Ayurveda: Discovering the Pathway to Balance and Wellbeing

In our fast-paced and technologically advanced world, achieving balance and wellness has never been more challenging. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the stress and demands of daily life. However, what if there was a way to achieve balance, harmony, and ultimate wellness? Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medicinal practice, provides us with the tools necessary to do just that. This practice holds within it wisdom regarding our natural constitution and offers guidance on how we can better align ourselves with nature for a more healed mind, body, and spirit. In this article, we will delve into the world of Ayurveda and how it can assist us in achieving ultimate wellness.

Ayurveda is a holistic healing system that originated in India over 5,000 years ago. The word Ayurveda means "knowledge of life" and it teaches us how to achieve optimal health and wellness by balancing our body, mind, and spirit. Ayurveda recognizes that we are all unique individuals with different elemental make ups, or "doshas”, which impact our physical and emotional characteristics and our path of wellness or imbalance. These doshas are known as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, and each person has a unique balance of the three. By knowing your dominant dosha, you can tailor your lifestyle and diet choices to better suit your individual needs.

Ayurveda bridges the gap between treatment and prevention - it's an ancient practice helps individuals stay proactive in maintaining their health. It' recognizes that the body is an intricate network of connected systems, each relying on and impacting one another for optimal health.

This holistic view of the body, understands that our physical health is inextricably linked to balance across all elements of life. By understanding this interconnection and treating your body as an integrated whole, you can ensure greater overall wellness and wellbeing.

Ayurveda considers food to be a form of medicine, and as such, diet and nutrition are key components of achieving balance and harmony. Ayurveda teaches us to eat in a way that nourishes and supports our body type. For example, Vata types may benefit from warming and grounding foods like spiced lentils, while Pitta types may benefit from cooling foods like cucumbers and coconut water. Kapha types may benefit from energizing and invigorating foods like ginger and cayenne pepper. 

Unlocking the door to better health starts with recognizing how our unique bodies respond and metabolic function. And by synchronizing nutrition habits with circadian rhythms, individuals can attain a balanced lifestyle that focuses on more than what we eat – but also looks at when and how we have meals for optimal metabolic responses!  Ayurveda also emphasizes the importance of mindful eating, encouraging us to eat slowly and mindfully to aid digestion.

In addition to diet, Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of self-care and lifestyle practices in achieving balance and wellness. Ayurveda encourages us to establish a daily routine, or "dinacharya", which includes practices like oil pulling, tongue scraping, self-abhyanga (oil massage) and dry brushing. These practices help stimulate the body's natural detoxification processes, supporting our overall health and wellbeing. Ayurveda also teaches us the importance of sleep and rest, and encourages us to aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night, and how taking time out with customized yoga or meditation can help restore physical & mental equilibrium tailored specifically to your unique needs.

Mental and emotional health are a central to Ayurveda. Ayurveda recognizes the mind-body connection and emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and meditation in achieving balance and harmony. Ayurveda teaches us to cultivate awareness and presence through practices like pranayama (breathing exercises) and meditation. These practices help reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and concentration, and promote overall mental wellbeing.

Ayurveda also places value on the use of herbal remedies and supplements to assist with common health conditions. These remedies, known as rasayanas, are believed to support the body's natural healing abilities, rejuvenate body tissues and help an individual maintain optimal health. Additionally, traditional therapies such as Panchakarma cleanses can help to eliminate accumulated toxins from the body and restore balance throughout the body.

Furthermore, Ayurveda is not just about physical health, but also mental and emotional wellbeing. Ayurveda recommends daily breathing exercises, meditation or pranayama to reduce stress, anxiety, and promote emotional balance. By paying attention to the present moment and connecting with nature, we can cultivate greater self-awareness, self-confidence, and inner strength.  

In conclusion, the practice of Ayurveda provides us with a wealth of knowledge and techniques that can help us achieve balance, harmony, and ultimately, optimal wellness in our lives. By understanding our unique body constitution, we can make informed choices that better suit our individual needs. Ayurveda's emphasis on self-care, healthy diet, herbal remedies, and mindfulness practices can assist us in achieving physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Incorporating Ayurvedic principles into our daily routines is a powerful way of enhancing our connection to ourselves, others, and the natural world. Discover the path to balance and wellbeing through Ayurveda today!

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease.

How Ayurveda Can Help Reduce Asthma Flare-Ups

Asthma, known as “svasa” in ayurveda, is a chronic condition that can cause difficulty breathing. Ayurveda generally recognizes asthma as a kapha disorder, which can be accompanied by vata in many cases. If you’re an asthma sufferer looking to find relief, ayurveda offers several lifestyle changes and treatments that can help reduce flare-ups and bring balance back to your life. Let’s take a closer look at how this ancient practice can help ease the symptoms of asthma.

Dietary Recommendations for Asthma

Ayurveda recommends avoiding certain foods that increase the symptoms of asthma, such as dairy products and cold drinks. Additionally, it’s important to stay away from heavily processed foods and those with artificial ingredients. Instead, focus on eating fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains like quinoa or brown rice, lean proteins like fish or chicken, nuts and seeds for healthy fats, and spices like turmeric or cumin for flavor.

