With the spirit of my blog focusing more on mental and emotional well-being, I’d like to talk about something I recently discovered. This year I am focusing more on self-improvement and one of the main things I’ve struggled with in the past has been putting focus on my own mental and physical health. With this, I have recently discovered something called “Ayurveda.” Ayurveda is a natural system of medicine that originated in India over 3,000 years ago. The word Ayurveda translates into “knowledge of life,” and is based on the idea that poor health is due to stress or in a person’s state of being. Ayurveda encourages lifestyle interventions as well as natural therapy to regain balance between your mind, body, and spirit.
The traditional science of Ayurveda attests to the long-term solution to unresolved conditions of trauma by restoring the mental and psychological aspects of your life. A bit different from conventional Western medicine, Ayurveda brings a natural approach to regulating emotional behavior through herbal medications and lifestyle modifications. In Ayurveda, the mind is considered a springboard between the soul and the senses and has a unique set of characteristics that correlate with every life emotion. Everything in the universe is believed to be connected. If your mind, body, and soul are in harmony with the universe, you are in good health. When something disrupts the balance, you get sick, genetics can also play a factor along with injuries, climate and seasonal change, and your emotions. The concept of this connection to the universe, the body’s constitution (Prakriti), and life forces (Doshas) are the primary foundations of Ayurvedic medicine. The objective goal of treatment is to aid the individual by working on impurities, reducing symptoms, resistance to disease, reducing stress, and increasing harmony in one’s life. Ayurveda is a form of medical care in India and is equal to conventional Western medicine. As with many alternative therapies, not as much clinical research has been done on Ayurveda as on Western medicine, however many practices of Ayurveda have been shown to greatly improve health and well-being.
If you are interested in trying Ayurvedic or any alternative medical treatments, it is important to consult with your doctor/practitioner before doing so. However, there are still many simple Ayurvedic practices you can do at home to help balance your emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual health. Some of this includes; adding herbs to your diet used in ayurveda when cooking. Some of the most common and accessible herbs used in Ayurveda involve Tumeric, Aswagandha, Ginger, Cumin, and Black Pepper. These are all anti-inflammatory, easy to digest, and can help with sleep and nausea, along with other benefits. Ashwagandha is a very beneficial herb to improve cortisol levels and increases the popper functioning of brain cells. Turmeric is great for blood circulation and helps prevent developing mental disorders. Ayurvedic food involves fresh, whole meals instead of processed foods and it is encouraged to eat your food when you are in a calm state to aid digestion. It is also encouraged to eat seasonal fruits and vegetables. Ayurveda also involves yoga and meditation, or simply increasing moving your body during the day. Meditation is a big part of Ayurveda and rewires your brain as it is a natural mode of Vagus Nerve Stimulation which improves your health.
There is a lot more to talk about regarding Ayurveda and its practices but this is a reminder to figure out what works for you in helping your mental and physical well-being as it is crucial in living a happy and healthy life.
Hello, I was wondering what type of spiritual and mental improvements you have had since implementing Ayurveda? I am big fan of exercise but to be honest, I don’t really focus that much on the mental and spiritual benefits that it can give. But after reading your post, I feel like I’ll look into it more, as a lot of the things you wrote about seem incredibly beneficial!