Importance of Ayurveda herbs in our daily life
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is a system of medicine with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent Globalized and modernized practices derived from Ayurveda traditions are a type of alternative medicine. Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world's oldest whole-body healing systems. It was developed more than 3,000 years ago in India. It is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on the mind, body, and spirit. Its main goal is to promote good health not fight disease. But treatments may be geared toward specific health problems.IN the United states considered a form of complementary and alternative medicine(CAM)
Why we use Ayurvedic medicine?
Ayurvedic is becoming increasingly popular in Europe with chronic conditions responding to it well. Ayurveda can help improve patients' symptoms by reducing their cortisone and analgesic usage thereby enhancing their quality of life.
Ayurveda claims to treat a range of disorders. Ayurveda practitioners believe their approach is effective in treating a range of disorders, including, anxiety, asthma, arthritis.
Some ayurvedic herbs name and their benefit:
1. Ashwagandha
What it is: Ashwagandha is a shrub originally grown in India. It’s the name literally translates to the strength of a stallion, Rose says.
The benefits: Ashwagandha is said to increase vitality, balance stress hormones, help with adrenal fatigue, and increase energy. “It is an adaptogen, meaning it adapts to what your body needs,” Rose says.
How to use it: Rose suggests adding a powdered ashwagandha to your morning tonic or taking it as a supplement.
2. Brahmi
What it is: Brahmi is a word that has been used to describe two different Ayurvedic herbs with similar benefits: Centella Asiatica and bacopa monnieri.
The benefits: “Brahmi is the ultimate brain tonic,” Rose says. “In fact, the leaves even look like a brain.” The herb helps balance the left and right hemispheres of your brain so you operate with both your analytical (left hemisphere) and intuitive (right hemisphere) side. “By balancing both, this means it helps us operate with both Shiva (masculine) and shakti (feminine) aspects of ourselves so we can become whole,” Rose says.
Add if you’re looking for something to help you tap more into your woo woo side, Brahmi is a great choice. Rose tells us it also helps open up your pineal gland, the small endocrine gland in our brain that’s associated with intuition.
How to use it: Brahmi can be taken in powder or supplement form. “Most ayurvedic brain-boosting supplements will have Brahmi,” Rose says.
3. Cardamom
What it is: Cardamom is a spice that originated in India.
The benefits: Cardamom can help remove excess Kapha, one of the Ayurvedic doshas (your Ayurvedic body type, based on your physical and emotional makeup), from the system. “Kapha is not bad,” Rose says. But she says having too much can cause problems like mucus, phlegm, weight gain, lethargy, clammy hands, or a sluggish metabolism.
How to use it: “You can cook with whole cardamom pods or use them in your teas,” Rose says. Or, you can add ground cardamom powder to your ACV-spiked black tea or get your dose of the aromatic seed in beauty products.
4. Cumin
What it is: Like cardamom, cumin is also a spice. It comes from the seeds of the Cuminum cyminum plant originally grown in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The benefits: Cumin is great for digestion. Rose says it helps remove excess Vata, the dosha associated with air and space. An excess of Vata can look like bloating, gas, constipation, anxiety, insomnia, cracking joints, cold body temperature, and dry skin and hair.
How to use it: Rose says you can get your dose of cumin in a digestive-enhancing tonic mixed with coriander and fennel. It can also add a healthy touch to your cocktail.
5. Manjistha
What it is: Manjistha is a vine with heart-shaped leaves and a bright red root that grows in mountain regions.
The benefits: “Manjistha purifies the blood with its cooling properties that work on the plasma and blood dhatus (organs), with a dry and pungent quality,” Rose says. She says it’s great if you have a Pitta imbalance (the dosha associated with fire and water), which can look like inflammation, hyperacidity, feeling hot all the time, foul-smelling sweat, oily skin, rosacea, hives/rashes, anger, impatience, and irritability. Manjistha is also an anti-inflammatory, helps clear acne, and regulates liver and kidney function, she says.
How to use it: Rose likes taking it as a powder and adding it to tonics.
6. Turmeric
What it is: Turmeric is a bright-yellow spice often used in Indian cuisine.
The benefits: Ah, turmeric. It’s one Ayurvedic herb that’s pretty much a staple in most kitchen pantries, and all the buzz around it the past few years is well deserved. “It is extremely anti-inflammatory,” Rose says. Animals studies have also shown that curcumin, the main component in turmeric, may have some anti-depressive properties too.
