by Audrey Love | Oct 3, 2018 | Ayurveda, Fitness, Lifestyle, Nutrition
As a holistic wellness philosophy, Ayurveda seeks to heal the entirety of the person: spirit, emotion, mind, and body. Imbalances and complications in these four arenas tend to manifest quite differently based on the nature of the complication and the individual constitution of the sufferer. For many of us, stress, poor diet, and general imbalance are evident in our physical appearance. We may appear tired or dull, with brittle hair or a negative expression. But perhaps the most common way in which ill health manifests in our appearance is through skin complications like acne, irritation, eczema, and more. Thankfully, looking into Ayurveda for skin can help you design an overall wellness routine that will improve your skin from the inside out.
Your Dosha and Your Skin
We all possess our own unique balance of the three doshas, or life force energies. According to Ayurveda for skin, the health of your skin is actually one of the primary physical indicators of your doshic constitution.
Vata dominant individuals tend to have skin that is dry, thin, and sensitive. Vatas rarely suffer from enlarged pores and are less prone to irritation, but their dry skin can make for premature aging. Kaphas are quite the opposite, as their oily complexion renders them far less susceptible to wrinkling. However, their thick skin and large pores still leave them vulnerable to acne and eczema. Pitta skin is fair, neither dry nor oily, and quite sensitive. Pittas are more likely to possess “combination skin,” which is susceptible to breakouts when oily and irritation when dry. Pitta-dominant individuals are also heat-sensitive and therefore suffer from heat-related skin conditions, like rashes, sunburn, and breakouts.
Your skin is, in a state of doshic balance, an indicator of your dominant dosha. But it can also be an indicator of imbalance. A predominantly kapha individual with extremely dry skin may be suffering from excessive vata energy. And a predominantly vata individual with oily skin and pimples may indicate imbalanced kapha. Thus, Ayurveda for skin holds that pacifying imbalanced doshas and restoring doshic balance is the ultimate method of healing. Following a diet and lifestyle that compliments your dosha will promote health and vitality in every aspect of your life, thereby improving your complexion.
In seeking to balance your doshas for the explicit purpose of improving your skin, don’t neglect the impact of the season. You will need to take measures to balance pitta in the summer or in equatorial climates. Cold climates and winter seasons require the pacification of the vata dosha.
Topical Reccomendations
Ayurvedic philosophy stipulates that one should only apply topically what one would ingest internally. The rationale: the skin is an organ and, like the internal organs, absorbs and assimilates that which it comes into contact with. Thus, Ayurveda for skin recommends discarding any products with harsh chemicals. Chemical additives exacerbate the pitta dosha, generating heat that disrupts the enzymatic behavior of skin cells and results in dry, sensitive skin.
Instead, use natural products on your skin. Coconut oil, unlike other oils, is moisturizing yet cooling and light. It is therefore suitable for dry kapha, hot pitta, and heavy kapha. Sugar, a natural exfoliant, facilitates detoxification and can be blended with herbs and essential oils for additional benefits. Raw milk, like coconut oil, cools inflammation while gently cleansing the skin. Neem and tea tree oils are drying and cooling, which is great for irritated pitta or kapha skin. And aloe vera, whether taken internally or used externally, works wonders for the skin. Taken internally, aloe vera promotes detoxification, whereas external use soothes inflammation and moisturizes.
The Importance of Detoxification
Ayurveda for skin maintains that detoxification is integral to a healthy complexion. In a healthy, balanced body, the digestive system efficiently eliminates ama, or toxic material, from the colon. However, sluggish digestion and poor diet can lead to the accumulation of ama in the digestive tract. When these toxic compounds are assimilated, they must be eliminated through the lymphatic system. But when the lymphatic system, too, is functioning sub-optimally, they are expelled through—you guessed it—your skin. The result? Acne, pimples, and blackheads.
There are several detoxification methods that Ayurvedic medicine embraces. One of the most critical among them is dry brushing. Dry brushing not only polishes the skin, but it also promotes detoxification through intercellular processes, thereby preventing future breakouts. It also boosts circulation, producing a natural, healthy glow. Kapha types can handle tough bristles, whereas sensitive pitta and vata types may require a gentle dry brush.
