6 Ayurvedic Headache Remedies

ayurvedic headache remedies

Headaches are common and are usually not a sign of major health problems. However, they can be extremely disruptive and uncomfortable. Headaches can be caused by a variety of body imbalances, including poor posture, muscle tension, suppression of urges to urinate or pass stool, indigestion, anxiety, anger, nervousness, fatigue, and high blood pressure.

Ayurveda identifies three different types of headaches. Each type of headache is the result of an imbalance in one of the doshas. The causes for each type are different, as are the remedies. As such it is important to use the appropriate remedy for the type of headache you are experiencing. 

Kapha Headache

Headaches of Kapha type are dull and deep-seated, usually starting at the front of the head. They are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and heaviness. These types of headaches are often associated with respiratory disorders and are more likely to occur in the winter or spring.

Vata Headache

Vata governs the nervous system, and Vata headaches are characterized by severe throbbing and pulsating pain at the back of the head. They are accompanied by anxiety, depression, dry skin, and constipation.

Pitta Headache

Headaches of Pitta type are characterized by shooting, burning, or piercing pain and accompanied by light sensitivity, anger, irritability, nausea, and dizziness. These types of headaches start at the temples and spread to the center part of the head. Continue reading “6 Ayurvedic Headache Remedies”

Shatavari for Health and Fertility

 

shatavari
Photo Credit: Fanghong [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

What is Shatavari?

Shatavari, or Asparagus racemosus, is a climbing plant that grows natively throughout India in low jungles. Translated as ‘she who possesses a hundred husbands’, it is the primary rejuvenative herb for the female reproductive system (as Ashwagandha is for the male). It helps women transition through all life stages, supporting health of the female organs throughout puberty, reproductive ages, into menopause, and beyond. Shatavari is supportive of fertility and libido and also increases love and devotion.

In addition to supporting reproductive health in males and females, shatavari promotes brain and digestive health. It calms the nerves and nourishes the brain, helping to balance Vata disorders such as spasms and insomnia. Digestive problems such as dryness and inflammation can benefit from supplementation.

Energetically, shatavari is sweet, cool, and bitter. It reduces Pitta and Vata and, in excess, increases Kapha.

Shatavari and Reproductive Health

Shatavari is known for its rejuvenative effect on female reproductive health. It can be used by both men and women, working in a number of ways to support healthy reproduction.

Fertilitypregnant2

Shatavari can be used by women and men to improve fertility. As an adaptogenic herb, it helps to protect the mind and body from stress. Excess stress can impair fertility, and reduction of stress in both men and women can help to improve fertility. Shatavari can also act as as an estrogen regulator, which can help to promote menstrual cycle regulation and fertility. In men, it can increase the production of semen and thereby improve the likelihood of conception. Continue reading “Shatavari for Health and Fertility”

Ayurvedic Skin Care

Ayurveda for Acne

Skin is the sensory organ of touch. It separates us from our environment, allowing nutrients into the system and preventing pathogens from entering. The health of the skin is closely tied to the health of the digestive tract, so skin can tell us a lot about what is going on inside the body.

Ayurvedic skin care focuses on both external and internal health. Skin disease can develop when the skin is clogged with toxins and when digestion is compromised. Thus, skin improves when digestion is healthy, and the digestive tract becomes healthier when the skin is cleansed of toxins and impurities. Because it can impact overall bodily health, it is important to keep the skin healthy and clear of toxins.

Pitta Skin

Pitta skin is fair, soft, lustrous, and warm. It is usually coppery or yellowish with freckles and tends to burn easily in the sun. When out of balance, Pitta skin has a tendency toward rashes, acne, and eczema. Because skin has less of a tendency toward dryness, Pittas are less prone to wrinkles than are Vatas. Those with a Pitta skin type need to stay cool to keep the body and skin in balance.

Diet

Ayurvedic skin care for Pitta begins with nourishing the skin from the inside by eating Pitta-balancing nutrient dense diet. Avoid foods that aggravate Pitta, such as spicy food, or fermented foods like alcohol, pickles, vinegar, tomatoes, and yeast. It is also important to avoid nuts, bell peppers, eggplant, seafood, and sour foods. Refrain from mixing incompatible foods such as milk and melon, milk or yogurt with sour foods, or fruit with other foods.

