All about Ayurveda

Many people have a belief that regular intake of vitamins and minerals or nutritional tonics will help them stay healthy. But this is not sufficient according to Ayurveda. Unlike the general treatment approach of modern medicine, the approach in Ayurveda is individualized / personalized based on one’s Prakriti (Phenotype / Body constitution). One must know his / her Prakriti so that they can inculcate and adopt suitable diet, lifestyle to achieve optimum health and to prevent chronic diseases. Prakriti is a unique concept of Ayurveda and it has a significant role in personalized medicine.  When no two people are alike, then how can there be a common line of treatment for them when affected with the same disease? According to Ayurvedic principles, all living beings and non – living things in earth is made up of five elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether) in varying proportions acording to predetermined ratio that cannot be changed. Man is the ...

Botanical Name: Ocimum sanctum Family: Lamiaceae Common Names: Sacred basil / Holy basil Sanskrti name: Surasa, Tulsi, Vishnupriya Part Used: Leaves, roots, Seeds Location/Cultivation and types - Tulsi is found throughout the lowlands of India as well as in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, southern China, Thailand, and Malaysia. There are three types of Tulsi plants available Rama tulsi (Bears small green leaves), Krishna tulsi (Bears dark green to Purple leaves and has a strong taste and smell) and Vanatulsi (Bears large green leaves and is the wild variety growing in forests). Chemical constituents or active compounds - Tulsi contains chemical compounds such as eugenol, ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid, chlorophyll, caryophyllene, oleanolic acid and linolenic acid. Nutritional compounds found in tulsi include vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron and zinc. Properties - Adaptogen, antibacterial, antidepressant, antioxidant, a...

Haritaki ( Terminalia chebula) commonly known as the Chebulic Myrobalan is a perennial plant, found everywhere in India. The useful part is the fruit which is of medicinal value. Haritaki fruit is a part of Triphala, the three fruits. Haritaki is a panacea for all diseases and is the best Rasayana (Rejuvenative) especially for Vata people. According to the Bhavaprakasha, Haritaki was derived from a drop of nectar from Indra’s cup. Haritaki is a digestive and has anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic , cardiotonic, aphrodisiac, laxative and restorative properties. It promotes intellect. It is additionally beneficial in flatulence, constipation, hemorrhoids, cough, cold and fever . Haritaki is also known by different names like Abhaya, Avyatha, Pathya, Kapastha, Pootana, Chetaki, Sreyasi, Shiva in Sanskrit.    Energetics of Haritaki Rasa (Taste) – It has all the five tastes except salt – Madhura (Sweet), Amla (Sour), Tikta (Bitter), Katu (Pungent) and Kas...

In our modern world, we blindly believe that vaccinations and antibiotics are beneficial for prevention and treatment of diseases. Of course, at times such things can be necessary. But too often it can be substituted with Ayurvedic advises which is a safe and natural way to improve the function of the immune system thereby increasing disease resistance. Ayurveda has much to offer in the way of gentle and effective health care and disease prevention for children through diet and lifestyle, as well as the use of medicinal herbs and spices. “The object of teaching is to enable a child to get along without his teacher.” This quote has a connection to Ayurveda. So let’s educate growing children about the benefits of Ayurveda for a healthy future. From bedtime to bedtime there is a full day of simple Ayurvedic activities that promote health and wellbeing. Introduce a child to these at an early age and they can become habits for life. 1. Ayurveda recommends ...

Clearing of bowels is a step towards good health. There is a feeling of being uncomfortable and routine work is hampered when the bowels of a person are not cleared. Constipation is a common problem in today's world mainly due to present day lifestyle. Constipation may manifest in different ways - not passing bowels even once a day or a sense of incomplete evacuation. Though the disease of constipation has not been discussed separately in Ayurvedic texts, its occurrence as a symptom of various diseases and ways to tackle it has been described. Constipation is mentioned in Ayurvedic texts by the name of Vibandha meaning obstructing or binding of stool. Vibandha occurs when something is wrong somewhere in our food habits. Nidana (Causes) Ayurveda treats constipation as a problem arising due to the predominance of Vata dosha. In fact all people with Vata constitution have this problem to some extent or the other. From Ayurvedic point of view, dietary habits are the main cause of ...

Ayurvedic approach towards motherhood, that is pregnancy and childbirth, is indeed a holistic one. Ayurvedic recommendations touch upon the diet, behavior, and activities of not only the mother but also the entire family into which the child will be born. Ayurveda regards the woman and her ability to produce and care for children as the basis of family life, which, in turn, is the very foundation of society. Therefore, only if the women of a society are safe, protected, and content can these qualities manifest in that society. Pregnancy is a time when everything the pregnant mother tastes, sees, touches, hears and smells should be nourishing to the mother and child.  Advice on diet during pregnancy -  Cooked vegetables should be included in diet whereas raw vegetables / salads should be consumed in less quantities preceding lunch. Pulses like yellow and split green gram, pigeon pea and red lentils are easy to digest, balancing and nouri...