Ayurvedic massage is another excellent detoxification method. The healing oils used in Ayurvedic massage effectively balance the doshas and nourish the skin externally. But, like dry brushing, they also stimulate internal processes that reduce future breakouts. Specifically, Ayurvedic massage stimulates the lymphatic system, promoting detoxification.
Regular exercise, too, improves lymphatic circulation to promote detoxification. It also prevents the buildup of vata, which can cause dryness and wrinkles. As always, be sure that you are performing exercises that are appropriate for your dosha.
The Role of a Healthy Diet
Diet is an absolutely essential component of Ayurveda for skin. That’s because a healthy diet both minimizes the ingestion of toxic compounds and encourages the elimination of ama.
Of course, which foods will help improve your complexion largely depends upon your dosha. Warm, oily foods will nourish vatas’ dry skin and improve their weak digestion to prevent future breakouts. Kapha and pitta, however, might benefit from fresher, cooling foods.
Generally speaking, consuming easily digestible high fiber vegetables is great for skin health. Carrots, cucumber, daikon, lettuce, fennel, and asparagus tips are particularly good for hydrating and nourishing skin. Nuts and seeds contain anti-inflammatory omega 3’s and ama-eliminating fiber, both of which are essential for good skin. Avoid consuming leftover foods, which often contain harmful bacteria that can cause breakouts. Consume spices like turmeric, coriander, fennel, and cumin, while avoiding irritating ginger, garlic, and red pepper.
Periodic fasts and detox diets can do wonders for the skin. They are especially critical for kapha types, whose innate detoxification systems tend toward weakness. Always be sure that you are only performing fasts and detoxes that are suitable for your dosha.
Stress and Ayurveda for Skin
Research in recent decades has steadily unveiled the insidious effects of chronic stress. Stress can impact every aspect of your health, from physical performance and mental acuity to emotional wellbeing and complexion. That’s because stress impacts both the digestive tract and the adrenal glands, resulting in poor digestion and hormonal imbalances. And both digestion and hormonal health are particularly critical to skin health.
According to Ayurveda for skin, certain types of stress affect the doshas differently. Mental stress disturbs the subdosha of kapha that governs moisture, leading to dry skin and aging. Emotional stress activates pitta subdosha, causing acne and sensitivity. Physical stress can activate the vata dosha, causing dryness. Taking care to minimize the form of stress associated with your specific skin condition will not only improve your complexion. It will also help to balance your doshas more broadly, improving every component of your health. Positive forms of stress reduction include yoga, meditation, exercise, and pranayama.
by Audrey Love | Sep 27, 2018 | Ayurveda, Lifestyle
As a holistic wellness philosophy, Ayurvedic medicine strives to alleviate bodily ailments by eliminating their root cause. In order to achieve positive energy and physical vibrancy, we must first eliminate the behaviors that negatively impact the mind and body. Thus, Ayurvedic tips and remedies for increasing energy primarily entail dietary and behavioral modifications that prevent fatigue in the first place. The objective is not to artificially stimulate the body. Rather, Ayurveda seeks to remove that which leeches our true inner energy, or ojas.
The Root of Fatigue: Overuse, Misuse, or No Use
Ayurvedic philosophy holds that exhaustion is the result of the overuse, misuse, or lack of use of the mind, body, or emotions. For many of us, fatigue is the result of overusing all three—mind, body, and emotions—day in and day out.
The modern lifestyle demands a lot of energy. When we devote all of our innate, divine energy to mundane and taxing actions like stressing about work, family, and other obligations, running around trying to complete a never-ending to-do list, and worrying about the stability of finances and the future, we inevitably tax our energy reserves and end up feeling depleted.
However, misuse or overuse can also result in exhaustion. For example: if you are a sensitive vata type, performing lots of intense cardiovascular exercise amounts to the misuse of the body, and can be incredibly draining. Refraining from exercise altogether, too, can result in tiredness. Spending time wallowing in your worry or anger in relation to professional relationships and finances constitutes a misuse of emotion. And failing to use your emotion by isolating and numbing yourself can be just as depleting as excessively expending your emotions.
