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Spring showers bring May flowers but also invite a predominance of Kapha Dosha. When out of balance, Kapha Dosha drives unpleasant symptoms that manifest in several bodily systems, including the skin. Fortunately, the wisdom of one of the world’s oldest life sciences, Ayurveda, provides insight to stay in harmony with the changing seasons and avoid unwanted maladies.  

According to Ayurveda, napping during the day may lead to weight gain. Yes, you read that right!  Naps or daytime sleep, according to the Ayurvedic texts, can contribute toward weight gain even if you’re on a diet and working out regularly. Various Ayurvedic texts mention how daytime sleep can be detrimental to health. You may …

I have rewritten the beginning of this post many times and have changed the title more times that I care to admit. As you see, I settled for a simple non-controversial title. To be completely honest, I feel that I have been procrastinating with this post for many weeks. “Is it just a busy time?” I hear …

For some, just thinking about the holidays brings about stress. I know for myself just the mere bombardment of ads, sales pitches , the push toward consumerism and to boot the traffic increase in the area are enough to make me want to retreat. Finding the simplicity within the holiday madness takes some self awareness …

According to Ayurveda Skin diseases may manifest when a person indulges in one or more of the below listed reasons: Intake of incompatible food combinations such as milk with fish. Consumption of excessive amounts of drinks which are unctuous and heavy to digest. Suppression of the urge to vomit or other natural urges Physical exercise …

The ancient Indian science of Ayurveda is growing in popularity. Have you heard of it? Ayurveda is the ‘science of vitality’. It utilizes diet, lifestyle practices and certain routines, as well as herbs and body therapies for health maintenance, disease prevention and to even reverse chronic issues. At the heart of Ayurveda is the Ayurvedic …

By Vedika Global Anchor Teacher Vaidya Abhijit Jinde, M.D. (Ayu)

According to Ayurveda, treating the symptoms of a disorder only takes you halfway to health. It is only by discovering and addressing the causes of illness or disease, in addition to treating the symptoms, that a patient can be restored to an enduring state of health.

In the following case study, we will see the efficacy of this two-pronged approach in a patient who suffered from recurring symptoms of sinusitis.

Patient Background & Symptoms

A 35 year-old woman came to me with recurring complaints of severe nasal congestion with sneezing, watery eyes, headaches and heaviness in the head. The symptoms were so severe that she was having difficulty breathing and sleeping. She had been enduring these symptoms for about two years. Previous treatment had given her only temporary relief from symptoms, as the causes were never addressed. 

Ayurveda teaches that our body, composed of matter, is by its very nature fragile, impermanent, and verily a house of distress and disease, always vulnerable to death in any given moment. Anyone at anytime can become a victim to any disease and often the body collapses before the soul’s work is finished, or even before …

Including… Hashimoto’s Thyroid Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Celiac Disease, Eczema And Psoriasis. You may be surprised to learn that the concept which makes Ayurvedic healing so effective is one followed by each and every path-breaking inventor and successful business in the world. That powerful concept is Root Cause Analysis. Ayurveda believes that to solve …

Ayurveda can be a very important practice to use to cultivate resilience and to create a connection with self that is lost due to trauma. Bessel van der Kolk, Medical Director of the Trauma Center at JRI in Brookline, MA states that “[people with trauma] have a very cut-off relationship to their body. They may …

If you are feeling sluggish, dull or constipated, chances are toxins are building up in your body. According to Maharishi Ayurveda, toxins accumulate when your digestion — and elimination — are out of balance, which can lead to skin breakouts, menstrual cramps, fatigue, feelings of sadness and many other health issues. Good news: Balancing your digestion …

Greens are an important component in my diet. As a food category greens are very nutrient dense, flavorful and filling. Almost every health plan counts greens as a staple. Ayurveda builds health into each day from the most basic level of self care, through thought, breath, movement, food and drink. Digestive greens fit right into …

Cold season is here and the major problem faced during this period is dry skin and dry scalp. Here are few simple Ayurvedic tips to tackle this concern. Dry skin and dry scalp is due to predominance of Vata dosha. When Vata dosha increases in the body it reduces Kapha dosha and makes the skin dry …

