Ayurveda: The Science Of Self-Healing

In this session, you will receive a brief background about Ayurveda, its history, and some key concepts. Additionally, I will also provide you with a roadmap of all that we will cover in these 21 days together.

In this session, you will receive an understanding of herbal medicine, and how plant intelligence features in the Ayurvedic worldview. We will also understand the importance of eating foods according to their seasonal availability. Last but not the least, we will also become acquainted with the individually tailored approach to health that is the foundation of Ayurveda.

In this session, I explain the gut microbiota and the role it plays in physical and mental health. Additionally, I also introduce the concept of body constitutions or Doshas. I explain how one's body constitutions are a mixture of Prakriti (nature) and Vikriti (changing nature).

In this session, we gain an in-depth understanding of the Vata Dosha. I cover the mental and physical characteristics of Vata, and what a balanced and aggravated Vata dosha looks like. I conclude the session with dietary and lifestyle tips that are useful for an imbalanced Vata dosha.

In this session, we gain an in-depth understanding of the Pitta Dosha. I cover the mental and physical characteristics of Pitta, and what a balanced and aggravated Pitta dosha looks like. I conclude the session with dietary and lifestyle tips that are useful for an imbalanced Pitta dosha.

In this session, we gain an in-depth understanding of the Kapha Dosha. I cover the mental and physical characteristics of Kapha, and what a balanced and aggravated Kapha dosha looks like. I conclude the session with dietary and lifestyle tips that are useful for an imbalanced Kapha dosha.

There are three Upasthambas or supporting pillars in Ayurveda. These are Aahara - diet, Nidra - circadian rhythms, and Brahmacharya - the expression of our sexual energies. These three supporting pillars are also indications of a healthy and robust system. In this session, I cover food combinations, our internal body clocks, and the importance of cultivating healthy sexual energy.

In this session, I shall cover oral cleansing, nasal cleansing, and other good Ayurvedic habits that are easily incorporated into our daily lifestyle.

The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent bitter, and astringent. Each of the tastes have a combination of two elements. According to Ayurveda, we must have all the six tastes within our diet. However, the proportions in which we consume the different tastes should differ based on our body/ mind composition or dosha. Each food is composed of one or more tastes. Some foods are composed of even three to four tastes. However, most foods will have a dominant taste. Learn all about the six tastes in this session.

In this session, I explain the physiological process of stress. We explore how the nervous system functions and interacts with the endocrine system. The endocrine system is responsible for the production of hormones. Ayurveda posits that we cannot heal our body when it is in a state of chronic stress.

Each stimulant brings various effects which differ based on our predominant dosha. Thus stimulants too must be understood through the framework of the doshas. Stimulants are an essential part of our modern productivity-oriented culture. Today, I explain how we can use stimulants in a way that can best support our overall health and longevity.

In this session, I will explore various lifestyle tips, practices, and dietary recommendations to heal our metabolism. If you suffer from low energy, low libido, a lack of appetite, and insomnia, an underperforming metabolic process might be to blame.

Aging is a complex process that has multiple variables involved. Some of these variables have been discussed in previous sessions - lifestyle, diet, and stress. Today, we are going to understand another variable known as lipid peroxidation. I know it can be quite a mouthful but lipids are basically organic compounds that are insoluble in water. These include all fats and hormones. I also introduce the different kinds of fats in our diet and what Ayurveda has to say about each of them.

In Ayurveda, fasting is used as the primary detoxification method. In this session, I explore the benefits and contraindications of fasting as per Ayurveda. Additionally, we will look at recommended types of fasting for the different doshas.

In this session, I will introduce the Ayurvedic perspective on toxins and then move on to explain Panchakarma in Ayurveda or the five procedures for detoxification. Most of the practices that I explain should be done under the supervision of an experienced Ayurvedic doctor. That said, I am presenting these practices so that you have a wide perspective on what Ayurveda has to offer and can seek out doctors near you for any of these treatments.

In this session, I introduce the difference between detoxification and rejuvenation, followed by some common rejuvenation treatments. Most of the practices that I explain should be done under the supervision of an experienced Ayurvedic doctor. That said, I am presenting these practices so that you have a wide perspective on what Ayurveda has to offer and can seek out doctors near you for any of these treatments.

In this session, I speak about the different uses of aromatic herbs in Ayurveda. Aromatic herbs are ingested through the nasal passages, usually in the form of incense or essential oils through water vapor diffusion. I first introduce the olfactory area or the primary receptors in the body that pick up on various scents. After that, I go on to speak about some aromatic herbs and their application to produce a large gamut of mental states like concentration, relaxation, and to combat anxiety and depression.

In this session, I speak about the Ayurvedic perspective on mental health. Mental health is a very broad subject, and I will primarily focus on depression and schizophrenia (or non-normal states of consciousness). By now, we are all well aware that our mental and emotional states are greatly interlinked with our physical states. Thus, arriving at a state of good health that lasts well into old age requires us to address our mental, emotional, and physical needs.

In this session, I speak about different dietary regimens or restrictions - their benefits and pitfalls. I speak about the keto diet, the vegan diet, intermittent fasting, the carnivore diet, and the low fat diet. Though Ayurveda doesn’t recommend any form of dieting, these can be useful for short periods of time in specific cases. Most dietary restrictions when applied for general health, do well in the short run but cause damage in the long run. I also speak about the doshas and how each diet affects the doshas differently. Some diets might work better for certain body constitutions than others.

In this session, I speak about various Ayurvedic home remedies and herbal supplements. I cover common stomach issues, respiratory problems, skin issues, UTI, and other kinds of infections. Additionally, I speak about a handful of herbs that should be a part of everyone’s kitchen.

In this session, I speak about our collective health - the health of our species and ecosystems - and how it is linked to individual health. In Ayurveda, there is an understanding that all life on earth is interconnected. If a part of the ecosystem is affected or polluted, it is a matter of time before the entire ecosystem is affected. Human health is based on symbiotic relationships. Life thrives on life.