Lifestyle Tips for Reducing Asthma

There are also some lifestyle tips you can follow to reduce your asthma symptoms according to ayurveda. These include reducing stress levels through yoga or meditation; exercising regularly; avoiding cold temperatures; sleeping eight hours a night; taking warm baths with Epsom salt; getting regular massages with essential oils like eucalyptus or camphor; drinking herbal teas; staying hydrated throughout the day; and avoiding exposure to smoke or other pollutants in the air.

Herbal Remedies for Easing Asthma

In addition to making dietary changes, taking herbal supplements may also be beneficial for those with asthma. Herbs such as licorice root, ginger root, turmeric root, and pippali have been known to help reduce inflammation in the lungs and improve breathing. Taking herbs regularly can also boost immunity so you’re better able to fight off infections that could trigger an asthma attack. It’s important to discuss any herbal supplement use with your healthcare provider before beginning the use of herbs.

Asthma Relief Honey Recipe

• 5 Tbs of ginger powder

• 2 Tbs of turmeric powder

• 1 Tbs of Pippali powder

• 1 cup of raw honey

• 1 cup of warm water per serving

In a small bowl, combine the herbs, mixing well. Next, add the honey and stir. When serving stir one teaspoon of formula into a warm cup of water. Do not use hot water as it will affect the properties of the honey.

Yoga & Pranayama Practices For Prevention

Finally, regular yoga practice may be helpful in preventing asthmatic episodes from occurring in the first place. Pranayama (breathing) exercises are particularly useful for those with asthma because they strengthen the respiratory system and increase lung capacity over time. Yoga poses like salabhasana (locust pose), baddha konasana (bound angle pose), and setu bandhasana (bridge pose) are all great poses for strengthening the chest muscles which helps improve airflow during an attack. Additionally, yogic meditation practices can positively impact mental well-being which is invaluable when living with chronic conditions like asthma.

If you’re looking for more information about how to manage your asthma using Ayurvedic practices, consult with a certified practitioner who can help create a personalized plan for you. These ancient techniques have been proven effective time and time again and with dedicated practice, you too can experience symptom relief and improved quality of life!

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The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacy

Ayurvedic pharmacology is a time-proven system that spans a wide range of gentle yet potent herbal tonics and medicines. Ayurveda pharmacology has demonstrated its effectiveness over the thousands of years it has been in use and continues to do so today. According to Ayurveda, many of the physical and chemical properties of plants that serve as food and herbal treatments are similar to those of the human body.

In Ayurveda, the action of an herb is first considered from the standpoint of its effects on the sensory organs. The qualities of the shape, color, aroma, flavor, and fracture properties of a plant are related to its specific pharmacological actions and provide the basis for the theory behind the energetics of the herbs. The best way to learn about herbs is to become intimately acquainted with them; an herbalist must know a plant’s natural habitat, growing tendencies, climatic preferences, shape, color, taste, smell, and harvest times and, more important, must experience the herb’s effects personally.

“There is nothing in the world which does not have therapeutic utility when applied in appropriate conditions and situations. Drugs act by virtue of their nature and qualities at the proper time, in a given place, in the appropriate conditions and situations; the effect produced is considered to be their action (karma); the factor responsible for the effect is their energy (virya); where they at is the place (adhisthana); when they act is the time (kala); how they act is the mode of action (upaya); what they accomplish is the achievement (phala).” – Caraka Samhita Sutrasthana 26.12,13

Ayurvedic practitioners have developed many excellent herbal preparations. Not all herbs are readily assimilated in their raw state; some need to be processed to enhance absorption. The form in which the herb is taken can significantly affect its potency and effect. The mode of preparation typically depends on the specific causes and symptoms of the disease being treated. There are also specific preparations that are indicated for particular plants. Like medicated ghees, medicated wines, gugguls, and pills retain their potency longer than fresh herbs or powders. An Ayurvedic practitioner can also develop specific custom formulas based upon any imbalances of the doshas. It is best to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner when using these traditional Ayurvedic herbs or formulas.

According to Ayurveda, our bodies are woven from food. The nutrients we ingest are metabolized into the energy and information that form our cells, tissues, and organs. Every day our body needs essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to maintain its delicate balance. Taking Ayurvedic herbs as supplements can be a highly efficient way to create that balance.

Every herb in Ayurvedic herbology has a multitude of benefits for the mind, body, and spirit. Herbs can be used internally or externally (through the skin)—or even used as aromatherapy. These herbs can be useful in a range of  applications from weight loss and beautifying skin to supporting overall vitality; Ayurvedic herbs can transform your health in so many ways. Plants and herbs carry in their cells the wisdom of the cosmos and the healing vibrations of nature.

Since ancient times, humans and plants have had a profound spiritual connection—we have evolved with plants and have adapted and learned from them. Also, plants capture solar energy and convert it into nutrients that humans can digest. Plants do this by transforming sunlight into chlorophyll, which can then be assimilated by the human body, along with many other attributes of herbs that, when used correctly, help our bodies maintain homeostasis.

Some Ayurvedic herbs and formulas are safe for daily use and can be our allies in managing our health. Herbs that help balance your constitution complement the positive changes you make in your diet and lifestyle. For example, shatavari, ashwaganda, and vidari kanda are some of the main herbs that help maintain doshic balance by moving excess vata from the body. As the principal herbs used to remove excess pitta, brahmi, bhringraj, neem, and gudduchi also promote balanced health as do bibhitaki, chitrak, and punarnava, the three herbs most commonly used to eliminate excess kapha.

