Ayurveda is the Vedic system of health care that developed in India over 5000 years ago. A gift of the Gods, it was codified by the sage-physician Charaka and the sage-surgeon Shushruta. This ancient science is health, not disease, specific and takes into account the patient's entire personality - body, mind and spirit.

Vitamins and History
Menopause
Haircare and Ayurveda
Diet
Improper digestion
Lifestyle
StressManagement
TranscendentalMeditation 
Question Answers on Ayurveda
Conclusion

AYURVEDA QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1.What Is Ayurveda?

2.What Can Ayurveda Do For Me?

An Ayurvedic health cure is a preventive measure for the preservation of durable health up to old age
It also cleanses the body and is appropriate for wellbeing during post-convalescence and recuperation from acute or chronic illness .Consequences of Ayurveda are clear eyes, a refined skin tone, a robust nervous system, revitalization and regeneration with an increased zest for life.Conditions successfully treated by Ayurveda include; Diabetes, Stress, Migraine, Headaches, Overweight, Skin problems, High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, Bronchial Asthma, Arthritis, Sleep Disorders and illness of the Respiratory Tract, Heart & Circulation, Rheumatism, Acne, Nicotine Addiction etc.Ayurveda gives you a base to manage your daily life better, as you will develop the power to reject negative and disturbing forces of all kinds.

3. What are Vata Pitta and Kapha doshas?

DOSHAS (life force) are referred to in Sanskrit as VATA, PITTA and KAPHA.
Doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) are the (three) fundamental operating principles in our physiology. Vata is responsible for all movement in the body — circulation of blood, movement of food down the digestive tract, mental activity, etc. Pitta governs transformation and metabolism such as digestion of food and its transformation into bodily tissues, "digestion" of ideas and experiences, and more. Kapha gives solidity to the tissues, holds together different parts of the body and balances the bodily fluids.Traditional Vedic texts associate each dosha with specific qualities. Vata is associated with cold, lightness, dryness and movement; Pitta with heat, light, sharpness and acidity; Kapha with cold, heaviness, oiliness and slowness.Vata, Pitta, and Kapha are found everywhere in nature—wherever their qualities are present. Different foods, geographic locations, seasons, times of the day, etc. each have a predominant dosha associated with them. When a certain dosha increases in the environment it will tend to increase the same dosha in our physiology, and vice versaDisease and illness occur when they are out of balance. The purpose of Ayurvedic treatment is to restore the balance and thus good health.

4. Can Ayurveda do anything for confidence?

Lack of confidence is generally an expression of disturbed Vata dosha, so any way that you can keep the Vata under control is going to be very helpful, either with the herbal preparations, with good routines, with the Vata-balancing aromas.Pranayama, a breathing exercise, would be good, as is regular practice of Transcendental Meditation morning and evening.Lack of confidence is down to worry, and worry is aggravated Vata.

5. Can I use oils other than sesame for Ayurvedic massage; for example hemp oil or sunflower oil? And can I mix oils together and use them for massage?

We don't recommend hemp oil. Ayurveda recommends Sesame oil as the best, but if its effect is too heating for your skin, you can use a cooler oil such as coconut or almond.We do sometimes mix oils and it does have a beneficial effect. If somebody is a bit sensitive to sesame oil, for example, you might mix sesame and sunflower and they won’t be affected by the extra heat in sesame.

6.When taking Maharishi Ayurveda supplements, can I take more than the dose indicated on the package?

The label advice is the standard dosage, and you should stick to that. However, your Ayurveda physician may recommend a different dosage when you attend a Maharishi Ayurveda Health Consultation.

7. I get to sleep OK, but frequently wake during the night and can't get back to sleep. I’ve tried some Ayurvedic advice: hot milk before bed; bed by 10 pm; sesame oil massage. What else can you advise?

This type of sleep problem is usually related to a Pitta* imbalance. Try the following routine:
1. DIET Instead of hot milk before bed, take warm milk blended with a few dates and some banana. This will help you stay asleep. Generally follow a Pitta-pacifying diet and routine. Take foods that are cool and liquid. Favour sweet, bitter and astringent foods; reduce foods that are spicy, salty or sour.
2. HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS Take Blissful Sleep – Basic and also Blissful Sleep - Pitta 30 minutes before bed time and take a Blissful Joy around 6:00 pm
3. MASSAGE Do your full body oil massage always in the morning rather than in the evening. In the evening, massage just the hands and feet with Rejuvenation Massage Oil (50%) combined with a cooling oil such as coconut or olive (50%).
If you wake during the night and can’t get back to sleep, take ½ cup of warm whole milk and 1 tablet of Blissful Joy.