The Role of Doshas
Why is it that overuse, misuse, or lack of use result in low energy? Any improper expenditure of energy can disturb the delicate balance of your doshas. Imbalanced doshic energy, in turn, hinders the ability of the body and mind to function optimally. Thus, Ayurvedic tips for increasing your energy are predominantly geared toward balancing the doshas.
The concept of the dosha is integral to Ayurvedic philosophy. The three doshas—pitta, vata, and kapha—are the three essential forces that lend us our unique physical and mental properties. We are each born with a unique balance of the three doshas that differentiates us from other life forms. However, excessive work or stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, trauma, and other physical and mental ailments can disturb this delicate balance, leading to low energy.
Balancing the Doshas
If you are experiencing low energy or chronic fatigue, there exists an energetic imbalance in your body. Physical fatigue is associated with imbalanced kapha; mental fatigue with imbalanced vata; and emotional fatigue with imbalanced pitta. Thus, one of the primary Ayurvedic tips for combatting fatigue is balancing the doshas. And there are several ways you can do that.
Lifestyle
To eliminate your problems at the source, you must identify and avoid the behaviors that are causing the doshic imbalance. Carefully examine the way you use your body, mind, and emotions. Are you overusing or misusing them? Are you trying not to use them out of fear or lethargy? Being honest with yourself about how you expend your energy is the first step in balancing your doshas.
There are several lifestyle alterations you can make to balance your doshas as well. To determine which alterations will help you, you should schedule an Ayurvedic consultation to ascertain your dominant dosha and determine which of your energies are excessive or depleted. Once you know your doshic makeup, you will know which doshas require stimulation and which need pacification. For example: excessive vata may necessitate mindful relaxation and regular sleep. Kapha, on the other hand, will benefit from regular exercise. Adopting a lifestyle and diet to compliment your doshic energy will go a long way in restoring your long lost energy reserves.
Strengthening Agni
The buildup or depletion of doshic energy is often the result of poor agni, or digestive fire. When agni is too strong or too weak, you may experience improper elimination and digestive distress. The failure to assimilate or excrete doshic energy can lead to doshic imbalance. Strengthening and nourishing the digestive fire is thus a surefire way to restore doshic balance. Plus, strengthening agni also ensures proper nutrient absorption, preventing deficiencies and, by extension, fatigue.
There are several simple ways to ignite the digestive fire. The first and most important is to consume clean, whole, unprocessed foods that compliment your dosha. If you are particularly prone to constipation, warm and oily foods may help restore normal digestive function. Drinking warm water with lemon and consuming stimulating spices like ginger and cumin also strengthen agni.
Eat regular meals, and try to consume your largest meal in the afternoon, when digestion is strongest. Stick with light foods for breakfast and dinner, but don’t skip meals; doing so can destabilize blood sugar and depress your metabolism. Finally, reduce your consumption of coffee, soda, caffeine, and sugar, which can disrupt the body’s delicate circadian rhythm and thereby disturb digestion and sleep.
Bodily Support and Care
There are a few strategies that are universally suitable for promoting doshic balance and combatting fatigue. The first and most critical is to reduce inflammation. Of course, reducing inflammation at the source by cleaning up your diet, changing your exercise routine, and other lifestyle adjustments, is the best way to do so. But consuming anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric, ghee, and ginger will provide additional support.
Ayurveda is not big on pills and prescriptions. But there are a few herbal supplements that Ayuredic practitioners typically recommend to their clients. Ashwaganda is an adaptogenic herb that coordinates the HPA axis to modulate the stress response. Brahmi protects the brain from the negative effects of cortisol secretion. And Triphala encourages healthy elimination, moving toxic waste out of the body. Together, these supplements tame and combat the negative effects of the stress response, reducing inflammation and preventing energy depletion.
Finally, never underestimate the power of a consistent self-care routine. Establishing rituals that nourish the body and soul, like journaling or taking a bath, help to revitalize our energy. Specifically, self-care boosts our ojas, our inner sense of vitality. Pranayama is perhaps one of the most beneficial elements of a self-care routine, as it supplies prana, or life force, to the entirety of your being.
by Audrey Love | Aug 2, 2018 | Ayurveda, Nutrition
Ghee is an Ayurvedic superfood with both spiritual and nutritional significance, a staple in Ayurvedic cuisine for millennia. It’s also becoming increasingly mainstream in the Western world, with endorsement from prominent holistic professionals piquing the interest of more and more health conscious individuals. But what exactly is ghee, and why should you use it?