Healing the Mind. What exactly does that mean? Today many of us are familiar with the various psychiatric medications to help our minds feel better. It’s hard to escape all the advertising on billboards, tv, magazines and internet. Feeling down? Try Abilify. Feeling anxious? Xanax can help! Feeling manic? Try Latuda, or Lamictal, or… you …

The Paleo diet, also known as the Hunter-Gatherer, Stone Age or Caveman diet is all the rage these days. Everyone has heard of it, even if they haven’t tried it yet. As an Ayurveda student who enjoys eating a lot of mung daal, whole grains, milk and ghee (all Paleo diet no-nos) and very little …

For centuries people have been using copper products to combat the effects of aging. Legend has it that Queen Sheba was gifted copper by King Solomon and from it created a paste which she applied to her face and body for rejuvenation. Similar legends exist invoking Queen Cleopatra and Queen Nefertiti, both known for their …

Raw food diets are all the rage! After researching the subject for a while, I’ve found a lot of information about the pros of a raw food diet (which involves eating raw food at least 75% of the time) but very little about the cons. So, I felt compelled to explore these reported benefits more …

There are few seasons more anticipated than spring, am I right? If you’re a fan of the warmer months (and even if you’re not), you’ll be quite familiar with the feeling of waiting, and waiting, at the end of a long winter for those first hopeful signs… The slight increase in temperature, crocuses or daffodils popping …

In the Ancient Tradition of Ayurveda, it is said that “the Primordial Cause of Disease is Forgetting your True Nature as Spirit”. Over my years of practice and self-discovering, this complicated term has become my teaching mantra. I have begun to see vast transformations in both my own life and the life of my students …

Many people today taking Ayurvedic constitutional quizzes in books or online and feel that these give an “accurate” model of their so-called “dosha type” and sometimes get confused when going to a Practitioner and it differs. Some practitioners place too much emphasis on temporal rather than life-long traits or on very variable factors such as …

My training in Trauma Sensitive Yoga emphasized that forming a relationship based on authenticity and safety is paramount. Recovery only takes place in the context of safe relationship. How, then, do we offer empowerment and create connection with those who are on a path to recovery from trauma? When I greet someone for the first …

The three biological doshas (literally: defects), often described as humors and used in the system of Ayurveda, are dual combinations of the great elements: Vata (ether and air), Pitta (fire and water) and Kapha (water and earth). Such don’t always provide refinement relative to the Prakriti or nature of deha (bodily) constitution, as specific elements can be variable in different people according to their strengths, as also …

A rich, spicy stew sure hits the spot on a winter evening. But on a sweltering summer day? Not so much. A cucumber salad will not only be more appetizing but will also help you keep your cool, physically and mentally. Just as Ayurveda guides you to adapt the foods you eat throughout the year, …

Coconut oil just got a caustic write-up online by the American Heart Association. Hopefully their “heart” was in the right place, but the study seems overarching and presumptuous because it presumes all saturated fat to be the same and that it alone, is the root cause of most heart disease. They recommend we stick with …

It is Winter now in many parts of the world and according to Ayurveda this is the best season to detoxify the body physically and mentally. This is also the best time to rejuvenate the body. It is important to know the mechanism of Panchakarma, Ayurvedic detoxification. Let’s understand how it is helpful and how …

Diabetes Mellitus is a front runner among the modern day lifestyle diseases. With increasing shift from wholesome natural foods to refined and sugary foods, and from an active lifestyle involving physical activity like walking to sedentary lifestyles and dependence on locomotives for travel, the incidence of obesity and thereby diabetes mellitus (DM to be short) …

According to Ayurveda five elements provide the foundation for the entire physical world, from a grain of sand to the complex physiology of the human body. These elements—Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth—are the building blocks of all material existence. Ether Ether (akasha) is the space in which everything happens. It is the “home” for …