8. Are there any herbal food supplements specifically designed to help balance the emotions?

Yes. Blissful Joy is an excellent nutritional support for emotional balance. Blissful Joy helps balance three subdoshas: Tarpaka Kapha, Prana Vata and Sadhaka Pitta.
Tarpaka Kapha governs fluid balance in the brain, healthy brain tissue, and communication between brain cells. When in balance, it contributes to a stable personality.
Prana Vata-which governs energy, creativity, perception, growth of consciousness and self-realization-is also nourished by Blissful Joy.
Finally, Blissful Joy supports Sadhaka Pitta, which is responsible for balanced emotions, self-confidence, healthy desires, motivation and a feeling of fulfilment.
Blissful Joy also improves metabolism and clears away toxins from the microcirculatory channels (shrotas) that deliver nutrients to the cells. Blocked shrotas deprive the cells of energy and vitality and slow down cell regeneration. When your body has more old cells than new ones, fatigue and depression can result. Blissful Joy improves metabolism and helps revitalize cell growth.

9. Will the yoghourt drink (lassi) in your recipe section help me lose weight?

Yes, in conjunction with an appropriate diet. Lassi can be used as a low calorie snack between meals, and it has the advantage of not impairing the power of digestion for the next meal, as well as keeping the bowel flora healthy.

10. Can children take Ayurveda supplements, and if so in what amounts?

Yes, children can take most of the Maharishi Ayurveda products. The dose shown on the product label is for adults, except where the product is specifically for children.
Children over 10 years can take a full dose; from 4-10 years half the dose; from 2-4 years, a quarter dose and from 6 months-2 years, an eighth of a dose. For children below 12 months it would be wise to consult a Maharishi Ayurveda physician.
Where the product is specifically for children, for example Rasayana for Children (MA230), the recommended dose is suitable for children between 2-10 years.
The products which you might commonly give to young children are:
Vata Tea (settling)
Almond Energy drink (sweet, nourishing)
Study Power Syrup (MA3674) and Study Support tablets (MA1882) (supporting learning)
Amrit Kalash Ambrosia tablet (MA5) (broad benefits inc. to learning and growth)
Herbal Di-Gest (MA927) (supports digestion)
Throat Soothe syrup (MA3357) taken with water (supports comfort of upper respiratory tract)

The Anti-oxidant and Vitamin C Values of Amlaberry tablets

History:

Amla or Amalaki (Emblica officinalis) fruit is a highly renowned for its many health-giving properties in India, South East Asia and China. The fruits are widely consumed raw, cooked or pickled and it is used in many Ayurvedic food supplements. In Ayurveda the health promoting value of the fruit is increased by preparing it in an elaborate way called ‘swaras bhavana’ which involves the repeated treatment of the dried fruit with its fresh juice up to 21 times.

Charak Samhita says that Amla is “the best among rejuvenative herbs”. Because of its very balanced action it is one of the few Ayurvedic plants that can be very safely used by itself.

In modern science Amla fruit has been renowned for its high vitamin C content and its health properties have been ascribed to this. At one time it was said to be the richest known source of vitamin C in the plant world but some doubts had arisen about this and richer sources have been found.

Vitamin C content:

Vitamin C plays a variety of important roles in the body for tissue building and manufacture of hormones and energy transfer. One of the most important of roles is its anti-oxidant activity in which it mops up or scavenges free radicals.
It is clear that Amla is among the best sources of Vitamin C. The level in the dried fruit is almost as much as in the frozen fruit. This confirms that the vitamin C in Amla is in a very stable form. This stability is due to the presence of tannins that bind with the vitamin C and stop it degrading. This is not the case with most sources of vitamin C.

Anti-oxidant value:

Dried, prepared and extract of Amla were compared with pure ascorbic acid. The anti-oxidant value of the MAP Amlaberry was highest, the commercial extract and the dried fruit were intermediate and pure ascorbic acid came last.

MENOPAUSE

Ayurveda regards the perimenopause, the time leading up to the end of the periods, as a natural transition that has to be managed to minimize discomfort.

Ayurveda includes specific recommendations for diet, lifestyle and related herbal formulas. The perimenopause system is a natural step-by-step process that helps to support balance and health.

Ayurveda physicians cite three main reasons for perimenopausal discomfort:

1. PHASE OF LIFE

Since menopause is the transition from the Pitta phase of life to the Vata phase, if a woman already has a significant Pitta or Vata imbalance in the years before menopause, things are likely to get worse during menopause, which is a period when hormonal and other natural changes take place in the body.

2. DIGESTIVE IMPURITIES

Another factor leading to menopausal imbalances is the accumulation of digestive impurities (ama) in the physiology. Ama blocks the channels that transport nutrition to the cells and remove waste from the body, and thus contributes to menopausal problems.