Ghee is a form of pure butterfat. It is created by heating butter and removing the water and toasted milk solids, which contain all of the lactose and casein normally present in dairy products. Ghee is very similar to clarified butter, but it is heated longer, lending it a nuttier flavor and a higher smoking point.
With all of the controversy surrounding meat and dairy these days, you might find it surprising that ghee is actually a superior, exceptionally healthy fat, and an excellent source go omega 3’s. No wonder Ayurvedic practitioners have been using ghee in Ayurvedic cuisine for millennia! This week we explore the many benefits of incorporating ghee into your diet.
Ghee in Ayurveda
Ghee has always been nutritionally and spiritually elemental to Ayurvedic practice. Traditionally created by boiling and cooling raw milk, adding yogurt cultures, allowing the mixture to sit for 12 hours, and then churning and simmering it, ghee was incorporated not just into traditional Ayurvedic cuisine, but also into rituals and ceremonies.
In Ayurvedic cuisine, ghee is not just a food, but also a medicine. Ayurvedic practitioners traditionally used ghee in preparation for Panchakarma, an extensive, long-term Ayurvedic cleanse, to begin purifying the body and clearing the digestive tract. Indeed, ghee stokes the digestive fire, or agni, stimulating elimination and enhancing nutrient absorption. Practitioners also recommend ghee for taming both vata and pitta doshas, the former due to ghee’s oily properties and the latter for its cooling abilities.
Ayurveda prescribes ghee as a remedy for a host of other ailments as well. Ghee functions as an aphrodisiac and has the capacity to alleviate physical, emotional, and psychological ailments. Its broad capacities are likely attributable to its ability to increase the body’s life force, or Ojas. Ojas improves vitality and immunity and is essential to the basic, proper functioning of all bodily systems. Ghee can even amplify the healing properties of other herbs and is therefore incorporated in Ayurvedic herbal medicine. It may surprise you to learn than some practitioners use ghee topically in Ayurvedic medicine as well, both in massage and in treating certain skin conditions.
Butyric Acid
Praise for the many benefits of ghee is not limited to Ayurvedic circles. Many holistic health professionals are beginning to recommend ghee as an allergen-free, nutrient-dense alternative to butter. And it’s becoming quite trendy, too; many people use ghee instead of butter in things like bulletproof coffee.
One of the most beneficial components of ghee is the short chain fatty acid butyric acid. Butyric acid is incredibly nourishing and healing to the gut in several ways. Firstly, it can help repair damaged cells in the intestines and strengthen cells in the colon. Secondly, it promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria while preventing constipation and promoting regularity. Finally, butyric acid strengthens the gut-barrier to prevent pathogens and other harmful compounds from entering the blood stream and stimulating an unnecessary immune response.
Butyric acid’s benefits are not just digestive. It also enables the production of cancer-fighting T-cells and is a powerful anti-inflammatory. It canhelp to control insulin spikes and inflammation, thus stabilizing energy, preventing fat storage, and reducing water weight.
CLA
Conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, is another beneficial compound in ghee. Like butyric acid, CLA yields a multiplicity of astonishing benefits. CLA is able to protect the body from the toxic impact of carcinogenic materials while also preventing diabetes and the buildup of plaque in crucial arteries. It also reduces inflammation, taming and event treating an array of inflammation-induced chronic diseases. Finally, studies demonstrate that the consumption of CLA can promote fullness, stable energy, and weight loss. Broadly speaking, the fatty acids in ghee increase the body’s capacity to burn fat.
Improved Energy
The liver can easily metabolize the short and medium chain fatty acids in ghee into energy. When the body is able to use fatty acids for energy production, it is more inclined to burn fat. It also prevents the insulin spikes and crashes that can lead to energy depletion, insulin resistance, and weight gain. Ghee’s nutritious fats will keep you full and energized, deterring you from reaching for sugar and caffeine throughout your day. They enhance mitochondria function as well, improving both physical and mental stamina.
