We’ve all felt burnt out, exhausted, and imbalanced at some point. An ancient system of medicine known as ayurveda may help you reclaim your balance.
Originating in India more than 3,000 years ago, ayurvedic practices revolve around living in harmony with nature. The ancient philosophy recognizes a unique combination of five elements—aakash (space or ether), jal (water), prithvi (earth), and agni (fire)—that create one’s constitution, aka prakriti.
Identifying Your Dosha
The term “ayurveda” translates to “knowledge of life” and is comprised of the Sanskrit words “ayur” (life) and “veda” (knowledge). It’s an ancient wellness system that emphasizes balance and holistic well-being. Its practices include daily routines, dietary guidelines, herbal medicine and seasonal living.
Ayurvedic practitioners believe that health and disease are the result of a combination of the body, mind and spirit. Ayurvedic treatments can help you achieve balance with natural therapies and lifestyle interventions, including healthy eating habits, restful sleep, exercise and stress management, as well as botanicals, herbal medicine and a purification program known as panchakarma.
An ayurvedic practitioner will assess your current state of being, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of your body and mind. Then, they’ll create a treatment plan that will address the imbalances that are contributing to your symptoms. Depending on your symptoms, an ayurvedic practitioner may recommend massages, herbal medicines, dietary changes or detoxification programs.
The first step in implementing an ayurvedic treatment plan is determining your dominant dosha, which will be the basis for your overall wellness plan. You can take a quiz from The Ayurvedic Institute that will help you determine your dosha and start on the road to achieving wellness.
Vata is the movement of energy in your body, governing the flexibility of your muscles and joints, blood flow and breathing. Individuals who are predominately vata-based tend to be creative, flexible and snappy in their approach to life, but they can also become anxious and worried easily if they have too much vata. To balance their dosha, ayurvedic experts suggest grounding practices like sticking to a consistent sleep-eat schedule, meditation and relaxation.
Pitta people have a muscular build and are often athletic. They are highly motivated and goal-oriented, and they serve as strong leaders. However, their tenacious nature can sometimes lead to conflict. Those who are pitta-dominant can best balance their dosha by exercising during the coolest parts of the day, eating cooling foods such as salad and avoiding hot beverages and spicy food.
Ayurvedic practices are gaining popularity in the United States as more people seek holistic approaches to wellness. However, as with any complementary or integrative health practice, you should always work with your doctor before beginning any new routines.
Developing a Lifestyle Routine
Ayurvedic practices aim to bring balance to your physical body, mind and spirit, and they do so through a variety of natural treatments and lifestyle interventions. These include eating a diet that’s rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes and avoiding processed foods; practicing regular exercise, meditation and deep breathing; and using botanicals, herbal supplements and other wellness therapies.
A practitioner will create a treatment plan that takes into account your unique physical and emotional makeup, your primary and secondary doshas, and any other imbalances you may have. The goal of ayurvedic treatment is to balance your doshas, which you can do at home through daily Ayurvedic practices called dinacharya.
In addition to a healthy diet, an Ayurvedic lifestyle routine includes daily exercise that improves circulation and helps your important cell tissues, organs and muscles get more oxygen. It’s recommended that you do stronger exercises, like strength workouts or high-intensity interval training, in the morning and save restorative movement, such as walking, tai chi or gentle yoga, for the afternoon.
The ayurvedic system of healing has its roots in Hindu philosophy. It’s based on the belief that everything is connected and that health depends on maintaining the equilibrium between the body, mind and spirit.
Ayurvedic practitioners are trained in a broad range of techniques, including massage, yoga and meditation. They can also help you detoxify through practices such as ayurvedic cleansing programs, which use herbs such as licorice, red clover and ginger. During ayurvedic treatment, your practitioner may also prescribe other natural remedies, such as herbal teas, nutritional supplements and oils to use at home to support your health. As with any wellness approach, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle. They can ensure you’re safe and help you avoid any complications. For example, ayurvedic practitioners often recommend you stop drinking alcohol or smoking before beginning an Ayurvedic detox program. This will ease your transition to a new lifestyle and reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms.