3. STRESS/ENVIRONMENT

A third factor is the misuse or overuse of the mind, body, emotions, or senses. Basically, this happens when a woman strains her mind too much, is under too much ongoing stress or pressure, or is doing work that is too "heavy" for her body, or is under tremendous emotional stress.

DON’T WAIT – START NOW

Start planning for menopause by establishing good health before it’s onset

DIET FOR PITTA PROBLEMS

Diet can be a crucial tool in perimenopause management. If you are prone to Pitta-based problems, such as hot flushes or excessive irritability, follow a Pitta-pacifying diet:

AVOID foods that are spicy, such as chilies, cayenne and black mustard seed, salty foods and foods that are sour, such as yogurt (unless it is diluted and sweetened in a drink called lassi. Sour fruits such as ketchup, mustard, and other salad dressings and condiments made with vinegar should also be avoided.

FAVOUR foods that are bitter, astringent and sweet, as these are cooling to Pitta dosha. Bitter and astringent foods include most vegetables. Sweet foods include rice, milk and cream, sweet lassi and wheat products. Sweet, juicy fruits such as pears and plums also pacify Pitta dosha.

COOK with Pitta-reducing spices, such as cinnamon, coriander, cardamom, fennel and small amounts of cumin seed.

DIET FOR VATA PROBLEMS

If you experience Vata-related symptoms of peri-menopause such as memory loss or vaginal dryness, you'll want to work at bringing Vata dosha back into balance. For this, you'll need to eat foods that are cooked, warm, and unctuous (meaning that they have a small amount of good fats such as ghee and olive oil). Eat foods that are sweet, sour and salty, as this balances Vata dosha.

APANA VATA

Apana Vata, which governs the genito-urinary tract, elimination, and menstruation, is a key area to attend to when preparing for menopause. To balance Apana Vata, drink plenty of warm water throughout the day. Eat plenty of cooked, leafy greens, as this helps elimination and is also a good source of calcium.

For both Pitta and Vata imbalances, a breakfast of cooked apples and prunes and figs is a good way to start the day, as it balances the doshas and cleanses the digestion.

IMPROPER DIGESTION PRODUCES AMA

It is important to keep your digestion strong and free of ama (note: read more about ama in the article on toxins).

Avoid eating foods that are packaged, processed, frozen, canned or left over. Eat organic foods that are cooked fresh each day. The bulk of your diet should consist of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and legumes and light dairy products such as milk, lassi or paneer for protein.

This type of light but nourishing diet will aid your digestion and avoid the build-up of ama. Avoid heavy foods such as meat, cheese, yogurt and frozen desserts like ice cream, especially at night.

LOOK AFTER YOUR LIFESTYLE

SLEEP

Sleep is important for the woman entering perimenopause or going through menopause, because both Vata and Pitta imbalances can cause sleep problems that will only make menopausal imbalances worse.

To keep both doshas in balance and to sleep more deeply at night, be sure you're in bed before 10:00 p.m. and that you arise before 6:00 a.m. This is the time of night when sleep comes easier and is more restful.

If you stay awake past 10:00, it will be harder to fall asleep, and you'll also increase any Pitta imbalance, because 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. is the Pitta time of night, when the body needs to be at rest in order to cleanse and purify itself.

OIL MASSAGE

The morning abhyanga or ayurvedic oil massage is extremely important for peri-menopausal problems. Use the Rejuvenation Massage oil for Women. This oil is designed to increase circulation, calm Vata dosha, and provide needed moisture to the skin.

REGULAR MEALS ON TIME

For both Pitta and Vata dosha, it's important not to skip meals, and to eat your main meal at noon, when digestion is the strongest. Try to eat at the same time every day, and go to bed and wake up at the same time.

REST

Be sure to get lots of rest during your menstrual cycle as you approach menopause, because this will keep Apana Vata in balance and avoid the more serious complications of the peri-menopause.

EXERCISE

Daily exercise (gentle for Vata and not too overheating for Pitta) is also important for keeping all doshas in balance.

HERBAL SUPPORT

The Menopause Support Range of products are designed to prevent and treat the imbalances related to menopause. It provides both general support and targets specific imbalances that women experience before, during and after menopause.

The products help keep the body free of ama and maintain the balance between soma (lunar energy) and agni (solar energy)--a balance that is vital for health during menopause and beyond.

Ayurveda Approach to Stress Management in the Workplace:

Stress in the workplace creates a variety of symptoms, including anxiety, fatigue, increased anger, problems with relationships, inability to focus properly, stress headaches, insomnia and, over time, a variety of stress-related diseases.

Stress results when the mind, body or emotions receives an overload of stimulus, whether good or bad. Workplace stress occurs when the mind is not able to handle day-to-day events and challenges. Some people seem to handle daily challenges without any evidence of stress, while others are stressed by the varied activities and changes that the modern workplace presents.

