Unlocking the Power of Ayurvedic Medicines for Holistic Health
By Dennis Bluthardt at Namaste Studios®
Ayurveda is a system of medicine that provides a more natural form of treatment than what is typically available today. Unlike conventional medicine, which in the West is often reducible to a few symptoms, followed by a prescription for some pill or potion, Ayurvedic medicine considers the patient. It views natural forms and medicines as its allies in healing. It is an ancient Indian system of medicine that goes deep into the philosophy and shastras of India and has been practiced for millennia. Even today, it is very much alive and a robust healing system in India. This practice conceptualizes this always functioning tripartite being and personhood within nature as its core principle, encoded in medical practice and imagination about human life around 5,000 years ago. Call it “ancient intersectionality.”
What is adorable about Ayurveda is how it seeks to deal with all parts of you that are “out of whack,” if I may use that term from the ’70s (though at that time I think “far out” was more popular). Yes, these treatments and remedies are delivered as herbal medicines. They may include dietary adjustments and lifestyle changes, all in a brave attempt to obviate “disease,” and/or the onset of any disease! This may be why it is such a suitable health option today. In the “West,” reasoned and credible paths to detoxification of the body or to boost are what is wanted for an “antidote” against all sorts of “plagues,” but let’s move on.
On the face of it, and so far, what we today perceive as techniques for deploying this radical and annoyingly successful therapy are referred to as yoga, meditation, or “mindful” dietary practice, even at best.
Common Ayurvedic Remedies and Treatments
Ayurveda is the oldest continually practiced system of medicine in the world. Founded in the upper reaches of the Ganges, it is based upon the principles of health or wholeness and emphasizes a life in balance. This list lists three common herbs used in Ayurvedic remedies for various ailments.
Ashwagandha for Anxiety: Ashwagandha is a flagship herb in Ayurveda, with research backing up what has been known for thousands of years about the root. It is an ‘adaptogen,’ meaning it causes physiological balance. Using it in the case of stress or anxiety would lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels. This is not the herb to put you to sleep (though it very well could if you’re tired!), but to relax or bring life back into the body – it’s a vitality-enhancing, anti-aging, pro-sexual herb. If you are under stress daily, add this to your routine!
Triphala for Digestion: If you start researching Ayurveda, you’ll notice quickly and in a hurry that half (or more) of the disease or illness in Ayurveda begins in the gut/digestive system/agni. At this point in the world of health, I’m not sure that that idea is getting much argument. Please leave it to a 5000-year-old health system to produce what I’d call the flagship supplement for gut inflammation and digestion. There are three fruits (hence triphala – ‘tri’ + ‘phala’ = three). Triphala is a detoxifier, first and foremost, but its mechanism of action promotes better digestion and more regular bowel movements while at the same time nourishing.
Neem for Skin: Neem leaf and bark products are somewhat lesser-known Ayurvedic herbs, but the efficacy for skin problems (acne, psoriasis, eczema, aging, etc.) is uncontested. It detoxifies and purifies the blood and the skin. It’s one of the line items on lists of acne-fighting foods. It helps with increased heat in the blood from toxins in the body.
The Role of Ayurvedic Herbs in Natural Healing
Ayurvedic medicine is a 5,000-plus-year-old Indian holistic healing system that uses natural herbs to provide total-body balance and wellness. Many Ayurvedic herbs, such as Ashwagandha, may be ones you aren’t eating daily.
Ashwagandha: Known as the “strength of the stallion,” this adaptogen is used in Ayurvedic medicine to help your body manage and adapt to stress and anxiety and enhance mental clarity and energy.
Turmeric: A yellow spice with an active compound named “curcumin” that contains medicinal properties commonly used for its anti-inflammatory effects, joint health, and antioxidant effects, such as boosting the immune system.
Tulsi (holy basil): This adaptogen is also used in Ayurvedic medicine to balance different processes within the body. Tulsi can reduce stress, improve stamina, boost immunity, and enhance respiratory functions.
Ashwagandha, turmeric, and tulsi are also serious superfoods, or, as I call them, “super-herbs”, that should be added to your diet immediately. Plus, they’re all delicious:
Ashwagandha is an excellent addition to any smoothie — my favorite is maca root powder and almond milk.
Turmeric is easy to add to scrambled eggs, roast with veggies, rice, or soup.
Tulsi (holy basil) can be subject to becoming an addiction, trust me on this one! Once you start drinking [holy basil tea], your body will crave it! I tend to have holy basil tea in the morning, and throughout the day (or on busy workdays, I skip lunch).
Embracing an Ayurvedic Lifestyle
Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of life, recognizes and respects that changing one area can affect the others. Here’s how they approach the “big three.”
Diet: If you’re eating a balanced diet (ideally, built for your dosha, or body constitution), your body will get what it needs, and you’ll be able to maintain balance inside, too.
Including seasonally available and locally grown ingredients can provide additional digestive and health benefits.