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 …

Even with the immense progress in medicine, there are more chronic diseases than ever. Heart attacks are the leading cause of death despite the development and use of trillions of dollars worth of statin drugs. The second leading cause of death is cancer – the survival rate of individuals who are diagnosed with stage III or stage …

Among the eight limbs of Yoga, dharana or concentration is one of the higher limbs that precedes dhyana or meditation. Yet today, several Yoga teachers and their students do not develop proper dharana and instead go straight into various meditations and try and control the mind. According to traditional Yoga these are superficial and usually …

If you make a big pot of tomato sauce from scratch, do you taste-test it to make sure it’s good? Sure. And if it’s not good, you adjust right? Add a little more salt, pepper or garlic. Maybe a smidge of sugar or extra basil. Perhaps it needs oregano! And you putz around adding things …

When it comes to digestion, Ayurveda opens up a whole new world of revelations and realizations – revelations about the way your digestive system works with you as a whole and realizations about many ways you can take control of your body through natural ways and remedies. Your digestion is the most critical part of health …

Our breasts represent so much—from love, fertility, sex, and pleasure, to our primal need for motherly love, support, security, care, and nourishment.¹ For many women, they represent beauty and our identity as a woman. Because they are so much more than just organs for nourishment to newborns, they hold a huge energetic role as well. It is my …

What’s the price you pay for gas? Nope, I am not talking about the gas you put in your car’s gas tank. I am talking about the gas that comes out your rear end. For some people it happens a lot, for some nice and quiet; others embarrass themselves with deadly smells. Whatever it is …

Meditation has become almost a special “science” and “technique” in itself today, but few realize what actual benefits they are having. Many talk about states of consciousness, however, traditionally speaking, to attain them takes lifetimes of intense study, austerities and practice as also development of sattvas or purity. First one also requires strong iccha-shakti (will-power) …

Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses) is one of the most important limbs of Yoga but often one of the least understood. Yoga requires that the mind must be focused and drawn within, with the fire of vairagya or detachment of the senses (indriyas) being awakened and mastered. The most famous Vedic forms of the gods …

Beautiful hair is considered a gift but with a proper hair care regimen, everyone can enjoy this gift. For thick, strong and lustrous hair, a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet is essential. In addition, use the following hair care tips and home remedies to ensure healthy hair and prevent hair loss. Hair Care Tips …

Fresh coconut meat and coconut water are so delicious, not to mention healthy and full of prana or vitality. Fresh coconut water can be strained and drunk as is or added to juice or a smoothie. Fresh coconut meat is really fantastic in fruit salads, Indian style chutneys or sprinkled onto kitchari, Ayurveda’s cleansing meal. …

Ayurveda recommends eating with the fingers instead of utensils. If you try using your hands to eat, you may be surprised by what it does for your digestion! One Thing at a Time Eating with your hands means you can’t check email, read, text or answer the phone. With food all over your fingers, you are …

When I first came to Vedika Global, I was unhappy and confused about the way my life was going. I had a habit of finding myself in hurtful situations and often feeling I was the victim of the cruel behavior of others. It was a miserable way to live, but I had no idea how to change.

While I initially came to Vedika Global because of my interest in Ayurveda, I learned that they also offered Satsanghas, a gathering of students who sit with their spiritual teacher. The Sanskrit word, satsangha, translates to “being with truth,” and at these meetings, which have now become the Vedic Studies Program, Acharya Shunya discusses spiritual matters with her students. It is through this offering at Vedika that I learned about the incredibly rich and sensible approach of Vedanta, spiritual philosophy based on the ancient sacred scriptures of India called the Vedas. The teachings of this tradition have been, and continue to be, a great catalyst for growth and change in my life, for they have allowed me to see that there is a way to live that diminishes this sense of victimization, pain and helplessness, and helps me to lead a more empowered, fulfilling and joyful life.

The seven days at both the end and the commencement of  seasons (ritus) is known as Rithu sandhi. The gap between seasons is generally a delicate period. During this time immunity, strength and digestion reduces. What You Should Eat During Rithu Sandhi This time of fluctuation provides a natural opportunity to cleanse the body. Also, Ayurveda …