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease.

Ayurveda 101

Ayurveda is one of the oldest forms of health care—it is the tree of knowledge from which many popular medicines and therapeutic interventions have grown. Used for 5,000 years by many thousands of doctors on millions of patients, Ayurveda is the time-tested medical system of India. The term Ayurvedais Sanskrit and means the “Science of Life.” It encompasses a variety of natural therapies and philosophies that support and enhance individual balance, health, and wellness. It has made huge advances in surgery, herbal medicine, herbal extracts, medicinal uses of minerals and metals, human anatomy, physiology, psychology, nutrition, and exercise.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined health as a state of complete, physical, mental, and social well-being—not merely the absence of disease. Ayurveda goes a step beyond this by offering a complete philosophy of life. It gives equal importance to all aspects of life, including those that are subjective and intangible, when addressing disease and imbalance. Ayurveda’s success and longevity stem from its capacity to teach us how to live vibrantly by creating good health at every step along the way.

Ayurveda is multifaceted, and practitioners often undergo years of training. It is an extremely sophisticated system of observation that categorizes clients by distinctive anatomic and metabolic “types” also known asprakruti. According to Ayurvedic teaching, each person exhibits a distinct pattern of physical, mental, and emotional characteristics. The course of illness and remedies are determined in part by each client’s constitution and the environment in which he or she exists.

In Ayurvedic philosophy, our prakruti is made up of a combination of doshas. There are three doshas that govern our psychobiological functioning: vata, pitta and kapha. Each dosha comprises the five elements (panchamahabhutas) and are present in every cell, tissue, and organ of the body. All five elements are present in each dosha, but the two predominating elements determine the defining qualities of the dosha. The doshas are responsible for the huge variety of individual differences and preferences, and they influence all that we are and all that we do—from our choices of food to the ways we relate to others. 

The doshas also govern the biological and psychological processes of our body, mind, and consciousness. They regulate the creation, maintenance, and destruction of bodily tissue as well as the elimination of waste products. They even govern our emotions and mental state. When in balance, the doshas generate understanding, compassion, love, and health. When their balance is upset by stress, improper diet, and environmental conditions, they give rise to disturbances such as anger, fear, anxiety, confusion, depression, and disease. Thus, when in balance, they create health and well-being; when out of balance, they cause disease and distress.

The goal of Ayurveda is to protect the health of a healthy person and restore health of a sick person by maintaining or bringing the body back into constitutional balance (doshic balance). Many factors can disturb the balance of the body such as stress, unhealthy diet, toxins, weather, work, strained relationships, and lifestyle choices. Such disturbances are expressed in the body as disease. Inherent in Ayurvedic principles is the concept that you are capable of taking charge of your own life and healing. When we becomes ill, the illness is not likely to completely resolve unless we change the behaviors that caused it. Understanding genetic makeup and getting to the bottom of these factors is an important process of the Ayurvedic medical science.

An Ayurvedic practitioner creates specific health programs according to each individual's doshic patterns, addressing each person’s illness as unique to him or her. Ayurvedic treatments may include internal and external medicinal remedies, diet plans, exercise, daily lifestyle programs, external body therapies, yoga, meditation, and detoxification and rejuvenation practices. Through a combination of these techniques and understanding of an individual’s unique constitution, Ayurveda can provide a complete system of healing with long-term solutions.

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. 

Your Ayurvedic Dosha in Menopause

The word Ayurveda means “knowledge of life,” and to know Ayurveda is to comprehend the dynamic relationship between our body, mind, and spirit and how each of these aspects of the self relates to the world around us. While we will always know our own bodies better than anyone else ever could, there are times in a woman’s life, such as menopause, when the changes in our bodies confound us. At such times, talking with an experienced practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine can be helpful. Many women have found not just relief during menopause, but improved overall health and longevity by integrating conventional medical approaches with alternative practices such as Ayurvedic medicine.

There are many Ayurvedic approaches to nurturing  well-being during menopause. First we must understand the doshic system, which serves as a central guide to the origin of menopausal symptoms. Each of us is born with a fundamental constitution, or prakriti, that persists throughout life. Acting on our constitution and influencing our health are the three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha. These three doshas are responsible for the manifestations of the natural forces at work in the body’s systems. Each dosha is defined or represented by two of the five natural elements: ether (space), air, fire, water, and earth.

Vata, formed by the interaction of space and air, resides in the hollows and channels of our body and helps govern the function of the nervous system.

Pitta, composed of fire and water, exists within our body mainly as bile and acid and is most closely associated with the digestive and excretory systems.

Kapha, which combines the properties of water and earth, relates to the respiratory system and mucous membranes and forms the structures of our body.

In Ayurvedic medicine, a course of action is always individualized and will generally be based on the individual’s imbalances (also known as vikṛti). If you have an imbalance or excess in one of the doshas during menopause, that imbalance tends to produce certain symptoms that are characteristic of that dosha. Recognizing which dosha dominates your system in menopause will help to identify which Ayurvedic guidelines would best ease your symptoms. Below are signs or expressions of which dosha is predominant.

