Tag Archives: Ayurveda

Just about everyone understands that exercise is good for you. Exercise helps maintain proper weight, eases stress, strengthens bones and muscles, reduces risks of most diseases, improves mental health, and more. Why is it then that less than half of all adults in the U.S. exercise on a regular basis? …

A Pitta Vata diet can be a bit confusing. It might be interesting for you to know though, that the dual prakriti (body type) is the commonest form of prakriti. So if you’re wondering how to cater to two doshas which are opposite in nature, you’re not alone! In this …

The Sanskrit language has so many words for the mind. Ayurveda is a science that recognizes so many layers of the self. This science has taught me that illness may live in the mind, the emotions and in the ancestral layers as well. One of my favorite layers of the …

All three principal texts of Ayurveda, the Charak Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and the Ashtanga Hridaya, highlight the importance of abhyanga and the benefits of Ayurvedic massage. What The Ancient Texts Say According to the Charak Samhita, abhyanga is one of 24 different methods of vicharana, or ways an oily substance may …

Triphala is an Ayurvedic herbal formula composed of the powder of three fruits: amalaki, bibhitaki and haritaki. These three fruits have different healing properties in part due to its five different tastes. Here we discuss triphala’s uses, benefits, dosages, and side effects. There are very few herbs in Ayurveda which …

One of the things I love most about Ayurveda is that it is a science that is as old as time. It includes within it things so subtle that we are still discovering them today, like the pancha kosha or five layers of the self. The pancha kosha are not …

To choose the healthiest vegetables for fall, divide the season into two parts. Early fall represents the Indian summer with moderately warm days. Late fall represents the colder part of the season that is slowly welcoming winter. Fall is definitely a very romantic season. And yet, it is a crucial …

Ayurveda is one of the most remarkable holistic medical systems in the world. It covers all aspects of health and wellbeing – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. It includes all methods of healing from diet, herbs, exercise and lifestyle regimens to yoga practices, pranayama (breath work) and meditation. Many people, …

I was a smoker for more than half my life. That is until 298 days ago when I quit smoking and became a non-smoker. My decision to start learning about Ayurveda gave me the push to quit. I knew that smoking wasn’t in line with this life change. I would …

A Vata diet is a diet best suited to those with a Vata imbalance or Vata body type. In Ayurveda, the emphasis is placed on diet as a therapeutic and preventative health measure to manage one’s state of health. Following an Ayurvedic diet most appropriate for your body type is beneficial …

Shilajit should always be taken in pure form. According to Ayurveda, impure shilajit can cause burning sensation, fatigue, aggravation of Pitta dosha, blood disorders, derangement of the metabolic fire known as agni, fainting episodes and constipation.1 A Natural, Ayurvedic Antidote To Impure Shilajit According to the Ayurveda, disorders caused by the use of …

The word Shilajit is composed of two parts. “Shila” means rock and ”jit” means having won. So it literally means ‘conqueror of the mountains’. It is a blackish-brown material of variable consistency that exudes from layers of rocks. It surfaces in the summer season emerging through cracks or cervices in …

Chermoula is a spice-infused North African herb sauce and a staple of Moroccan cuisine. It is traditionally made with cilantro, garlic, coriander, smoked paprika, chili paste, lemon and olive oil. Chermoula has powerful detoxifying properties thanks to cilantro, which binds to heavy metals and carries them out of the body. …

The herb ashwagandha has taken on a special prominence, such that many people are now making use of it. Let’s explore ashwagandha: its various attributes, properties, ashwagandha benefits and uses, ashwagandha dosage, ashwagandha side effects; and even some of its potential contraindications, to properly guide its usage. As Ayurveda becomes increasingly …

Ayurveda offers a range of natural treatments for sciatica and lower back pain. Ayurvedic remedies and treatments for sciatica pain relief are mentioned in this article. Lower back pain and sciatica are common disorders affecting up to 80% of people during their lifetime.1 According to Ayurveda, the lower back is …

As many causes as there are for stress and anxiety, there are as many remedies around to tackle it, from foods for stress and anxiety to supplements and body therapies. While it is foolish to hope for a life only with highs, the important thing is to learn to manage …

A recent analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (NHANES) found that older adults who had an HbA1c above 8% were associated with increased risks for all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer-related deaths. What’s HbA1C? The HbA1C test is a blood test that provides information about a person’s average levels …

Inflammatory bowel disease is an idiopathic disease caused by dysregulated immune response to host intestinal microflora. The two major types of inflammatory bowel disease are ulcerative colitis, which is limited to the colon, and Crohn’s disease, which can affect any segment of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the …

Ayurveda can be a very important practice to use to cultivate resilience and to create a connection with self that is lost due to trauma. Bessel van der Kolk, Medical Director of the Trauma Center at JRI in Brookline, MA states that “[people with trauma] have a very cut-off relationship …

Gout, gouty arthritis or ‘Vata Rakta’ is marked by painful inflammatory joints, as well as systemic adverse effects on the body. According to Ayurveda, the ancient natural medicine of India, there are three types of gout with varying signs and symptoms. You can can have a better quality of life if …

Yoni steaming also called vaginal steaming, is a treatment that employs steam from a hot herbal tea mixture that is directed onto the vaginal area. It can easily be done at home on a special stool, or even just a slatted chair, by sitting over a steaming pot of herbs. …

85 % of stroke occurrences in the western world are ischemic. That means, the stroke results from blockage of a major cerebral artery (cerebral ischemia). Cerebral ischemia is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of morbidity worldwide due to brain tissue death (Hankey, 2013). ‘Cerebral …

According to Ayurveda Skin diseases may manifest when a person indulges in one or more of the below listed reasons: Intake of incompatible food combinations such as milk with fish. Consumption of excessive amounts of drinks which are unctuous and heavy to digest. Suppression of the urge to vomit or …

The Srotas (Channel of Circulation) The srotamsi or channels in the body act like paths or roadways transporting blood and sensory information, absorbing nutrients and expelling waste products from the body. Vata, pitta, and kappa doshas move from one part of the body to another along the srotamsi (srotas) channels, …

Turmoil and uncertainty fill the air these days. Seemingly irreparable divides fracture our politics. Folks on both sides of the aisle experience aversion to those they disagree with and inner peace is easily lost. Many of us are experiencing increased anxiety, insomnia and often times a boiling anger. Others are …