The saying “What’s old is new again” certainly has relevance in the world of natural health. Recently, we have seen an accelerated interest in all things related to Ayurveda. This ancient Indian practice of holistic health that developed more than five thousand years ago is becoming noticed by Yoga enthusiasts, nutritional supplements companies, health and fitness establishments and even on the blog of ‘America’s Doctor.’
Yes, Dr. Mehmet Oz, whose TV show is watched by health enthusiasts across the US, is bringing new awareness to Ayurvedic concepts through his television program and website. On the last day of February, Dr. Oz highlighted The Secrets of Ayurvedic Medicine.
As Americans begin exploring complementary and alternative health practices to offset the high cost and poor outcomes of conventional medicine, many are looking to ancient traditions like Ayurveda. When Doctor Oz takes a closer look at Ayurveda and Ayurvedic nutritional supplements, he is helping to foster a new area of discussion that focuses on prevention and self-care… which is literally transforming the way we think about “health care.”
One of the contributors to Dr. Oz’s website and blog has been regularly writing about Ayurveda and its many benefits to men and women in all aspects of their lives. In this article on using Ayurveda for fabulous skin, Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary MD shares some of her favorite Ayurvedic skin beauty secrets. She writes about the core principles of Ayurveda:
“Ayurveda is the traditional medical system of India and the oldest surviving healing system in the world (about 5,000 years old). “Ayu” means life and “veda” means knowledge, so Ayurveda is the science of life. Ayurveda is based on three fundamental principles:
- Food is medicine.
- Disease can be prevented and eradicated through your daily habits.
- Lifestyle recommendations are based on an individual’s physical, mental and emotional makeup, known as one’s dosha (body-type).”
If you’re new to Ayurveda, one of the main notions of this centuries-old science is the concept of “body-types”. According to Ayurveda, there are three distinct body-types that exist in human nature: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Each person has a specific body-type (or ‘dosha’) that influences all aspects of life, including physical structure, emotional make-up and predisposition to certain health challenges. Identifying your particular body type and balancing it with an appropriate diet and herbal regimen is considered to be the key to optimal health and longevity.
You can supplement your body-type diet with botanical formulas designed especially for yoga practitioners and individuals interested in Ayurveda. Botanicals are an easy and inexpensive way to supplement your Ayurvedic diet.
You can try out this ancient healing tradition of Ayurveda on your own. Find Ayurvedic supplements at your local health foods store. If you are not sure which dosha you are, you can determine your Ayurvedic body type through a questionnaire to ensure you are choosing the right supplements for your unique body-type.
