East vs West

I try and spread the good word on Ayurveda authentically, yet as American-friendly as possible. It’s funny, because people will come to me and say:

“I’m congested! What should I do?”

And I might say,

“Are you eating yogurt? It’s a no-good channel clogger which can increase sinus congestion and mucus goo in your chest. ”

They might say,

“But yogurt is so GOOD for you with all the probiotics and everything…”

And then I say,

“Well, that’s what ‘they’ say but they are not Ayurvedic and Ayurveda is different.”

Then very quickly they get confused as to why something in Ayurveda can completely contradict what we have been told or sold (don’t forget about marketing, you guys! It makes companies a lot of money…) in the western world. But that’s just the point. If someone is seeking Ayurvedic advice, it’s going to differ from what their MD has told them or from what they see on TV…because it’s different!!

Ayurveda takes time and definitely requires a willingness to try something new. If our old habits (and prescriptions) had worked, we wouldn’t be on the search to try something else.

So my dear friends, if you seek something different, expect something different. The philosophies of East vs West, or Ayurveda vs. Western medicine are very different and therefore, so are the treatments. I’m not saying one is good or bad because both have their place. But, please keep them in different buckets because they don’t overlap much.

Below I’ve created a little chart on how they differ and I hope this helps.

And for the record:

Ghee is NOT butter

Buttermilk (churned yogurt or lassi) is NOT yogurt

Their properties differ making them almost opposites and in Ayurveda the first is healthier than the latter (for most folks). Please o’ please just believe me. xoxoxo.

East Vs West