Vata

• Anxiety

• Nervousness

• Insomnia

• Mild hot flashes

• Poor skin tone

• Constipation

• Vaginal dryness

• Depression

Pitta 

• Irritability

• Angry outbursts

• Short temper

• Skin rashes

• Hot flashes and night sweats

• Urinary tract infections

Kapha

• Sleepiness

• Sluggishness

• Yeast infections

• Slow digestion

• Weight gain

• ·Fluid retention

As a general rule, the first step to restoring balanced wellness during menopause is to adopt a dietary and lifestyle regimen that’s specifically designed to pacify the dosha that dominates your constitution at this time of life. Here are some guidelines for addressing menopausal symptoms with a dosha-specific self-care program.* 

*To obtain the best results from the Ayurvedic herbs and formulas recommended for your  symptoms, take them under the supervision of an experienced Ayurvedic medical practitioner.

Ayurvedic advice for vata-dominated menopause:To nurture stability, establish a routine in all that you do from the time you get up in the morning to mealtimes to the time you go to bed. Going to bed early can also help balance excess vata.

Consume herbs such as cardamom, fennel, cumin, and ginseng in warm teas and in your food. A daily self-massage with a blend of sesame and almond oil is often one of the best vata-pacifying actions. The use of essential oils such as sandalwood, frankincense, cinnamon and myrrh as vapor or in massage oil is also effective.

Dietary habits that decrease vata include frequent small meals, freshly cooked, warm, and mildly spiced with herbs. Warm drinks and foods build strength, and it is good to try to avoid eating when you are nervous or worried.

Some gentle Ayurvedic herbs that could be used would include ashwaganda, licorice, haritaki, and tulsi.

Ayurvedic advice for pitta-dominated menopause: According to Ayurvedic wisdom, one of the best ways to calm your fiery pitta-dominant menopause is with the application of coconut and sesame oils. Ghee (clarified butter) used as a massage oil or  taken internally is another soothing option. You may also find the pitta-balancing essential oils of gardenia, honeysuckle, geranium, lotus, and peppermint quite relaxing.

The pitta-pacifying diet consists of lots of heavy, cooling foods that are cooked or small amounts of raw foods. The taste should be relatively plain, and the food shouldn’t be cooked in a lot of oil or heavily laden with hot spices. It’s important for these women to eat three regular meals a day around the same time each day. Eating sweet, juicy fruits like grapes, pears, plums, mango, melons, and apples between meals can also help. It’s best to avoid alcohol. Drink generous amounts of cool water to stay refreshed and hydrated.

Ayurvedic practitioners encourage women with pitta-related symptoms  to avoid pungent, sour, salty, and hot spicy tastes, and hot drinks and to consume foods and teas that incorporate herbs such as coriander, cilantro, and cardamom. Daily topical application of pitta-pacifying Ayurvedic herbs such as amalaki, aloe vera, shatavari, and brahmi is also recommended.

Ayurvedic advice for kapha-dominated menopause: During menopause, it’s particularly important for women with a kapha-related symptoms to stimulate the mind and body. According to Ayurvedic dietary principles, reversing the lethargy and stagnation induced by excess kapha requires eating light, dry, and warm foods, so it’s best to avoid sweet and cold foods, as well as oily or heavy foods like meats and cheeses. Instead, women with kapha dominance should eat mild-tasting fruits as opposed to very sweet or sour ones; warm and drying whole grains, such as millet and buckwheat, rather than wheat; smaller legumes, such as mung beans and red lentils; and pungent and bitter vegetables, such as greens.

Any and all spices (except salt) are fine, including black pepper, turmeric, and ginger. Kapha-dominant women often find they feel best when they avoid big meals, eat a light breakfast and dinner, and make lunch the most substantial meal of the day. Avoid most cooking oils, using light to none if possible.

Essential oils such as basil, cedar, frankincense, and black pepper can be used as a vapor or directly applied to the body. Try adding spices such as cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper ginger, and turmeric to warm teas and sip them throughout the day. Ayurvedic herbs such as guggul, bibhitaki, and pippali can be taken in moderation.

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. 

10 Ayurvedic Things to do Before 10 am

Simple Ayurvedic suggestions to help you stay balanced and in optimal health throughout the day!

Two easy Ayurvedic Tips for Improving Oral Health

There a number of Ayurvedic  practices that focus on oral health. Some of us think oral health requires nothing more than brushing our teeth, flossing, and having regular dental cleanings and checkups. But oral health deserves  much more attention than that. Medical and dental professionals stress how important oral health is to overall wellness because of its far-reaching impact on the deeper organs and tissues of the body. Many people find that when they introduce Ayurvedic oral health care to their daily routine, their general health improves. We suggest that you adopt two simple Ayurvedic oral hygiene practices and see how they work for you.

Tongue Cleansing

First, Ayurveda recommends using a tongue cleaner at the start of each day, upon waking and while your stomach is still empty. According to Ayurveda, the tongue is connected to our health and mirrors the state of vital organs including the stomach, small intestine, colon, liver, spleen, kidneys, heart, and lungs. Scraping away the impurities that collect on the tongue is said to directly affect each of these organs. Most people use a toothbrush to do this, but because the tongue is soft and spongy, a hard, rigid instrument such as a metal tongue scraper cleanses this tissue more efficiently than pliant bristles. 