Ghee can also improve long-term energy levels. That’s because it prevents malnutrition by functioning as an ample source of fat-soluble vitamins. Ghee contains vitamin A for good vision, vitamin K for strong bones, and vitamin E for healthy skin and hair. Because ghee has the ability to heal the digestive tract, it can also aid in general nutrient absorption, preventing malnutrition.
What Gee is NOT
Ghee is also incredibly nourishing due to the things that it does not contain. Because the toasted milk solids are removed from ghee in the production process, it does not contain inflammatory or allergenic lactose or casein. If you purchase ghee produced from grass-fed butter, you also protect your body from the growth hormones, antibiotics, and pathogens contained in conventional butter and other dairy products.
Ghee is also less likely to oxidize and produce free radicals than other oils. That’s because ghee has a very high smoke point of 485 degrees Fahrenheit. When you heat oils to their respective smoking points, they begin to produce acrylamide and other toxic substances that can cause oxidative damage and inflammation. Because ghee’s smoke point is so high, it is far less likely to produce these damaging substances than other oils, which reach their smoking points more easily.
by Audrey Love | Jun 22, 2018 | Ayurveda, Lifestyle, Nutrition
According to Ayurveda, poor nutrition and lifestyle lie at the root of all diseases. The reason? An unhealthy diet of processed food introduces toxic compounds into the digestive tract. It can also lead to constipation, which prevents the effective elimination of these toxic compounds. When we can’t excrete toxic buildup, our bodies absorb and store them in our tissues, leading to weight gain and disease. A lifestyle void of exercise or regular activity can exacerbate the problem, as it hinders the release of toxins through the lymphatic system. In sum, poor lifestyle choices are conducive to disease because they result in the buildup of ama, or toxic material, in the body. The solution? An Ayurveda cleanse.
Ayurvedic medicine is a holistic prescription for wellness that treats the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—via nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle optimization. One of the most critical components of an Ayurvedic lifestyle is regular cleansing, or detoxification. Both regular detoxification practices, like proper diet and regular exercise and massage, and periodic cleanses are integral to the Ayurvedic lifestyle. Today we explore the nature and benefits of an Ayurveda cleanse. Remember that you should only cleanse under the supervision of an Ayurvedic consultant.
The Role of Agni in Detoxification
The objective of an Ayurveda cleanse is to expel ama from the body by igniting dwindling levels of agni. Agni, also known as the “digestive fire,” governs metabolism, excretion, and the cellular absorption and exchange of nutrients. It also regulates the assimilation of thoughts and feelings and thus has a powerful impact on mental and emotional health. When agni is strong, our bodies are nourished. When agni is weak, we face nutritional imbalances and toxic buildup.
In repleneshing depleted levels of agni, an Ayurveda cleanse works to expel toxic material from the body, balancing the doshas and restoring homeostasis. The buildup of toxic materials in cellular tissue can lead to liver damage, cancer, inflammatory conditions, and developmental disorders. It also interrupts the proper functioning of the reproductive, neurological, endocrine, and immune systems. If you suffer from any of the aforementioned conditions, you may find relief through an Ayurveda cleanse. You may also experience more positive moods, improved cardiovascular health, and lower levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, and stress. In general, Ayurveda considers cleansing mentally, spiritually, and emotionally detoxifying. In the world of Ayurveda, it is virtually a panacea.
How to Practice an Ayurveda Cleanse
Ayurvedic philosophy acknowledges and caters to our bio-individuality. Specifically, Ayurvedic philosophy recognizes that we all possess varying levels of the three life forces, or doshas. How you should conduct an Ayurvedic cleanse therefore depends upon your doshic makeup. It also depends on a host of other factors, such as age, season, and general health. There is no one-size-fits-all approach for cleansing in Ayurveda. There are, however, a few preferred methods of detoxification that we will discuss.
An Ayurveda cleanse ranges in length from one day to several months depending on the nature of the cleanse. While some Ayurvedic cleanses require fasting or juicing, most entail the consumption of solid, wholesome, and naturally detoxifying foods, as depriving the body of food and/or liquid can actually smother the digestive fire. One form of Ayurvedic cleansing requires that one adopt a monodiet, consuming only one type of food. This form of cleansing reduces the burden on the digestive tract and detoxification system, allowing the body to expend energy on detoxification. Kitchari is one of the most popular features of a monodiet. This warm, nourishing blend of grains, greens, legumes, and spices fuels agni and promotes detoxification without stressing the body.
