Touch is the sense of our skin. Whenever we are touched our skin will react in a certain way. If the touch is too heavy, it may bruise,too cold and we get goose bumps, too hot, it will turn red and even blister. When we have a self-massage we are aware of the degree of…
Read more →In Ayurvedic holistic medicine a sattvic diet is one that is pure and fresh and clears the mind. It gives us curiosity, the ability to think, and it wakes us up. It helps to calm us mentally and to stay focused. Depending on your constitutional type, the effect of eating sattvic foods will be different.Vata…
Read more →According to Ayurveda the asanas (yoga poses) have a particular effect relative to the three doshas. Just as certain foods will keep vata, pitta and kapha in or out of balance, different physical poses will pacify or disturb a dosha. However, each asana can have its effect altered by modifying the accompanying breathing. Knowing your…
Read more →Have you ever wondered why some people seem to thrive in the hot and humid weather typical at this time of year, basking in its warmth and moisture, while others are lethargic and just want to sleep all the time? Well, according to Ayurveda, how you cope with the weather depends very much on your…
Read more →Triphala, a combination of three herbs popular in ayurvedic medicine, has been in the news recently, and here's why.Triphala (the three fruits amla, harad and behada) has long been considered an important medicine in Ayurveda because it balances all three doshas, vata, pitta and kapha. It is light and dry in properties, and of sweet,…
Read more →Once you have established which dosha is predominant and forms your Ayurvedic constitution, you can determine which tastes and foods will keep you in balance and which to avoid.To keep vata in balance favor sweet, salty and sour tastes. Reduce spicy, bitter and astringent. Focus on foods that are cooked, steamed, and moist rather than…
Read more →If you have tried to evaluate your root constitution (see "Introduction to Ayurveda: Assessing your Constitution") and still need confirmation, the following summaries of the three basic doshas may be of help. The six most common constitutional types are:vata, pitta, kapha (uni-doshic)- one dosha is predominant throughout lifevata-pitta/pitta-vata,vata-kapha/kapha-vata, pitta-kapha/kapha-pitta (bi-doshic) - one dosha is predominant…
Read more →The following questionnaire will help you assess your personal constitution. When you take it, respond according to how you have reacted through your whole lifetime so far, even if the answer does not apply particularly at this point in time. If you don't think you can be accurate or honest and may see yourself as…
Read more →Ayurvedic medicine uses a similar five element theory as does TCM to explain all mental and physical functions of the body and its relationship with its natural enviroment. The five elements of air, ether, fire, water and earth are further condensed in Ayurveda into the three doshas of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. A dosha is…
Read more →Although Ayurvedic medicine has its roots in the ancient Vedic texts of India, it is as much alive and relevant today as it was then. Just as Traditional Chinese Medicine is deeply engrained in the traditions and culture of China, Ayurvedic principles permeate through the Indian way of life. Ayurveda is the ''science of life'',…
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