Ayurveda - The Way to a Healthy Lifestyle

Introduction

Ayurveda is known to be one of the oldest holistic healing systems, which developed over 3,000 years ago in India. It focuses on maintaining the delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit to promote good health and fight diseases.

With its growing popularity, Ayurveda is being embraced by many all over the world. In this article, you will get to know some of the most effective Ayurvedic herbs, medications, and lifestyle practices for better and healthy living : -

Herbs

In the post-pandemic era, health and wellness are one of the top priorities. By including a few Ayurvedic herbs in our diet, we can easily get rid of the ailments and boost our immunity. Here are a few Ayurvedic herbs with proven health benefits

Ashwagandha : -

Ashwagandha is derived from the Sanskrit words "Ashwa" and "Gandha," which means horse odor. As per Charak Samhita, by consuming Ashwagandha - 'One obtains longevity, regains youth, gets a sharp memory and intellect and freedom from diseases, gets a lustrous complexion, and strength of a horse.’ It is commonly used for treating stress, anxiety, inflammation, diabetes, heart problems, Alzheimer's and it also has anti-cancer properties.

Giloy : -

Giloy is a wonder herb packed with many essential compounds, namely terpenoids, alkaloids, lignans, and steroids. Its leaves and roots are mainly consumed either in powder, juice, or fresh form. It is commonly used to treat chronic fever, dengue fever, diabetes, acidity, blood purification, liver problems, and respiratory problems.

Amla : -

Amla is rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, and vitamins, especially vitamin C, which helps the body recover from illness and also offers several health benefits. Amla can do wonders in ailments like- diabetes, indigestion, eye problems, liver problems, urinary problems, brain, and memory problems, etc. It is widely consumed as juice, powder, candy, or taken fresh.

Brahmi : -

Brahmi is one of the most popular and widely used therapeutic herbs. Although it tastes bitter, it leaves a cooling effect on the mind, body, and brain. It is particularly useful in treating mental health issues, memory issues, arthritis, gout, and skin problems. Brahmi tonics and powder are easily available, although it is recommended to be taken fresh.

Medications

Ayurveda offers some of the amazingly simple and time-tested health solutions like- Triphala, chyawanprash, oils, etc. We will discuss two of the most common and widely used ayurvedic medications

Triphala : -

Triphala is an age-old powdered mixture of three dried herbs- Amla (Phyllanthus Emblica), bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), and Haritaki (Terminalia Chebula). It is believed to be one of the best medicines for longevity, detoxification, and overall health. It's commonly used as a natural laxative- to treat constipation, help manage weight, improve bowel movement, and enhance skin quality. It also contains powerful cancer-fighting antioxidants like gallic acid and polyphenols. Triphala can be taken in different forms- capsules, powder, or liquid. The daily recommended dose ranges from 500 mg to 1 gm.

Chyawanprash : -

A mixture of 50 medicinal herbs, Chyawanprash is one of the most widely used immunity-boosting Ayurvedic Health supplements. Chyawanprash contains anti-aging compounds, vital vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to rejuvenate the body. Chyawanprash is especially useful in treating- respiratory problems, digestion issues like- constipation, bloating, etc., boosting up energy, blood purification, detoxification, blood pressure problems, cholesterol, mental and memory issues, etc. It is easily available in the market and is also easy to consume. Usually, the recommended dosage of Chyawanprash is 12 to 28 gm per day with or without milk on an empty stomach in the morning.

Lifestyle

Ayurveda is not just about medicines and herbs; it also teaches us how to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Ayurveda teaches that there are three foundation pillars of a healthy body - Aahar (food), Vihar (lifestyle), and Nidra (sleep). So, let us talk about these 3 pillars

Right diet : -

Six major tastes as per Ayurveda are- sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. As per Ayurveda, a balanced diet having a good mix of the six tastes- improves metabolism, improves psychological dispositions, and keeps the physiological processes and actions in balance. There are also seasonal dietary recommendations like- For Winter- Heavy and rich foods can be taken to balance the Vata in the body. During summer one should stick to light food containing less fat, oil, spices, and water seasonal fruits and vegetables. During monsoon- one should avoid green leafy vegetables, curd, salads, and uncooked food.

Right Lifestyle : -

Personal and social hygiene are very much stressed in Ayurvedic texts. Usual recommendations are- waking up early, regular cleaning of teeth, regular bath, using nasal drops, oiling scalp regularly, Yoga and pranayama- for a healthy body, meditation for a healthy mind, wearing proper clothes as per the season, taking food at a fixed time, drinking water regularly, etc.

Right Sleep : -

People are usually careless with their sleep. Too much or too little sleep, both are not good for health. Proper sleep provides good health, improves metabolism, gives time to the body to rejuvenate, eases stress and anxiety, maintains proper mental health, and increases longevity. As per Ayurveda, one should sleep every night, for at least 6-8 hours. During the summer one can take a short nap during the daytime, otherwise, day sleeping is not advisable. Yoga Nidra is a prominent yogic practice that can be used to ensure proper rest to the body and mind.

Conclusion

All the above-mentioned points are some of the time-tested gifts of Ayurveda, which can initiate the path to healthy living. Time and again, Ayurveda has proved to be the torch-bearer of promoting and providing a healthy lifestyle. The scope of Ayurveda as a field is expanding day by day, hence giving a boost to career opportunities in this field. Mansarovar Ayurvedic Medical College offers ayurvedic courses to cater to one’s dream of studying ayurveda and making a career out of it.