Ayurvedic dietician - ayurvedic meal planning - ayurvedic herbs
When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.
~ Ayurvedic proverb
Ayurveda gives you the means of attaining and maintaining your own optimal health and well-being. The benefits of Ayurvedic medicine have been proven over centuries of use, and its methodologies are as applicable today in the West as they were thousands of years ago in India.
Ayurveda is the traditional healing modality of the Vedic culture from India. It is said to be 2000 to 5000 years old, meaning it has stood the test of time. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that literally translates as “the wisdom of life” or “the knowledge of longevity”. In accordance with this definition, Ayurvedic medicine views health as much more than the absence of disease. The wise seers and sages of the time, intuitively understanding the physiology and workings of the mind-body-spirit long before the advents of modern medicine, explained the basic principles of Ayurveda. Thus, being passed down through the centuries as a complete healing system, evolving to meet the needs of the time, and yet remaining committed to its core principles. Various cultures have drawn upon the ideas of Ayurvedic medicine, and it continues to thrive in both the East and the West.
Ayurveda is the traditional healing modality of the Vedic culture from India. It is said to be 2000 to 5000 years old, meaning it has stood the test of time. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that literally translates as “the wisdom of life” or “the knowledge of longevity”. In accordance with this definition, Ayurvedic medicine views health as much more than the absence of disease. The wise seers and sages of the time, intuitively understanding the physiology and workings of the mind-body-spirit long before the advents of modern medicine, explained the basic principles of Ayurveda. Thus, being passed down through the centuries as a complete healing system, evolving to meet the needs of the time, and yet remaining committed to its core principles. Various cultures have drawn upon the ideas of Ayurvedic medicine, and it continues to thrive in both the East and the West.
Your Unique Constitution
The key to Ayurvedic wellness and healing is the knowledge that health is not a “one size fits all” proposition. One must understand the unique nature of each person and situation, taking into account the individual, the season, the geography, and so on.
Each person has an Ayurvedic constitution that is specific to him or her, and movement away from that constitution creates health imbalances; if such imbalances are not addressed, Ayurveda says that illness may develop. So, the early signs of imbalance serve as a wakeup call to make gentle and natural shifts in behavior to return to balance—such as adjusting diet, modifying daily activities and taking herbal remedies for a time.
Determining your prakriti—your fundamental balanced constitution—requires an assessment of your most natural state. Consider your physical structure as well as mental and emotional tendencies. Remember to think of what is most natural to you, rather than what you’re like when you are stressed or ill. Ayurveda says you can understand your basic nature and tendencies by understanding your balanced state.
Dosha imbalances can manifest in various stages, from a general feeling of “something is not right” all the way to diagnosed illnesses with serious complications. To address this, Ayurveda presents a vast toolbox of treatment modalities to choose from; but whatever the treatment, the goal is to reestablish your natural balance of vata, pitta, and kapha.
Each person has an Ayurvedic constitution that is specific to him or her, and movement away from that constitution creates health imbalances; if such imbalances are not addressed, Ayurveda says that illness may develop. So, the early signs of imbalance serve as a wakeup call to make gentle and natural shifts in behavior to return to balance—such as adjusting diet, modifying daily activities and taking herbal remedies for a time.
Determining your prakriti—your fundamental balanced constitution—requires an assessment of your most natural state. Consider your physical structure as well as mental and emotional tendencies. Remember to think of what is most natural to you, rather than what you’re like when you are stressed or ill. Ayurveda says you can understand your basic nature and tendencies by understanding your balanced state.
Dosha imbalances can manifest in various stages, from a general feeling of “something is not right” all the way to diagnosed illnesses with serious complications. To address this, Ayurveda presents a vast toolbox of treatment modalities to choose from; but whatever the treatment, the goal is to reestablish your natural balance of vata, pitta, and kapha.
PRAKRITI - THE TRI DOSHAS
According to the principles of Ayurveda, our bodies are made up of five elements: air, space, fire, earth, and water. From these elements there are three doshas, which are vata, pitta, and kapha. Each person is born with a combination of the three types of doshas, determining our physical, mental, and emotional characteristics. An imbalance among the doshas is thought to cause illness. Ayurveda’s fundamental approach to well-being is that you must reach your unique state of balance in your whole being—body, mind, and spirit.
Knowing your dosha provides you with an understanding of your basic physical and psychological nature, and helps you create a personal diet and lifestyle that maintains optimum health and peace of mind. Each person has a unique dosha with unique nutritional needs. Establishing your dosha enables you to determine suitable diets, exercise and lifestyles to maintain balance. This is the key to maintaining health.