Exercise is about doing what you can, literally. Ayurveda matches the type and amount of exercise a person takes to their strength and physical capabilities.
Mindfulness: Perhaps the most significant “leap” for those new to this philosophy of life. Although beginners might “try” being mindful, perhaps in sessions throughout the day, or by participating in organized classes, for those who follow the Ayurvedic lifestyle 24/7/365, they aspire to remain conscious all the time.
This makes total sense. After all, the basic tenet of mindfulness is to remain calmly aware of (always connected to) and in control of your thoughts and actions.
By knowing what they’re doing, the “Ayurvedans” get to relax about the future…and no longer need to stress about the past. Like meerkats….
(Note: the “exercises” information was primarily derived from this interesting article on The Ayurvedic Approach to Exercise. The author is Niika Quistgard, an Ayurvedic clinician (and also a Doctor of Sexology).
Ayurvedic Medicines vs. Conventional Medicine
“Ayurvedic philosophy is more holistic,” Lonsdorf says. Ayurveda is not just about treating the sickness or disease you have. Instead, it treats your whole body and prevents further illness from happening. Below, Lonsdorf describes dosha imbalances in more depth.
“During an initial Ayurvedic consultation, your practitioner will apply the Ayurvedic principles of pulse diagnosis, facial observation, nail analysis, and more to analyze your dosha imbalance and the body areas that are afflicted,” says Dominic Tambuzzo, founder of Samsara Herbs on West Broadway.
An Ayurvedic diagnosis will consist of two evaluations: assessing the individual’s natural constitution (their “normal” state) and the current imbalances causing the symptoms described above.
“Ayurvedic herbal treatment is about bringing balance back for the long term, not acting fast against symptoms,” Tambuzzo says. “This is the main difference between Ayurvedic herbal therapy and allopathic pharmaceutical/’ over the counter’ therapies.”
“Purification and cleansing are the game’s name.” – Rittiner.
“Pancha karma (‘five actions’) refers to a series of processes done at home or in a clinic, with or without a practitioner’s supervision,” says Rittiner. “Its purpose is to cleanse and remove toxins from the system, stimulate digestion, improve health, restore balance, and strengthen the immune system.” While panchakarma is most effective under supervision, some techniques are simple, safe, and easy to do at home.
“If you feel you have a lot of toxins, ask an Ayurvedic practitioner for ways to incorporate pancha karma at home,” the guru suggests. “Even as simple as fasting can detoxify and balance when healthfully inserted into your routine.”
You can target your diet and food regimes according to your dosha constitution.
Understanding Ayurvedic Medicines
The historical roots of the ancient healing system of Ayurveda are in the medicinal practices of the Indian subcontinent, where they originated over 3,000 years ago. It promotes a holistic method for health and wellness. This system of medicine has remained focused on the idea that health is the only balance- the balance of our body, mind, and spirit, and aims to integrate the methods we can achieve that through offerings of practice in subjects such as herbal medicine, diet, yoga, and meditation. Traditionally, Ayurveda is not only a system where one can seek to treat ailments but also a practice promoting overall well-being as a preventative measure for conflict within oneself.
The philosophical outlook of Ayurveda is interesting because of its system of doshas, which has been defined in this way: every person has a dosha. The three primary doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. When you figure out what that is, you may be able to identify the kinds of conflict you face personally and decipher how those occurrences reflect aspects of personality because each dosha has identified with it a list of ailments to which each type of person (dosha) is susceptible, as it presents common ailments that one often remedies individually using the principles of Ayurveda.
Various Ayurvedic treatments show you how you can get more in touch with the natural relationships of the body, traditionally defined in Ayurvedic discourse, by treating the body with more vegetation, herbs, and natural materials of the earth found in the local environment. These practices are vital in maintaining one’s inner ecology. All treatments are gentle and noninvasive.
“Ayurveda” comes from Sanskrit, the ancient language of India, and translates to “The Science of Life.” Its healing practices are based on the medicinal knowledge of the Vedic culture, which is the foundation of today’s modern Indian culture and the ancient culture that brought us yoga.
The benefits of practicing Ayurvedic medicine include:
It takes a holistic approach to wood, mind, and spirit to balance the “whole” person and not just one symptom or part of the body. Ayurveda gets to know each & situational “type” for a deeper understanding of health (like how personality typing leads to a deeper understanding of sales and sales tactics and strategies). Ayurveda treats everyone uniquely and does not use a one-size-fits-all approach. Ayurveda permits the body to heal using natural herbs, which provide results like lab-made chemicals.
These ancient practices have influenced Chinese medicine (traditional Chinese medicine) and Greek medicine. The discovery of Ayurveda spread through China and Greece, providing significant medical help for citizens, warriors, scholars, and practitioners alike.
To learn more, visit Ayurveda at Namaste Studios® to book an Ayurveda session. Additionally, you can find more of our Ayurveda Blogs here.
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