By clearing away the coating of debris, microbes, and ama(i.e., toxic residue from undigested food) that builds up in the folds and grooves of the tongue, a scraper optimizes oral hygiene, which in turn helps protect the integrity of our teeth and other oral tissues. The removal of this buildup also helps maintain our general health by preventing oral bacteria from seeping into our bloodstream. This practice further enhances our overall well-being by stoking digestive fire, sharpening our sense of taste, and stimulating the internal organs.

 It’s very easy to use a tongue cleaner at the start of each day. Just hold the ends of the tongue cleaner in both hands, open your mouth, and extend your tongue. Place the curved edge of the cleaner at the rear of the tongue, as far back as you can, and then, pressing gently on the tongue, pull the cleaner to the front.

Oil Pulling

Another easy Ayurvedic practice is oil pulling. Oil pulling consists of swishing oil in the mouth for anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes. This is best done with organic sesame or coconut oil. All oils are lipid-based, as are the exterior cell membranes of the microorganisms that inhabit the mouth. When these microbes come in contact with the oil, their cell membranes adhere to the oil, which helps detach them from the teeth and gums. This practice removes harmful mouth bacteria that raise the risk of not only plaque, cavities, gum inflammation, and bad breath, but also blood vessel and heart damage.

Oil by nature is heavy and warm. These qualities soothe and nourish the tissues. The practice of swishing oil throughout the oral cavity and in between the teeth distributes these beneficial qualities to all the tissues of the mouth, boosting their strength and resilience 

In addition, the swishing action activates a wide array of muscles in and around the mouth. Some of these muscles are seldom engaged and typically get very little exercise. By working them for an extended period, swishing tones and strengthens these muscles, while increasing circulation to the entire mouth, thereby supporting both the nourishment and detoxification of the oral tissues. Healthy blood flow is particularly important for encouraging firm, healthy gums. 

To enjoy these health benefits, practice this simple routine every day: In the morning, on an empty stomach, swish a mouthful (about 1 tablespoon) of coconut or sesame oil or a combination of both for up to 20 minutes. Swish the oil side to side, all around the gums, teeth, and cheeks and also pull the oil in and out between the teeth. Once finished spit out the oil, and rinse with water.

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. 

3 Ayurvedic Practices for Longevity

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Longevity is something most humans wish for. Its pursuit involves a constant battle. From the time of birth to the time of death, the body is engaged in a struggle with the aging process. Each day the body breaks down tissues and organs at a cellular level, causing damage and degeneration. Thus our efforts to achieve longevity and rejuvenation must focus on what’s happening in our body at the cellular level.

Each of the three doshas plays an essential role in our health and longevity. Together, they regulate all the functions of the billions of cells that constitute our body. For example, the vata dosha is closely related to pranic life energy and governs the nervous system and all of our body’s movements. Pitta governs digestion, nutrition, and transformation at a cellular level, and kapha maintains the longevity and the structure of the cells. 

To combat aging on a deeper level, it is also necessary to balance the subtle essence of each dosha. The subtle essence of vata is prana, the life force. This energy governs respiration and the physiological functions of the heart, including circulation of the blood and the oxygenation all the dhatus (bodily tissues) and vital organs. As the purest form of the dosha that drives the nervous system and stimulates the intellect, prana also controls all the motor and sensory functions, the natural intelligence of the body, and all the functions of mind, including memory, thoughts, and emotions. In addition, prana regulates the biological functions of the two other subtle essences, ojas and tejas. 

The subtle essence of kapha and the seven dhatus, ojas constitutes the vital energy that works with prana to sustain the life-giving functions of the body. It contains all five basic elements (i.e., earth, water, fire, air, and space) and all the vital substances of our bodily tissues. Balanced ojas is necessary for biological strength and immunity. Because ojas and kapha are inextricably linked, an imbalance in one leads to an imbalance in the other, fueling a vicious cycle of waxing kapha and waning ojas that undermines our health and vitality. Ojas is also responsible for our psychological strength. While balanced ojas promotes compassion, love, peace, and creativity, depleted ojas can give rise to negative states such as fear, nervous exhaustion, impaired sensory perception, loss of consciousness, and even death. 

As the purest essence of the pitta dosha and agni (digestive fire), tejas regulates cellular metabolism and drives the transformation of food, thoughts, sensations, and experiences into energy and nourishment for the body and mind. Balanced tejas is necessary for sustaining ojas. When tejas is aggravated, it burns away ojas, reducing immunity and overstimulating pranic activity.

To address the debilitating effects of imbalances in the three doshas and their subtle essences, Ayurvedic sages developed the rejuvenation method known as panchakarma. As a holistic approach to physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual renewal, panchakarma aims to provide a total solution to the systemic degeneration and dysfunction caused by the aging process.  

Ayurveda also offers simple techniques that you can that you can easily integrate into your lifestyle and use daily to support balanced prana, ojas, and tejas. The first step toward optimizing these energies is to avoid smoking, overexertion, cold drinks, most dairy products, and hydrophilic foods (e.g., salty snacks, tuna fish, cucumbers), excess sexual activity, fried foods, red meats, excess alcohol, and too much or too little or sleep. It’s best to eat a nutrient-rich plant-based diet, primarily cooked foods with the balance of sweet, sour, pungent, salty, astringent, and bitter tastes in each meal. Eating three to four small meals a day with lunch being your biggest meal and maintaining a light daily exercise regime are also recommended. 

