Large Category
Female Health: Menorrhagia ~ 5 Simple Ayurvedic Considerations
Female Health: Menorrhagia ~ 5 Simple Ayurvedic Considerations Menorrhagia is a condition that results in excessive bleeding during a woman’s menstrual cycle. This can include both the amount of blood and/or the number of days during which bleeding occurs. The causative factors can vary from hormonal imbalances to diet and lifestyle patterns. Ayurveda classifies this disorder as a pitta [heat] imbalance and can be common during the pitta stage of life (ages 30-40 years). If not properly managed, this can also lead to anemia and patients may start to feel fatigue and develop headaches amongst other symptoms. Ayurveda Considers The Root Cause It is important to discover the root cause of the disorder, as it may vary for each individual. From an ayurvedic perspective, the strength of agni [t...
Is Bitter Better for Pacifying Pitta?
Is Bitter Better for Pacifying Pitta? “I read online that for pitta people, particularly in the summer time, in order to keep things cool, bitter things are good. So I ordered a bitter ghee preparation called “pancha tikta ghritam” and I started using it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. I immediately developed nausea and felt like I had a hangover. It felt like instead of pacifying my pitta, it aggravated it? Can you please address this? If ayurvedic texts and experts say that bitter is good for pitta then why did it not help me? Also, how should I take care of my pitta in the summer? I read your article on cooling pitta in the summer and it gave a different approach. You were recommending sweet things like rose petal preserve. Is the sweet taste enough for pacifying pitta i...
Herbs & Spices ~ An Ayurvedic Perspective
Herbs & Spices ~ An Ayurvedic Perspective Plants, whether the whole plant, the bark, the root, the flower or leaf, or even an extract of a plant – are a type of medicine that is used to promote health, as well as prevent and treat illness. Part of the beauty and magic of plants is that they are easily accessible and have been used by people from around the world as an important healing modality. Much of the world’s population still relies today on the use of plants as medicine. To answer the question “What is Herbal Medicine?” you should know that it is, in and of itself, a way to stimulate and restore the body’s natural healing capacity through the use of plants. Acute symptoms can be resolved effectively using herbs and spices. The typical goal is not to alleviate a specific sy...
A Personal Look At Depression ~ An Ayurvedic Perspective
A Personal Look At Depression ~ An Ayurvedic Perspective “For underneath my tears and the hallow feelings is a deep intrinsic knowing that our sadness is always here to teach us something, to help us grow and lead us to a deeper evolution of ourselves. I know that once I have moved through the darkness, I will be very grateful for the lessons learned along the way. I’ve heard it said so many times, being vulnerable is a pathway to deeper connections, a richer life, healing and a profound experience of “Aliveness”. But how easy is it to be vulnerable when we have jobs to keep up, social statuses to maintain, teeth to brush and lives to live? Yet, a gift of this depression is that at times I have no choice but to be vulnerable. It doesn’t matter if it’s a co-worker I barely...
CUCUMBER RAITA ~ Simple & Delicious Dishes To Keep Cool This Summer!
Simple & Delicious Dishes To Help Keep Cool This Summer! According to the teachings of Ayurveda, every aspect of our lives contrubutes to our overall health with seasonal changes being of great significance. The summer heat is reflective of the fiery element of pitta giving all the more reason to discover some delectable yummy and cooling dishes to help stay cool this summer. CUCUMBER RAITA Often a good meal for lunch on a hot summer day is basmati rice and mung dal kitchari. However, to bring about flavor you may also want to consider cucumber raita to help improve digestion and even help to cool down many spicy dishes. Ingredients: · 1 small cucumber skinned and grated · 1 teaspoon of ground fennel seeds dry roasted · ½ cup of plain yogurt · ¼ teasp...
The Real Power of Mantra
THE REAL POWER OF MANTRA Amantram akṣaram nāsti, nāsti mūlam anauṣaḍham Ayogyaḥ puruṣo nāsti, yojakas tatra durlabhaḥ There is no syllable that is not a mantra, no root that is not medicine; There is no person who is not born with a use, but it takes skill to find these things. In everyone’s horoscope, there are key sounds, or mantras, that reflect various aspects of the personality. They are based on the individual placement of planets at the time of ṭheir birth. Vedic astrology makes use of these (what are sometimes called sacred or ‘primordial sounds’ ) for naming people and businesses, for meditation, and even for finding compatible partners. Such short ‘seed syllables’ or bīja mantras are practicable for Westerners because they are not particularly difficult to pronounce. But prob...