Abstract

India holds a rich legacy of traditional healing systems like Ayurveda and Yoga, which offer holistic approaches to mental health grounded in balance, self-awareness, and connection. As modern psychology grows in the country, there’s a growing need—and opportunity—to integrate these ancient practices with evidence-based psychological care. This article explores how combining traditional Indian healing methods with contemporary psychology can create more culturally rooted, effective, and compassionate mental health care. Drawing on recent clinical studies, it highlights how therapies such as herbal medicine, yoga, and pranayama can complement modern treatments for conditions like anxiety, depression, and caregiver stress. This also reflects on how such integration can reduce stigma, improve access, and foster a more personalized path to healing. Looking ahead, the future of Indian mental health may well lie in this thoughtful collaboration between the wisdom of the past and the insights of the present.