaya of Mana, Asatmya Indriyartha Samyoga, and Prajnaparadha, integrating them with contemporary findings on neurodevelopmental disruption. A narrative review was conducted using Ayurvedic classical texts and modern databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate), focusing on the terms “screen addiction in children,” “Ayurveda and cognition,” “child behavior,” and “mental health.” This study acknowledges confounding variables such as age, parental supervision, and home environment, which influence the severity and presentation of screen addiction. Specific Ayurvedic interventions are examined with emphasis on age-appropriate applications. These include child-friendly techniques as Yoga and Pranayama according to age (e.g., animal poses, Trataka, Kaphalabhati), validated Rasayana herbs such as Brahmi and Mandukaparni for cognitive enhancement. Behavioral guidelines based on Dinacharya and Sadvritta offer preventive and promotive solutions for restoring mental balance and sensory discipline. The review establishes a link between modern clinical symptoms (e.g., inattention, irritability, poor sleep, and anxiety) and Ayurvedic pathology such as Vata-Pitta and Manovaha Srotas Dushti. By integrating evidence-based modern insights with classical principles, the review proposes a sustainable, context-sensitive framework for managing screen addiction in children.
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