Ayurvedic cleansing is not just a matter of altering your diet. It also encourages the incorporation of other detoxifying practices into your life. Dry brushing, for example, stimulates the lymphatic system, as does self-administered oil massage. Meditating and journaling are excellent ways to detoxify the mind and heart. A “digital detox” can do wonders in balancing stress levels and restoring lost energy. Finally, exercise and steam baths also encourage the release of toxins through the sweat glands.
Iron Fist Cleansing vs. Cleansing as a Lifestyle
The signature Ayurvedic cleanse, panchakarma, is not for the faint of heart. It is an extended and extensive cleanse that involves massage, oil enemas, purging, and a strict monodiet of kitchari. Panchakarma should never be performed without the consultation and oversight of an experienced Ayurvedic practitioner.
The objective of panchakarma is to reverse the movement of toxic material. Typically, toxic material is absorbed through the digestive tract into the cells. Practicing panchakarma instead draws compounds from the cells into the digestive tract for expulsion.
While extreme measures like panchakarma can work wonders for some, others may find that eating in accordance with Ayurvedic principles has a sufficiently cleansing effect. The Ayurvedic diet optimizes every bodily system and maintains sufficient levels of agni. Dense in nutritious whole foods, and Ayurvedic diet reduces the ingestion and promotes the excretion of toxins. Thus, adopting an Ayurvedic diet may eliminate the need for extreme cleansing.
Whether you choose to practice the occasional, strict cleanse or to incorporate cleansing practices into your everyday lifestyle is merely a matter of your dosha and preference.
Is Ayurvedic Cleansing Effective?
People have practiced Ayurvedic cleansing for thousands of years, but it is only recently that its efficacy has been scientifically validated. Dr. Herron, Director of Research at the Institute of Science, Technology, and Public Policy at Maharishi University concluded through both longitudinal and cross-sectional studies that Ayurvedic therapies are effective in reducing the burden of fat-soluble, lipophilic toxicants on the body. Not to be confused with toxins, toxicants are unnatural, man-made toxic substances like PCB’s and DDT. These harmful toxins make their way into the food supply in several ways. For example: fish consume plastic debris in the ocean, allowing PCB’s to travel up the food chain and contaminate our foods. These sorts of substances are in all sorts of foods, from fish and meat to dairy and even produce.
The study incorporated multiple methods of cleansing, including the consumption of Ghee in the morning and the elimination of meat, fats, oils, and cheese. It also entails castor oil cleansing, daily massage, herbal steam baths, and herbal oil enemas. The study found that these methods worked synergistically to significantly reduce toxic buildup in the body. In fact, subject’s final PCB levels were less than 1% of what scientists would have anticipated based on it’s half life. The reason? The scientists believed that the use of healthy oils like ghee and oil enemas drew fat-soluble toxicants out of cellular tissues and into the bloodstream to be eliminated.
by Audrey Love | May 2, 2018 | Ayurveda
Ayurveda: some readers are intimately familiar with it, and others may have never even heard the word. For some it conjures thoughts of kitchari and meditation. For others it invokes images of certain types of yoga poses. In our introductory blog, we hope to teach you about the core principles of Ayurveda and, by extension, share the ideas that give life and purpose to Bodhidevi.
In simple terms, Ayurveda is a wellness philosophy that originated in early Indian civilization over 5,000 years ago. Perhaps one of the first forms of holistic medicine, Ayurveda prescribes dietary and lifestyle changes in accordance with each individual’s unique body to promote health and balance. The practicing different types of yoga is one of Ayurveda’s primary prescriptions, the philosophy advocates various wellness practices.
But Ayurveda isn’t simply a diet or exercise regimen. It’s a philosophy designed to optimize every facet of the individual, including mind, emotions, and spirit. It encourages spiritual practice and engagement with nature in the interest of restoring our innate intimacy with ourselves and with the planet. When we practice Ayurveda, we become attuned to our most raw, pure, and divine form. When we become acquainted with the beauty of our innate self, we awaken to the interconnectedness of the self with all beings and energetic forces.
