Ayurvedic medicine is much more than just medicine.
This 5,000-year-old practice began in India and has since spread across the world, shaping and improving many lives.
The core of Ayurveda is focused on prevention.
The history of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda dates back thousands of years.
Ayurvedic medicine thrived until India began to experience political conflict and invasion, notably by the British Empire.
Plenty of people weren’t dissuaded by the Western influence and continued to practice on the fringes of society.
The health benefits of Ayurvedic medicine.
Ayurvedic medicine focuses onholistic healthand wellness, and is the opposite of a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
It employs a wide variety of practiceseach with its own benefits.
It can promote heart health.
A2015 study1suggested that Ayurvedic medicine can have positive effects on people with coronary heart disease.
It can reduce inflammation.
By now you’ve probably heard thatinflammationplays a role in many diseases.
It can improve sleep.
It can promote weight loss.
An introduction to the 3 doshas: Vata, Pitta & Kapha.
The three doshas are represented in everybody but in different amounts.
To determine your constitution, you might check out thisquick dosha quiz.
Vata Dosha
Vata dosha characteristics.
Vatais all about the energy of movement, and it’s often associated with the wind.
It’s an energetic dosha linked with flexibility, creativity, and free-flowing spirit.
It’s associated with bodily movements like breathing, muscle contraction, andheart function.
An imbalance in the vata dosha can result in anxiety, fear, and digestive issues like constipation.
Exercises to balance the vata dosha.
Anything that brings stability and grounding will be helpful when Vata energy takes over.
Food and drinks to balance the vata dosha.
Refer tothis primer on the Ayurvedic diet for more.
Pitta Dosha
Pitta dosha characteristics.
Thepitta doshais linked to fire and is thought to control the endocrine, metabolic, anddigestive systems.
People who are predominantly pitta can have a medium build, feel cold often, and have acne-prone skin.
They tend to be busy, high-achieving, and always on the move.
Exercises to balance the pitta dosha.
Unsurprisingly, those with a Pitta imbalance will benefit from cooling activities.
Food and drinks to balance the pitta dosha.
Avoid anything hot, spicy, or fermented, and gravitate toward more cooling foodsespecially in the summer months.
A few pitta-pacifying foods and beverages includesweet fruits, coconut water, and plenty of grains.
Kapha Dosha
Kapha dosha characteristics.
Kapha is associated with earth and water.
It is a stabilizing energy thought to supply water to the body and maintain the immune system.
Someone who is Kapha dominant is calm, grounded, and forgiving.
But an imbalance in Kapha can lead to jealousy, sluggishness, and weight gain.
Exercises to balance the kapha dosha.
If Kapha is out of whack, some serious self-care is in order.
Food and drinks to balance the kapha dosha.
Those who are Kapha dominant should avoid oily foods and heavy, dense carbs like pasta and rice.
Instead, go for bitter, astringent ingredients and plenty of fresh fruits and veggies.
Incorporating ayurvedic wisdom into modern life.
In Sanskrit, the wordAyurvedatranslates to “the science of life.”
In Western medicine, Ayurveda is classified as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
That study found that the treatmentsprovided relief for arthritis6symptoms with no harmful side effects.
