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Ayurvedic Remedies

Health Is Wholeness – Is Health Really Just The Absence Of Disease?

  Is Health Really Just The Absence Of Disease? The concept of health is so familiar that many of us never really give much thought about what it really means. The most common response to such a question is – “the absence of disease”. Is health really just the absence of disease? The ancient wisdom of Ayurveda sees each person as not being a set of parts, but as a whole and for one to be considered healthy – the body, mind, and consciousness must be balanced. More specifically, Sushruta the father of surgery and teacher of Ayurveda explained health as being when the digestive fire [“agni”] is balanced; the bodily humors [vata-pitta-kapha] are in equilibrium; the three waste products [urine, feces, and sweat] are eliminated properly; the senses function normally; and the bo...

How To Overcome Fatigue & Tiredness [CFS & Adrenal Fatigue]

How To Overcome Fatigue & Tiredness We tend to blame fatigue on a “too-busy lifestyle” and much of the time we’re right. However, if you feel tired all the time, it’s not something to overlook. According to the CDC, chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS, is a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that is not improved by bed rest and that may be worsened by physical or mental activity. About one million Americans suffer from CFS. The challenge with chronic fatigue and extreme tiredness is that its root cause can often be challenging to trace. Due to its complexity, doctors often recommend a battery of tests to rule out possible causes; i.e. thyroid conditions, sleep disorders, depression, anemia, etc.  However, the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda has a practical appr...

10 Health Benefits Of Tulsi [“Holy Basil”] – The Holiest Of All Plants!!

  Health Benefits Of Tulsi  Tulsi or “Holy Basil” is revered as the holiest of all plants and is considered a manifestation of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. According to legend, “All-Pervading” Vishnu comforted Lakshmi that she will be born on earth as Tulsi, but only part of her will stay there as a plant as she will eventually return to him as his wife. Tulsi which means “the incomparable one” is originally from India and is used in Ayurvedic medicine as an “adaptogen” to help counter life’s stresses. Medicine is made from the leaves, stems, and seeds of Tulsi and shown to possess healing benefits for a wide rage of health conditions such as the common cold, fevers, diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, heart disease and so much more. Even more impressive, research is beginning to suggest...

5 Simple Ways To Balance Kapha Dosha – Ancient Wisdom For Balance & Stability

  5 Simple Ways To Balance Kapha Dosha According to Ayurveda, there are three doshas called vata, pitta, and kapha. We can think of these three doshas as the guiding principles that keep all our bodily functions balanced and healthy. “Health results from the natural, balanced state of the doshas. Therefore, the wise try to keep them in their balanced state.” – Charak Samhita What Is Kapha Dosha?  Kapha, made up of the properties of earth and water, embodies structure and stability. Earth and water … slow, stable, down to earth, slow to anger, and easygoing! The Kapha-dominant take their sweet time, too. If you’ve heard the expression, “Slow and steady wins the race,” that’s a good example of Kapha. Kaphas may be slow to get going, but they are dependable and dedicated. At their health...

Gut Health & “Ama” [Toxins]

  Gut Health & “Ama” Over the course of a lifetime, we ingest roughly 50 tons of nutrients and our ability to properly digest these nutrients determines to a large extent the state of our health. “Ama” is a concept of Ayurveda which can be best understood as the accumulation of toxic metabolic by-products at various levels of physiology. More simply, ama is the by-product of poor digestion and according to the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda – ama is the root cause of nearly all diseases. Ayurveda states that proper diet and optimal digestion are the major pillars of good health. Similarly, optimal function of the GI tract requires proper mucosal integrity and a balanced microbial ecosystem in the gut. In essence, “gut health” relies on “good bacteria”. Any compromise...

Becoming Whole, Complete, & Perfect

Becoming Whole, Complete, & Perfect Ayurveda is based on the concept of balance. The primary goal of Ayurveda is to identify each person’s state of balance, determine where one may be imbalanced and ultimately provide the most personalized care one needs to experience perfect health; Body-Mind-Soul. Knowing nature to be whole, complete, and perfect – good health implies restoring health naturally to a state of balance. The first step in correcting any imbalance is becoming more aware of the underlying cause. According to Ayurveda, disease is caused by the overuse or misuse of the body, mind, and emotions. Essentially, misuse is doing anything against your personal nature and the ancient Ayurveda recognizes the unique needs of each individual. “Any treatment that attends only to t...