One of the simplest ways to sustain ojas is to consume ghee, a product made from unsalted cultured butter that stimulates the appetite and the secretion of digestive juices, enkindles agni, and enhances the flavors of foods. It also strengthens intelligence and memory. Unlike many oils, ghee doesn’t increase cholesterol. In addition, it balances all three doshas and rejuvenates all the tissues.

To incorporate ghee into your diet, make it your go-to cooking oil. For a more concentrated daily dose of ghee, take a teaspoon of ghee each morning followed by a cup of warm water on empty stomach or eat a date that has been soaked in ghee. Please make sure you are using organic grass-fed cultured ghee. A lot of the ghee you find in Indian markets is not the medicinal-grade form and will not be effective. 

Prana is best managed by eating a nutrient-dense organic diet of freshly cooked plant-based meals and practicing pranayama, a yogic breathing exercise that promotes healing and balance. Like yoga, pranayama comprises different styles. According to Ayurveda, the style you should adopt depends on your constitution. If you have a pitta constitution, you should perform left nostril breathing. For this exercise, inhale through the left nostril and exhale through the right, using the thumb and middle finger to close and open alternate nostrils. A person of kapha constitution should do right nostril breathing, inhaling through the right nostril and exhaling through the left. Vata types should perform alternate nostril breathing by exhaling out of one nostril and then inhaling with the same nostril, then switching and exhaling and inhaling with the alternate nostril. Practice the appropriate technique for 10 to 20 minutes a day.

Careful management of tejas is equally important to cultivating vitality and long life. Improper diet and lifestyle and overuse of drugs will cause an imbalance in this subtle energy, which, in turn, can cause problems with either prana or ojas. Substances that are hot, sharp, and penetrating directly enhance tejas. A great way to achieve this effect is to start every morning with a glass of warm tea made with a paste of turmeric and honey.  

Use 1/3 cup  or 80 mL premium raw honey and 2 1/2 teaspoons dried turmeric. Work the turmeric into the honey until it forms a paste. You can store this in a jar. For each cup of tea, place a heaping teaspoon of the turmeric paste in the bottom of a mug. Pour hot (not boiling) water into the mug, and stir well to dissolve the turmeric paste. Add a big squeeze of juice from a fresh lemon and a generous amount of black pepper. (Pepper is invigorating and supports the digestion of the turmeric.)

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease.

How and Why Essential Oils Affect the Body

Essential oils consist of volatile, aromatic chemical compounds extracted from plants. The diverse compounds that make up these plant extracts—alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, phenols, terpenes, sesquiterpenes, ethers, and esters—exert multiple physiological effects, ranging from antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity to immune system regulation and central nervous system stimulation and sedation. The power of essential oils to balance so many biological processes may’ve inspired the belief of some aromatherapists that the extracts embody the life force of plants. 

The routes through which essential oils react with the body and its metabolic processes are called pathways. The most important pathway, in terms of its impact on the body, is our sense of smell. When we smell essential oils, their vapors stimulate small hair-like extensions of our olfactory nerve. The olfactory nerve is the only nerve in the body that directly connects stimuli from our external environment with the surface of the brain. All of our other senses (touch, hearing, sight, and taste) interact with several nerves and synaptic junctions before the information they carry reaches the brain. The olfactory nerve stimulates the most primitive part of the brain known as the limbic system, also called the reptilian brain. This part of the brain plays a central role in our emotional responses and in the emotional content attached to our memories. 

Essential oils also interact with the body through the epithelial tissues; these include the skin and the mucous membranes lining the nasal passages, bronchioles, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. The oils will have a strong effect on these primary contact tissues and pathways. Once absorbed into the surface layer of these tissues, essential oils quickly enter the circulatory and lymphatic systems.  The lymphatic  system can either carry the oils directly to the liver or feed them into the bloodstream. As the blood circulates the oil throughout the body, our tissues and organs absorb the constituents they require to optimize their metabolic processes and balance their functioning.

Our elimination processes serve as the third pathway for essential oils. Some of the oil’s components are picked up by the surface of the lungs and released as a vapor when we exhale. For example, when eucalyptol (an alcohol in eucalyptus oil) travels to the lungs surfaces via the bloodstream, it exits the respiratory system as a vapor that calms the mucous membranes. Other components, such as the terpenes in juniper berry oil, are filtered out by the kidneys and serve to stimulate  the renal tissue, ureters, bladder, and urethra as they exit. Some constituents of essential oils are extracted by the liver, held briefly in the gall bladder, and dumped into the GI tract, significantly affecting the functioning of these organ systems as they pass through. For example rose oil can stimulate bile production as it is processed by the liver. Compounds that migrate toward the skin exit via the sebaceous glands and become part of the skin’s protective acid mantle. Components of yarrow can increase perspiration as they are excreted. 

These direct connections between essential oils and the organ systems that mediate our health and well-being explain why they can have such a profound and immediate effects on some of the deepest aspects of the self. Research indicates that only tiny, almost homeopathic quantities of these oils are needed to achieve meaningful results. Larger doses do not increase the response appreciably.