Knowing your dosha provides you with an understanding of your basic physical and psychological nature, and helps you create a personal diet and lifestyle that maintains optimum health and peace of mind. Each person has a unique dosha with unique nutritional needs. Establishing your dosha enables you to determine suitable diets, exercise and lifestyles to maintain balance. This is the key to maintaining health.
Vata
Composed of air and space, vata is dry, light, cold, rough, subtle/pervasive, mobile, and clear. As such, vata regulates the principle of movement. Any bodily motion—chewing, swallowing, nerve impulses, breathing, muscle movements, thinking, peristalsis, bowel movements, urination, menstruation—requires balanced vata. When vata is out of balance, any number of these movements may be deleteriously affected.
pitta
Pitta brings forth the qualities of fire. It is sharp, penetrating, hot, light, liquid, mobile, and oily. Pitta’s domain is the principal of transformation. Just as fire transforms anything it touches, pitta is in play any time the body converts or processes something. So pitta oversees digestion, metabolism, temperature maintenance, sensory perception, and comprehension. Imbalanced pitta can lead to sharpness and inflammation in these areas in particular.
kapha
Kapha, composed of earth and water, is heavy, cold, dull, oily, smooth, dense, soft, static, liquid, cloudy, hard, and gross (in the sense of dense or thick). As kapha governs stability and structure, it forms the substance of the human body, from the skeleton to various organs to the fatty molecules (lipids) that support the body. An excess of kapha leads to an overabundance of density, heaviness, and excess in the body.
Ayurvedic Herbs
Organic Vegetarian Capsules and Supplements Available In Person
Amla
Vitamin C - anti-oxidant
In Ayurveda the importance of Amla, also known as Indian gooseberry, has been described by the Rishis, the ancient sages of India, as having detoxifying, anti-aging properties and improving overall immunity . The health benefits of Amla can be attributed to the high vitamin C content. Amla has anti-oxidant properties and helps combat free radicals. It is considered one of the strongest rejuvenators, particularly for your blood, bones, liver, heart and skin. Amla balances stomach acid, nourishes the brain and mental functioning, supports the heart, strengthens the lungs, promotes healthier hair, acts as a body coolant, flushes out toxins, increases vitality, strengthens the eyes and improves muscle tone The high amount of Vitamin C in Amla helps the body to better digest food and to assimilate minerals like iron; it also enhances metabolism.
In Ayurveda the importance of Amla, also known as Indian gooseberry, has been described by the Rishis, the ancient sages of India, as having detoxifying, anti-aging properties and improving overall immunity . The health benefits of Amla can be attributed to the high vitamin C content. Amla has anti-oxidant properties and helps combat free radicals. It is considered one of the strongest rejuvenators, particularly for your blood, bones, liver, heart and skin. Amla balances stomach acid, nourishes the brain and mental functioning, supports the heart, strengthens the lungs, promotes healthier hair, acts as a body coolant, flushes out toxins, increases vitality, strengthens the eyes and improves muscle tone The high amount of Vitamin C in Amla helps the body to better digest food and to assimilate minerals like iron; it also enhances metabolism.
Ashwagandha
Energy, strength and stress relief
Ashwagandha -Withania somnifera- has been referred to as Indian ginseng; its roots are used in Ayurvedic medicine in much the same way as ginseng is used in traditional Chinese medicine . This magnificent herb is very useful for raising energy, strength, stamina, the total rejuvenation of the body, and for its capacity to relieve stress. It helps to strengthen the nervous system and is also very successfully used to avoid premature aging. It helps to normalize the functioning of the body by stabilizing and maintaining the secretion of enzymes. Ashwagandha has anti-stress adaptogenic action that leads to improved physical fitness and helps cope with life's daily stress. It raises physiological endurance and protects against the effects of stress. It is particularly beneficial for stress related disorders such as arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, and premature aging.
Ashwagandha -Withania somnifera- has been referred to as Indian ginseng; its roots are used in Ayurvedic medicine in much the same way as ginseng is used in traditional Chinese medicine . This magnificent herb is very useful for raising energy, strength, stamina, the total rejuvenation of the body, and for its capacity to relieve stress. It helps to strengthen the nervous system and is also very successfully used to avoid premature aging. It helps to normalize the functioning of the body by stabilizing and maintaining the secretion of enzymes. Ashwagandha has anti-stress adaptogenic action that leads to improved physical fitness and helps cope with life's daily stress. It raises physiological endurance and protects against the effects of stress. It is particularly beneficial for stress related disorders such as arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, and premature aging.