Aromatherapy – Essential Oils, Attars, & Incense

Aromatherapy – Essential Oils, Attars, & Incense We all know that pleasant smells are satisfying and delightful while nauseating smells irritate the mind. However, there is a growing body of research that points to the remarkable healing properties of essential oil. In fact, the ancient science of Ayurveda has long explained the deep connection that smell has upon both the brain and consciousness. Ayurveda explains further, that all aromatic substances have a well defined and therapeutic value. For example, depending on the essential oil – some will either stimulate or calm the mind, stimulate circulation, enliven prana, and even act as an aphrodisiac; plus so much more. Many people commonly think of “aromatherapy” as being that of scented candles, potpourri, and perfumes. ...

Health Benefits Of Tikta Ghrita [“Bitter Ghee”]

Health Benefits Of Tikta Ghrita Tikta Ghrita, often translated as “bitter ghee”, is clarified butter infused with some of the more powerful herbs that Ayurvedic medicine has to offer. “Tikta” refers to bitterness and ghrita or ghee is made by cooking butter until the oil separates from the milk solids and the moisture is evaporated. Ghee has long been revered in India and is often used as a carrier for herbs. Ghee acts as the base and being an oil it easily penetrates lipid membranes thereby facilitating deeper penetration of herbs into bodily tissue while enhancing the potency and action of the herbs. Tikta Ghrita is a traditional Ayurvedic formula that has been used for thousands of years. According to the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, tikta ghrita has purifying and strengthening effects o...

Health Benefits Of Cardamom

  Health Benefits Of Cardamom One of the most common spices seen in an Indian household is ‘Elaichi’ or cardamom. If black pepper is considered the king of spices then cardamom is considered the queen of spices; one of the most valued spice in the world. Cardamom comes from the Zingiberaceae family and has a unique strong camphor-like aroma and has a sweet yet spicy flavor. Ayurvedic texts describe two types of Cardamom namely suksma [small cardamom]; “true cardamom”, and brihat [big cardamom]. While cardamom seeds are commonly used as spices they are also used as medicine. Not only does Cardamom add a sweet unique flavor to your dishes, it adds a lot more – health wise. According to the US Department of Agriculture and the National Database for Standard Reference, cardamom is rich in...

Takra [Buttermilk] – The Divine Healing Ayurvedic Digestive Drink

  The Divine Healing Digestive Drink Takra or buttermilk, is a liquid preparation prepared by continuously churning yogurt in water. This preparation increases your digestive power and is often used in many health conditions. Takra is considered beneficial for many G.I. conditions such as IBD and Crohn’s disease as well as poor digestion, hemorrhoids, tumors, edema, diarrhea, anemia, urinary diseases and many other health-related conditions. “He who uses takra daily does not suffer from diseases, and diseases cured by takra do not recur; just as amrita [divine nectar] is for the gods, takra is to humans.” – Bhavaprakasha Chpt 6.7 The Benefits Of Homemade: This type of buttermilk is not like the fermented buttermilk you often find in the stores. Likewise, the properties of regula...

Ayurvedic Home Remedies For A Sore Throat + Common Cold

Ayurvedic Home Remedies For A Sore Throat At one time or another almost everyone has had a sore throat. A sore throat is caused by irritation and inflammation of the throat and is most commonly due to a virus and to a lesser extent by bacteria. That said, if your sore throat lasts more than a few days or if it’s accompanied by fever, nausea, or abdominal pain, see a doctor. Bio-Immune Supports natural immunity; helps detoxify blood and promotes cellular regeneration Cold Weather Defense Supports the body’s natural defenses; helps remove toxins; useful as an all-season defense. Common Causes of Sore Throat Viral infection Bacterial infection Fungal infection Smoking Shouting Allergies   Catch It Early – Gargle!  In order to catch your sore throat early, consider a gargle with tur...

Improve Digestion Naturally + Ayurvedic Remedies For Indigestion

  Improve Your Digestion Naturally According to the most ancient and revered textbook of Ayurveda, the Charak Samhita, “the distinction between health and disease arises as the result of the difference between wholesome and unwholesome diet.” Similarly, Hippocrates [the father of modern medicine] has said, “leave your drugs in the pot at the pharmacy if you can’t cure your patient with food.” “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates  Food As Medicine We have all heard the saying, “you are what you eat”. Though true, it would be more accurate to say, “you are what you eat, digest, absorb, and assimilate”. With that in mind, let us now introduce the most fundamental principle according to the science of Ayurveda. This principle is “Agni” – The Diges...