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. 

To Supplement or Not to Supplement?

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Ayurveda teaches that you should get your daily nutrients from food as much as possible and that you can do this by eating plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, grains, beans and legumes, nuts and seeds, healthy meats, and seaweed. That said, there are cases in which it makes sense to take vitamin supplements. Vegetarians should take vitamin B12 and possibly vitamin D, since they are missing out on these nutrients by not eating meat. Pregnant women should take extra folic acid. Those with osteoporosis will need to take calcium, magnesium, trace minerals like boron, and other supplements that support bone health. People recovering from a long illness may need to take certain immune-boosting supplements.

It’s important to keep in mind that decades of industrial farming practices have significantly depleted the nutrient content of the soil in which most of our food is grown. Consequently, our food is not as nutritious as it once was. With that in mind, you might be inclined to question the common wisdom that a varied diet fulfills all of our nutritional requirements. If so, you may want to consider taking a broad-spectrum mineral supplement or daily multivitamin. Whenever possible, ingest supplements that are extracted from whole food sources like fruits, vegetables, and grains. These nutrients are more bioavailable than synthetic versions, meaning they are more easily absorbed by your digestive system. The best ways to take vitamins and minerals in are in powdered form, as a liquid concentrate, or as an oil. Avoid taking megadoses or doses larger than recommended dietary reference intakes, no matter how good you think a particular nutrient is for your health. 

Supplementing your diet with vitamins should be the exception, not the rule; they are, after all, called supplements. Nutrients are much more accessible and easily processed by your body when they are consumed via food rather than supplements. Also, a person taking vitamins may mistakenly believe that eating a balanced diet is unnecessary. Remember, no supplement is a magic bullet that does as good a job of meeting your nutritional needs as a diet of healthy whole foods. 

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. 

Healing, Anti-aging Foods

For thousands of years, humans treated their bodies as personal laboratories for discovering which foods are therapeutic and which are poisonous. Prehistoric humans evaluated healthy and unhealthy foods based on their reactions to what they put in their mouths. Occasionally, eating a certain food, herb, or plant would bring relief from a particular ailment, and that food would be noted as possessing healing qualities. Over time, patterns emerged that evolved into long-standing principles governing healthy diet and nutrition. Based on thousands of years of experimentation and documentation, as well as the consensus of modern scientific research, it’s widely agreed that fresh fruits and vegetables should be humans' primary foods. Fruits and vegetables are low in fat and sodium, high in fiber, and, best of all, packed with powerful antioxidants crucial for maintaining your health. 

All whole, unprocessed foods from the earth—fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, and legumes, nuts, seeds—possess abundant healing properties. Take just one example: cranberries. Cranberries are antioxidant-rich and have been traditionally used in the prevention and treatment of urinary tract issues. While perceptive and health-conscious humans have recognized this truth for centuries, studies now show that cranberries contain hippuric acid, which inhibits the growth and attachment of various strains of bacteria, such as E. coli, to the bladder. Studies have also proved that cranberries improve dental health and help heal stomach ulcers by inhibiting the growth of H. pylori. Cranberries are merely one healing food in your arsenal of natural medicines that foster good health and longevity. As Hippocrates says, “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.”

In many studies of centenarians, the same ten foods have emerged again and again as common elements in the diets of long-lived individuals:

1.Sweet potatoes
2. Corn
3. Peanuts
4. Pumpkin
5. Walnuts
6. Black beans
7. Sesame seeds
8. Shiitake mushrooms
9. Green tea
10. Seaweed

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. 

Ojas, the Pure Essence of all Bodily Tissues

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In yoga and Ayurveda we speak a lot of ojas; most people do not understand this term, nor do they recognize the importance of ojas. In Ayurveda, we believe ojas to be the pure essence of all bodily tissues. Ojas is the essence related to vitality and immunity in an individual. It is like honey. Just as the essence of hundreds of flowers is collected and distributed throughout the honeycomb by honeybees for the survival of the hive, ojas is circulated via the heart throughout all our tissues to maintain the body’s natural resistance to degeneration and illness.

In short, ojas can be described as our immune system. Ojas fights against aging, decay, and disease. It is a superfine biological substance that gives strength to all the body’s tissues. Although it may sound like an abstract concept, ojas is a protoplasmic, biological substance that includes albumin, globulin, and other proteins, as well many hormones. It is formed during biosynthesis of the bodily tissues. Modern medicine talks about ojas in terms of the immune system, which includes the hematopoietic, endocrine, nervous, and digestive systems. The Ayurvedic concept of ojas corresponds to substances recognized by modern medical science, including gamma globulin, which supports the immune function of the liver.

Immunity depends on the quality of the digestion, liver function, and the integrated functioning of all hormones in the endocrine system. It also involves the nervous, skeletal, and muscular systems. All these systems must perform their physiological functions harmoniously to maintain ojas. As the manifestation of this balanced state of health, ojas is our key source of strength and power and natural resistance to illness—in other words, our natural immunity. While we also have acquired immunity, which develops as a result of exposure to pathogens, our natural immunity—ojas—is our first line of defense against infection.  

