News — ayurveda

You may have heard of Bacopa monnieri, a.k.a. Brahmi (named after one of the highest states of consciousness / Brahman / God consciousness), a.k.a. water hyssop; but did you know this herb restores mind, body, and soul? Bacopa has been used in plant-based medicine since time immemorial, and it sure has made some central nervous systems happy along the way to present day. Recent research has focused primarily on Bacopa's cognitive-enhancing effects. This medicinal perennial is used to enhance memory development, learning, and concentration. This medicinal plant can help to upgrade your command center! A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled design was...

What is the relationship between stress and disease? Medical doctors agree that the psyche plays an important role in the persistence of chronic disease, but because there is no scientific way to study this clinical phenomenon, for a long time it has been ignored. Our disease model is extremely effective when treating acute illness, it saves lives during instances of heart attack, appendicitis and infectious diseases like pneumonia and E. coli. Today, doctors look at the human body as a complicated machine with infinite independent parts. Hospitals are separated into departments with specialties including everything from cardiology to gastroenterology, gynecology,...

To remain healthy, we must make some changes in attitude, lifestyle, and wardrobe in order to start vata season fresh, cleansed, and vital. Ayurveda defines rutu sandhi as the transitioning between two seasons. Some seasonal changes come naturally, like wearing sweaters and vests and switching from iced drinks to warm beverages, while other changes like limiting raw foods and vigorous exercise may require guidance at first. During the fall season, the vata dosha is prone to imbalance. When Vata is provoked a person can feel anxious, nervous, stressed, scattered, or fearful and may notice constipation, gas, and bloating, dry, hard stools,...

Fall is here along with the cool and crisp air, beautiful colors in the leaves, and a harvest of delicious vegetables. These are all delightful changes the season brings. But along with those changes come the shorter, colder, and drier days of vata season. In Ayurveda, the vata dosha is therefore provoked as autumn progresses. Vata is related to wind, which is the principle of movement and governed by the either and air elements. You may have heard the saying, the winds are always changing and just as the wind is subtle and changeable, the energy of vata means the body...

For most people, the worst temptation is diet. When trying to lose weight or gain muscle, many of us become a little fanatical about what foods are good or bad for us. With any prescription, the only difference between a medicine and a poison is dosage. The same holds true for food. Digestion and nutrition are the cornerstones of Ayurveda. If you find yourself getting lost in the rules and rigidity when following an Ayurvedic diet, you are missing the point. Through experimentation, discover and explore what is right and wrong for your body at any given time. Avoid chasing...