How to use it: Let’s count the ways you can incorporate it into your diet: You can make pumpkin pie quinoa oatmeal, matcha and turmeric ice pops, or spicy lemonade to name a few. Rose’s go-to way to get her daily dose of the vibrant-colored spice is with a cult-favorite Golden Milk Latte. “I make Golden Milk paste using turmeric, black pepper, ginger, and coconut oil and always have it in my fridge for an instant Golden Milk latte,” she says.
7. Amalaki
What it is: Amalaki, aka
amla or Indian gooseberry is a small, round fruit native to southeast Asia.
The benefits: Amalaki is rejuvenating, high in vitamin C, and has some major
antioxidant powers. “Amla balances all our doshas, nourishes our physiology,
boosts immunity, and promotes longevity,” Soffer says. (It’s also used in Triphala,
an Ayurvedic herb combo. More on that in a sec.)
How to use it: Soffer says you can find it as a powder, although she prefers it
dried and candied (more commonly available at Indian markets). You can
also find it as the main ingredient in chyawanprash paste,
a jam-like mixture of herbs, ghee, sesame oil, and honey prepared that is
believed to boost body strength and the immune system. Soffer says you can take
a spoon of the paste once a day, alone or mixed with warm milk.
8. Triphala
What it is: The “tri” in triphala indicates that the herb blend is made up of
three fruits: amla, haritaki, and bibhitaki.
The benefits: Triphala has been traditionally used as a digestive remedy. “This
the combination helps balance our fire element—our Pitta dosha—cleans and
rejuvenates our tissues, helps rejuvenate the liver, [acts as] a very mild
laxative to help things move along, and actually strengthens the digestive
the system,” Soffer says.
How to use it: The Ayurveda pro suggests taking it at night right before bed in a
pill form from organic brands such as Himalaya, Organic India, or MAPI.
9. Arjuna
What is it: Arjuna is the bark of the arjuna tree.
The benefits: “The bark from the Arjuna tree has been used for thousands of
years, primarily to support cardiovascular health,” Soffer says.
“Interestingly, research in
western medicine is validating the powers of arjuna as well.”
How to use it: “You can find it as a tincture, as well as a red powder that you
stir in warm water,” Soffer says. “It doesn’t taste so great, so just enough
water to quickly drink it!”
10. Shatavari
What it is: Shatavari is an adaptogenic herb traditionally grown in India.
The benefits: If you have any issues with your reproductive organs (periods,
menopause, fertility, etc.), Shatavari, which funnily translates to “she who
has one hundred husbands,” is a good herb for you, according to Soffer. It’s
traditionally been used to help with female reproductive health. And a 2018 review of studies found
some evidence that the herb could help with PCOS.
How to use it: It’s best to see an Ayurvedic doctor and have this one prescribed,
Soffer says. It comes as a powder that can be taken with other herbs, mixed in
water, or encapsulated.
11. Neem
What is it: Neem refers to the flowers that come from the neem tree.
The benefits: “Neem is one of the most powerful blood purifiers and detoxifiers
in Ayurvedic herbology,” Rose says. “It’s wonderful for eczema and psoriasis,
and also used for joint and muscle pain in oil.”
Soffer adds that
the oil made from the neem tree’s flowers help with acne and dandruff, and
gives you shiny and healthy hair (yes, please!). “The main benefit is that neem
is antiviral and antibacterial,”
she says.
How to use it: “You can find it in toothpaste, shampoo, and as the oil itself,
for your hair and face,” Soffer says
Some bad effect of Ayurveda or ayurvedic herbs:
The
U.S. food and drugs administration warns that the presence of metals in some Ayurveda
products makes them potentially showed that 40 percent elevated blood levels of
lead and some had elevated blood levels of mercury. The ancient practice of Ayurvedic medicine has clearly helped
millions of people create healthier lives. However, like any other medical
system, Ayurvedic therapies have contraindications and the potential for
adverse effects or side effects. This is of particular concern when therapies
are used incorrectly, are abused or administered improperly, or are prescribed
by unqualified practitioners.
Thus,
consumers must take responsibility when seeking Ayurvedic therapies. It is
imperative to check
all practitioners’ credentials, training, and experience.
Consumers must also communicate, both
with their conventional and Ayurvedic practitioners. Patients must practice
full disclosure about the therapies they are using, and the effects they are
experiencing, to avoid potentially dangerous herbal or other therapeutic
interactions.
Because
many Ayurvedic therapies involve herbal elements, it is important to note that
the United States Food and Drug Administration does not regulate herbs or dietary
supplements. The International Society for Ayurveda and Health (ISAH), a professional society of
Ayurveda in the United States, recommends Ayurvedic therapeutic herbal use only
when prescribed and properly supervised by a trained practitioner.
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