Ojas has the power to counteract the etiological factors or cause of disease. Ojas is influenced directly by agni, or digestive fire, which determines the quality of assimilation and nutrition. These qualities of ojas also depend on our lifestyle, our exposure to stress and trauma, and the qualities of our relationships. If, for example, our relationships are unhealthy or damaged our ojas will be weak.

So how do we support our ojas? Building ojas is an art. Perhaps one of the best ways to consistently build ojas is to eat a diet of fresh, unprocessed whole foods in the appropriate season. Through the process of healthy digestion, microscopic amounts of the essence of these foods accumulate over time and become ojas. Ghee is an effective ojas-building substance that can be added to your daily diet. 

Ayurveda also prizes certain herbs, including ashwagandha and shatavari, as great ojas builders. Traditionally, a concoction of these herbs was blended with ojas-building foods like dates, almonds, coconut, saffron, ghee, honey, and cardamom in a milk base. This mixture was warmed and taken before bed as a sleep aid and an ojas builder to boot.

Other effective ways of building ojas include healthy lifestyle routines, such as good sleeping habits (early to bed, early to rise and not sleeping excessively), yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, walking in nature, laughing, expressing and showing love and affection, creativity, taking time and not rushing, doing things that make you happy,  giving to others, daily self-massage with oil, and daily self-love.
 

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. 

Yoga and Depression

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Each year more than 25 million Americans are treated with antidepressants. Effective? In some cases yes, but with added stress and side effects such as, weight gain, lethargy, and sexual dysfunction, have brought into question whether medication is the only solution. It may not be. Recent studies have shown evidence that the practice of yoga—postures, breathing techniques, meditation—has beneficial effects on the emotional well-being and mental acuity of depression sufferers. And, best of all, without any of the side effects. 

A recent study in Scandinavian, conducted by Eric Hoffman, Ph.D., measured brain waves before and after a two-hour Kriya Yoga class. It found that alpha waves (relaxation) and theta waves (unconscious memory, dreams, emotions) increased by 40 percent. This means the brain is more deeply relaxed after yoga and the subjects are in better contact with their sub-consciousness and emotions. The Scandinavian study is significant for depression sufferers because after the yoga session, alpha waves increased in the right temporal lobe. 

Previous research has shown that depressed, introverted people typically have more alpha activity in the left frontal-temporal region, while optimistic, extroverted people have more alpha activity on the right. That theta waves also increased supports the notion that yoga works to alleviate depression not only by increasing brain chemicals that contribute to a feel-good response—such as endorphins, enkephalins, and serotonin—but also by providing greater access to feelings. 

Another study, conducted jointly by the Philadelphia-based Jefferson Medical College and Yoga Research Society, found that practitioners experienced a significant drop in cortisol levels after a single yoga class. High cortisol levels are characteristics of stress and serious depression. A marked decrease in cortisol and increase in the hormone prolactin—which is believed by many professionals to be the key in producing the anti-depressant effect of electroshock therapy—was also demonstrated in tests conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in India, using the breathing technique Sudharshan Kriya (SKY). In several major controlled studies involving adults with major depressive disorder, SKY produced dramatic relief from depression accompanied by beneficial changes in brain and hormone function. 

What about long-term effects? So far, most of the longer studies have been done in the area of mindfulness-based training; the most recent one was published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (vol. 68, 2000). Here, mindfulness-based stress reduction was combined with group cognitive therapy as an eight-week treatment in the prevention of recurrence of major depression. In follow-up testing a year later, the treatment group had a significantly lower relapse rate than did the control group. 

The combination of Ayurveda, Yoga and Meditation to holistically solve depression related problems has been successful and has helped several people from eliminating years of dependency on medication. Allowing one to live a happier, fuller life.

Wonderful Ghee

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In India, ghee has always been a sacred and celebrated symbol of auspiciousness, nourishment and healing; especially in the daily rituals of cooking and worship.

Ghee is a premium cooking oil celebrated for its taste, nutritional benefits, and medicinal qualities. Ayurveda, the ancient medical science of India, recognizes ghee as an essential part of a balanced diet, and considers it to be the best fat one can eat. Ghee is the very essence of butter; the end result of a long, slow, careful clarification process that removes all the moisture, milk solids and impurities. The absence of milk solids and water in ghee make it completely shelf stable. Ghee has one of the highest flash points (485ºF) which make this oil the best choice for high temperature cooking.

Ghee has a full spectrum short, medium and long chain fatty acids, both unsaturated and saturated. Ghee contains Omega 3 and Omega 9 essential fatty acids along with vitamins A, D, E and K. Ghee made from organic butter of pastured cows is one of the highest natural sources of CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid). 9 phenolic anti-oxidants, as well as numerous other minerals are present in ghee.

Ghee is known as a substance that gives longevity, its elemental qualities balance the aging characteristics by enriching the living body. Ghee has been used for centuries as a digestive and elimination aid, for energy, sexual vitality, skin and eye health, as a lubricant for the joints and for alkalizing the blood.

The purity of ghee allows it to be deep penetrating and nourishing as it passes through the lipid membranes of cells. For this reason, the vitamins and minerals from food cooked in ghee will be drawn deep into the body where they impart the most benefit. The assimilation of the nutrients increases when suspended in a ghee matrix. When you add spices to ghee to cook with the flavor is carried deep into the food. Many herbal preparations in Ayurveda use ghee as the carrier oil because of these characteristics.