Favor green leafy vegetables, sweet fruits, and squash, or bitter foods such as dandelion greens. Dark grapes, sweet pineapple, sweet apples, mangoes, and figs are excellent choices that will help to balance Pitta and cool the body. Foods with high water content help to evaporate heat from your skin and keep Pittas cool. Diet is the best place to start to nourish the body and the skin.

Skin Care Routine

Do not use soap to cleanse the skin. Instead, make a cleansing mask using oat or chickpea flour and water. Combine to create a paste and gently press onto the face. Rinse with warm water. Use gentle skin care products for moisturizing the skin. Jojoba oil is the closest oil to skin’s sebum, and is consequently very calming and nourishing. It is also unlikely to irritate the skin. Continue reading “Ayurvedic Skin Care”

Moringa: Uses and Health Benefits

moringa powder

What is Moringa?

Moringa oleifera is currently enjoying a bit of a spotlight moment in the superfood world, and deservedly so. In the world of superfoods, moringa deserves a top spot. It has been a staple of traditional medicine for over 4,000 years, and Ayurvedic medicine credits it with the prevention and treatment of close to 300 diseases. Moringa, also called the drumstick tree and the miracle tree, is an extremely nutrient-dense plant native to South Asia. It is also cultivated throughout the tropics.

Moringa is anti-inflammatory, extremely nutrient dense, full of antioxidants, and can help to improve health and prevent disease. In many parts of the world, it is used to treat joint pain, cancer, anemia, heart problems, headache, diabetes, digestive issues, asthma, high blood pressure, kidney stones, thyroid disorders, and bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral infections. Continue reading “Moringa: Uses and Health Benefits”

Ayurveda for Eczema

Ayurveda for Eczema

Eczema is a term used for several types of skin conditions known as dermatitis. It is not itself a serious health condition, but can cause psychological stress and self-consciousness. Eczema is also an indication that the body is out of balance. According to modern medicine, there is no cure for eczema, however Ayurvedic treatment is a holistic approach that can manage eczema and sometimes cure it over time. Below are some guidelines and common recommendations for Ayurvedic treatment of eczema.

The Root of Eczema

Eczema more common in Pitta types, and almost all eczema has a Pitta component. Excess Pitta can overheat the blood and predispose the body and skin to toxic conditions. Eczema is caused by poor digestion, toxins in the bowel, incorrect diet, overuse of sour, salty, pungent, heavy, or oily foods. It can be worsened by the overuse of cosmetics, perfumes, and synthetic creams. Most skin issues arise at least in part from a Pitta imbalance. However, eczema can be rooted in an imbalance in any of the three doshas.

Eczema and the Three Doshas

An imbalance in any of the three doshas can trigger eczema. Eczema is usually related, at least in part, to a Pitta imbalance. It is not uncommon for someone to experience elements of each type of eczema, as would be the case when all three doshas are out of balance. Continue reading “Ayurveda for Eczema”

Ayurveda for Acne

Ayurveda For Acne

Ayurveda for acne treatment can be an effective way to heal chronic skin breakouts. Acne is often seen as a minor health issue not worthy of much concern. But for those who have struggled with acne, it can be extremely challenging and emotionally damaging. Importantly, acne is also an indication that something is amiss with the body, especially when it occurs adults. It is related to a disruption in the digestive process, impaired liver function, and a buildup of toxins in the body. Fortunately, all of these problems can be addressed and acne can be healed using ayurveda.

The Root of Acne

Minor acne can be worsened by an imbalance of any of the three doshas, but the Pitta dosha is the most strongly involved, especially for more severe acne. Pitta acne is characterized by redness, inflammation, and excess heat. Kapha acne is related to oiliness, and Vata acne is characterized by dryness. Pitta imbalance is at the root of all acne and Pitta-dominant people are more likely to experience acne when imbalanced. However, acne can occur in anyone, regardless of dominant dosha, if Pitta is out of balance. Ayurvedic face mapping tells us where acne tends to manifest when different doshas are dominant.

Acne on the forehead is common in Vata-dominant individuals, while acne around the mouth, chin, and neck is common in Kapha-dominant individuals. In those who are Pitta-dominant, acne appears in the cheek and nose area, where much of heat originates in the face. An imbalance in Pitta is also responsible for most body acne, such as that found on the chest, back, and shoulders. Using Ayurveda for acne treatment begins with identifying your dominant dosha and any constitutional imbalances. Continue reading “Ayurveda for Acne”