Brahmi
Mental performance support
Brahmi -Bacopa monnieri- traditionally used in Ayurveda, has gained worldwide fame as a memory booster, promoting mental awareness and concentration. It is widely used as an antioxidant and for improving brain cell function. It helps relieve nervous congestion. This herb is used to better the process of learning, improve the power of speech and imagination, ease nervous and mental strain, and is employed in cases of nervous breakdowns. Taking Brahmi can assist you in experiencing a better sense of well-being during periods of restlessness, anxiety, fatigue, cloudiness of thought, and an overactive mind. Very useful in the cure of Attention Deficit Disorder, this herb induces a sense of calm and peace while facilitating concentration by stimulating neural activity.
It is also used as a blood cleanser and is considered useful for any inflammations, and for controlling blood pressure. Brahmi is considered the main rejuvenating herb for the nerve and brain cells.
Brahmi -Bacopa monnieri- traditionally used in Ayurveda, has gained worldwide fame as a memory booster, promoting mental awareness and concentration. It is widely used as an antioxidant and for improving brain cell function. It helps relieve nervous congestion. This herb is used to better the process of learning, improve the power of speech and imagination, ease nervous and mental strain, and is employed in cases of nervous breakdowns. Taking Brahmi can assist you in experiencing a better sense of well-being during periods of restlessness, anxiety, fatigue, cloudiness of thought, and an overactive mind. Very useful in the cure of Attention Deficit Disorder, this herb induces a sense of calm and peace while facilitating concentration by stimulating neural activity.
It is also used as a blood cleanser and is considered useful for any inflammations, and for controlling blood pressure. Brahmi is considered the main rejuvenating herb for the nerve and brain cells.
Triphala
Complete body cleanser - digestion
Triphala - three fruits- is an Ayurvedic herbal formula consisting of equal parts of three herbs: Amla (Indian Gooseberry), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica) and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula). Triphala is used in Ayurveda as a complete body cleanser. Triphala help to detoxify and cleanse the colon. It also purifies the blood and removes toxins from the liver. Other cleansing benefits of Triphala include reducing some forms of cholesterol (serum cholesterol), and reducing high blood pressure. Triphala is used for immune system stimulation, improvement of digestion and relief of constipation. A popular folk saying in India says: “You do not have a mother? Don't worry, as long as you have Triphala in your life.”
Triphala - three fruits- is an Ayurvedic herbal formula consisting of equal parts of three herbs: Amla (Indian Gooseberry), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica) and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula). Triphala is used in Ayurveda as a complete body cleanser. Triphala help to detoxify and cleanse the colon. It also purifies the blood and removes toxins from the liver. Other cleansing benefits of Triphala include reducing some forms of cholesterol (serum cholesterol), and reducing high blood pressure. Triphala is used for immune system stimulation, improvement of digestion and relief of constipation. A popular folk saying in India says: “You do not have a mother? Don't worry, as long as you have Triphala in your life.”
Shatavari
Women's Health
Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is a climbing plant which grows in low jungles areas throughout India. Shatavari, which means “she who possesses a hundred husbands” in Sanskrit, is considered to be the most beneficial herb for balancing the female hormonal system. Shatavari cleanses the blood and nourishes the female reproductive organs. It supports the natural fertility of the body, it provides nourishment to the womb and ovum, it supports the female organs in protecting the foetus in the early stages of pregnancy and it is useful as a post-partum tonic. Shatavari enhances estrogen hormone production, thereby helping to ward off many diseases while promoting milk production in lactating mothers. Shatavari is very useful for women who suffer from low natural estrogen levels as a result of menopause.
Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is a climbing plant which grows in low jungles areas throughout India. Shatavari, which means “she who possesses a hundred husbands” in Sanskrit, is considered to be the most beneficial herb for balancing the female hormonal system. Shatavari cleanses the blood and nourishes the female reproductive organs. It supports the natural fertility of the body, it provides nourishment to the womb and ovum, it supports the female organs in protecting the foetus in the early stages of pregnancy and it is useful as a post-partum tonic. Shatavari enhances estrogen hormone production, thereby helping to ward off many diseases while promoting milk production in lactating mothers. Shatavari is very useful for women who suffer from low natural estrogen levels as a result of menopause.
*Herbs and descriptions from aurospirul.com