Ayurveda honors the sacredness of individuality.
Different individuals possess different physical and mental attributes. As each of our bodies and minds differ, so too do our nutritional, physical, and emotional needs. Ayurveda recognizes and respects each person’s bio-individuality and seeks to cater to the unique needs of each individual. Acknowledging that different people are prone to different diseases, digestive problems, psychological ailments, mental capacities, and energy levels, Ayurveda stipulates that understanding an individual’s unique body and mind absolutely must precede medicinal treatment.
According to Ayurvedic philosophy, we are born with a unique prakriti, or constitution. One’s praktiri consists of one’s unique balance of the three doshas, or energetic life forces. The first dosha, vatta, governs the breath, heart, nerves, consciousness, and happiness. The second, pitta, regulates appetite, digestion, nutrient absorption, intelligence, bravery, and drive. Finally, Kapha manages stability, order, grounding, growth, strength, energy, memory, empathy, water, and fat regulation. Different individuals possess different ratios of the three doshas, and thus have different praktiri.
It is essential to ascertain the nature of one’s praktiri before suggesting treatments or lifestyle changes, such as dietary changes of practicing different types of yoga or meditation. The balance between our doshas at birth is our point of homeostasis, the place in which our body thrives. Each individual possesses different needs in accordance with his or her praktiri. Therefore, according to Ayurveda, understanding your own inherent, optimal balance is the key to determining your medicinal and lifestyle needs.
Ayurveda inspires us to seek balance.
There is nothing inherently wrong with any of the doshas. However, years of unhealthy, stressful living can cause doshic excess, which, in turn, leads to distress and disease. Excessive vata is conducive to anxiety, emotional limitation, constipation, dry skin, poor circulation, insomnia, and malnourishment. Excessive pitta can cause rage, envy, reflux, overheating, diarrhea, headaches, skin conditions, inflammation, and insomnia. Attachment, stubbornness, lethargy, obesity, oversleeping, depression, edema, and sinus infections all indicate too much kapha. In general, if you stray too far from your praktiri, you will experience doshic imbalances that will damage your health.
The objective of Ayurveda is to treat disease and promote health by balancing the doshas and restoring your praktiri. In order to do so, you must balance the gunas—the basic qualities of objects and life forms. The gunas include hot vs. cold, dry vs. oily, dense vs. liquid, soft vs. hard, and heavy versus light. Certain gunas are associated with certain doshas. For example, dryness is associated with vatta. Thus, if you are experiencing excessive Vatta, you want to consume more oily foods to balance your dryness. This notion is based on the Ayurvedic principle that like increases like and opposites balance. Restoring the gunas opposite to those which characterize your excessive dosha therefore establishes doshic balance.
Achieving doshic balance also requires living in accordance with the season. Eating in season not only means eating locally grown, in-seasons foods; it also requires that we balance the gunas of that season. For example: winter is characterized by excessive cold, so we should eat hot foods in the winter to balance that guna.
Ayurveda is a medicinal way of living.
Ayurveda seeks to promote the health of the entire person. Achieving doshic balance is not just a means of healing the body. Rather, Ayurveda understands that doshic balance is linked to mental, spiritual, and emotional health as well. Thus, Ayurveda does not simply treat ailments with food or supplements. Rather, it encourages us to lead a balanced lifestyle in accordance with our doshic make up. For some, that may mean getting more cardiovascular exercise and practicing deep breathing. For others, it may mean getting more sleep or practicing certain types of yoga. The objective of Ayurveda is help the individual discover the lifestyle patterns most conducive to health and happiness.
Oftentimes it is lifestyle choices in the first place that cause doshic imbalance. Restoring doshic balance and achieving svasthya, or the state of equilibrium in which we are most healthy, thus requires lifestyle alterations.
Though some lifestyle changes are relative to the individual, there are a few practices that Ayurveda believes are universally beneficial. Ayurveda unconditionally encourages the consumption of whole, nutrient rich foods. It also recommends regularly practicing certain types of yoga, meditation, and detoxification. It even encourages frequent massage to stimulate the lymphatic system, cleanse, and relieve tension.
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