Purifying the Body
Ayurvedic practices are designed to help balance your body’s natural rhythms. This includes following seasonal eating patterns, sleeping with the sun and moon cycles (or at least scheduling your bedtime accordingly), and getting enough outdoor exercise to activate the parasympathetic nervous system for better sleep and a calmer mind.
This ancient practice has been linked to improved cognitive function, heart health and mental clarity, as well as lowered blood pressure. It also encourages a mindful approach to eating, which can help you avoid overeating and indigestion, and it may even reduce the need for medication.
Ayurveda dates back 3,000 years, and its philosophy is based on the concept that everything in the universe is a combination of five elements: aether or space, air, water, earth and fire. It’s believed that when these elements become unbalanced, illness can occur. Ayurvedic medicine aims to correct the imbalances through diet, exercise and herbs.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) recommends incorporating ayurvedic practices into your wellness plan. However, it’s important to note that ayurvedic medicine isn’t considered to be a complete medical system; rather, it’s best used in conjunction with your regular biomedicine regimen.
When you consult an ayurvedic practitioner, they will create a personalized wellness plan for your unique constitution. This may include dietary recommendations, lifestyle changes and herbal supplements, as well as yoga or meditation techniques.
For example, ayurvedic practitioners often recommend avoiding foods that are heavy in fat and sugar, as they can trigger inflammation, promote cellular aging and disrupt your digestive tract. They may also suggest adding more vegetables, fruits, whole grains and healthy fats, like avocadoes, nuts, and seeds, to your diet. Additionally, if you’re concerned about your cholesterol levels, you can take ayurvedic herbal supplements to help manage them. These supplements may contain ingredients, such as fenugreek, that can help lower bad cholesterol levels and raise good ones. They may also contain herbs that can help with stress management, such as ashwagandha and triphala.
Managing Stress
Ayurvedic practices focus on preventive care and help you stay in balance. These include regular bowel movements, using garlic water gargles and oil pulling for healthy teeth, eating seasonal foods to maintain optimal digestion, and incorporating meditation into your daily routine. These habits also boost immunity and promote a deep sense of wellbeing.
A Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner will work with you to determine your unique physical and emotional makeup, as well as your primary and secondary doshas. They will then create a wellness program catered to your needs, including dietary suggestions, herbal medicine, and lifestyle routines.
If you have a Vata dosha that is predominate, for example, you might feel dry and prone to anxiety. Ayurvedic health practices can help manage these issues by recommending warm spices and invigorating exercise to stimulate energy. On the other hand, someone with a Pitta dosha may be competitive and driven, but is at risk of inflammation. Ayurvedic health practices can support this individual by promoting a cooling diet and stress-reduction techniques.
The practice of Ayurvedic self-care has become a popular component of holistic wellness worldwide. Herbal supplements, like turmeric, ashwagandha, and triphala, provide a natural way to bolster immunity and support cellular health, while regular massage therapy with nourishing oils can enhance circulation and relax the body.
Ayurvedic wellness practices are based on the principle that all physical ailments stem from imbalances in one or more of the doshas. Ayurvedic treatments address these imbalances by balancing mind, body, and spirit through nutrition, herbs, daily routines, yoga, breathwork, and seasonal living. This ancient wellness tradition is recognized as a medical system in India and is considered complementary to Western medicine in the United States. However, if you are experiencing a severe health issue or disease, we recommend seeing your physician. We also recommend discussing any new herbs or supplements with your doctor before adding them to your routine. In addition, we advise against attempting to treat any disease or illness with ayurvedic remedies alone. Ayurvedic practitioners are not licensed to diagnose and treat disease, and we encourage you to visit a qualified physician if you are noticing any signs or symptoms of illness.