According to Ayurveda, this lack of ability to handle daily stress is due to an imbalance, or lack of coordination of the three main mental functions of dhi (learning), dhriti (retention), and smriti (long-term memory).

Ayurveda offers many recommendations for supporting these mental functions, and thus gives the person more resilience to stress.

When Prana Vata, the subdosha of Vata that supports mental functions, gets disturbed, the coordination of dhi, dhriti and smriti breaks down and mental stress results.

When Prana and Vyana Vata (the subdosha located in the heart that supports circulation) together are disturbed, it affects not only the mind, but also the communication between the heart and the mind, thus creating mental and emotional stress simultaneously. Emotional stress is usually associated with an imbalance in Sadhaka Pitta, the subdosha of Pitta that supports the emotions and is seated in the heart.

According to Ayurveda, if you are unable to perceive the reality of life, which is blissful, that is an indication of Pragya-aparadh, or mistake of the intellect. Charaka Samhita, a major Ayurvedic text, defines Pragya-aparadh as the lack of coordination of dhi, dhriti and smriti.

Pragya-aparadh is the source of all disease, because disease originates when the heart, mind or body loses its connection with nature's intelligence. When we lose the memory of bliss, the connection with our own true nature in pure consciousness, this is the source of stress and ill-health in the body.

The recommendations of Ayurveda aim to restore the balanced functioning of the doshas--of mind, body and emotions--and thus to restore the connection of every part of life to bliss consciousness, which is our true nature.

Stress management with Transcendental Meditation

The Transcendental Meditation technique, when practiced morning and evening, is the most effective way to relieve anxiety and stress. One reason that Transcendental Meditation is so effective is that it provides such deep rest that it can dissolve deep-rooted stresses that are lodged in the structure or chemistry of the body.

Creativity, problem solving, interpersonal relationships

One major cause of stress in the workplace is lack of creativity or mind power to solve problems on the job. Because Transcendental Meditation heightens creativity, IQ, memory and clarity of thinking, it helps relieve workplace stress in this way also.

Relationships with workplace colleagues have also been found to improve with the practice of Transcendental Meditation. Positive, harmonious behaviour is a direct result of clearer thinking, reduced stress and balanced emotions, and if you are experiencing those positive results, this will be reflected in better relationships.

Overcoming mental stress – Ayurvedic daily routine

Mental stress is caused by an imbalance in Prana Vata. Following the Ayurvedic daily routine is probably the most important thing you can do to prevent stress on the job. The daily routine is designed to prevent stress from covering over the bliss of balanced living.

The morning routine includes waking up early, before the sun rises, and starting the day with an abhyanga, or Ayurvedic oil massage. Abhyanga not only removes toxins from the body; it stimulates the organs and enlivens the flow of intelligence in the body. By the time you finish your oil massage and bathe, your mind will feel fresh, energized and awake, without the need for coffee to start the day.

The practice of yoga asanas is also balancing to mental, physical and emotional stress, as are deep breathing exercises known as pranayama. The Transcendental Meditation practice completes the morning routine.

Ayurvedic herbal products to balance mental stress

Ingredients of herbal products for mental stress are renowned ‘Medhya’ herbs that support mental function. These are Aloeweed, Jal-Brahmi, Indian Tinospora and Liquorice. Aloeweed, for example, directly nourishes the nerve cells in all areas of the body, whilst Indian Tinospora has a unique effect of cleaning out the micro-circulatory channels of the body. This improves the flow of nutrients to the brain and nerve cells.

Peace of Mind supports natural resistance to stress and also increases alertness and mental sharpness while reducing anxiety and fatigue. It enhances learning, retention and long-term memory (dhi, dhriti and smriti); increases mental energy by supporting Prana Vata; and supports mental resistance to stress.

Other Ayurvedic tips to relieve stress

Stretch and breathe deeply, even when indoors, to energize the body and bring more oxygen to the brain. As mentioned earlier, taking frequent breaks is good.

Drinking warm fluids throughout the day also helps in detoxifying and the body. Warm, non-caffeinated fluids also help reduce Vata dosha and mental stress. Many times people experience fatigue and headache on the job due to simple dehydration.

If you feel hungry during the workday, eat healthy snacks and avoid junk food from vending machines.

In conclusion

Taking these small steps will have an effect in balancing Sadhaka Pitta, Prana Vata and Vyana Vata, and enhancing the coordination between dhi, dhriti and smriti.

It is important to follow the Ayurvedic diet, the daily routine and other recommendations in order to gain these benefits. The results will be more than worthwhile. The Ayurvedic solutions to stress and other problems in life are remarkable for their simplicity and effectiveness, and quite easy to add to your day.

HAIRCARE AND AYURVEDA

Heart
Respiratory System