What is Ayurveda? Everything about cure, massage, diet & the three types

Spices

Ayurveda has become a household word. Mostly it is simply associated with yoga pants and foreign dishes. But there is much more behind it! If you would like to learn more about the oldest holistic healing art of mankind, then read on right now. Everything you need to know about this fascinating way of life is here at a glance. We explain everything about Ayurvedic nutrition, meditation, yoga and Ayurvedic cleansing cures.

General: What does Ayurveda actually mean?

To describe Ayurveda with one word is difficult, because it is incredibly versatile. The term means "knowledge of life" in Sanskrit. So a definition is just as extensive. Ayurveda exists as a healing method in Asia, especially in India. There it is even taught scientifically and is part of everyday life. However, it does not correspond to evidence-based medicine, which is why the doctrine has to fight with prejudices again and again.

In Europe, or rather in Western culture, Ayurveda is mostly used for wellness cures. No wonder that this traditional alternative medicine is also so popular here: It is not a single therapeutic measure, but a holistic system. It combines empirical values and philosophy to ensure a healthy life - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

The three doshas: Vata, Pitta & Kapha

When one deals with Ayurveda, one cannot avoid dealing with the three basic energetic principles of life - the doshas. Actually, the term translated means "fault (potential)". In the Ayurvedic conception, these three doshas are present in every organism. A healthy balance means harmony; when there is a disturbance of balance, there are faults in the system. In short: the doshas are responsible for ensuring that everything in our body runs smoothly. Nature finds its expression in the five elements air, ether, fire, water and earth:

  • Vata (air, ether): This dosha is the principle of movement and therefore also regulates the conscious and unconscious movements and activities of the body. Vata also takes care of the regulation of the circulation and the body structure, as well as the tissues.
  • Pitta (fire, water): This is the fire or metabolic principle. Pitta therefore also plays a major role in our digestion, as well as other biochemical activities.
  • Kapha (earth, water): The structural principle ensures that things are held together. Associated with this is the mental and physical strength of the body. Kapha stabilises the immune system.

Every person has a very individual constitution of doshas. With the knowledge of one's own dosha type, one can ideally respond to the needs of body, mind and soul. Because an imbalance of the doshas results in illnesses or complaints. Too much Kapha often means overweight, Pitta people are more likely to have heartburn and stomach ulcers, and Vata people are often prone to loss of appetite. Which type are you? Find out your constitutional type in the Dosha test.

The seasons are also distinguished in Ayurvedic teachings with the life energies:

  • Kapha phase: between February and May
  • Pitta phase: between June and September
  • Vata phase: between October and January

In these phases, the respective life energies then dominate and influence our well-being. We can also use these effects for ourselves! For example, through nutrition or special Dosha teas - these bring us back into the necessary balance. You can find the following teas in our online shop:

Ayurvedic nutrition: healthy balance

Nutrition is a particularly important part of Ayurvedic medicine. It aims above all at the right combination of foods.

Of course, the alignment with the doshas also plays an important role here. For they are responsible for how we absorb food and further utilise it. Digestive problems are usually due to a dysbalance of the doshas.

This leaves behind ama (waste products), i.e. toxic substances.

An Ayurvedic kitchen looks like this:

What foods are eaten in Ayurveda?

The choice of the right spices is an important part of Ayurvedic nutrition. Adapted to the dosha, the right spice can ensure that everything runs smoothly in the body.
  • Look for high quality natural/regional foods that are easy to use.
  • Pulses: e.g. lentils, mung beans, or chickpeas.
  • Cereals, potatoes, pasta and fats only together with vegetables and salad.
  • Rice goes everywhere
  • Spices and herbs
  • Food supplements can be added as needed.
  • When preparing the food, the rule is: eat it fresh and warm if possible!

What is drunk in Ayurveda?

When do we eat in Ayurveda?

  • Eating three times a day without snacks.
  • Lunch as main meal, breakfast & dinner as light meals.
  • Ideally, you should eat warm food, so you should have a light but warm meal in the morning. Porridge with nuts or fruit is a good choice.

How to cook?

  • It is best to eat only cooked food, raw food should only be eaten as a side dish or at lunch.

What flavours are there in Ayurveda?

  • They are called "6 Rasas": the tastes sweet, sour, salty, spicy, bitter and tart; they are best found in one and the same food at the same time.

What spices are there in Ayurveda?

  • Salt (more or less depending on the constitution type) and preferably use only rock salt.
  • Instead of sugar, you can also use sharkara (Ayurvedic cane sugar), honey and maple syrup.
  • Aromatic spices & herbs: e.g. ginger, pepper, asafetida, horseradish, turmeric and mustard seeds.

What is avoided in Ayurvedic cuisine?

  • Do not heat honey or use it for cooking or baking.
  • Ghee instead of butter or oil: it cleanses the tissue
  • No animal proteins such as meat, fish, eggs - do not eat these together either!
  • Do not eat milk with salty or sour foods, leafy vegetables or fresh fruit.
  • It is better to avoid sweet and heavy foods.

Also very important: Eat slowly, consciously and in appropriate quantities! It is especially useful to eat only when you are hungry. It is best not to eat again until three to five hours after a main meal. You should also not overeat: The stomach should only be ¾ full afterwards. A quiet and relaxed environment is also relevant. Therefore, one should not read, work or watch TV while eating. It is best to sit down and allow yourself five to ten minutes of quiet time after eating.

Always eating at the same time of day is also beneficial. Of course, there are also special dietary tips for maintaining beautiful and healthy skin. In our blog you will also find simple and great Ayurvedic recipes and also delicious ideas for an Ayurvedic breakfast.

Meditation & Yoga: Learning Mindfulness

Oil massages are part of a comprehensive Ayurveda cure.

In addition to dietary tips, Ayurveda also includes practices with which you can integrate more mindfulness into your everyday life. Meditation and yoga are particularly suitable for this.

Regular meditation, for example, can promote long-term health and have a positive effect on our well-being. In a relaxed, yet receptive state, one can consciously pause and get to know oneself better. One can also cope better with chronic pain and mental illness, for example, and also combat sleep problems. Meditation brings about:

  • a more stable circulation
  • a lower blood pressure
  • a stronger immune system
  • a stronger heart
  • Pain relief for chronic diseases (allergies, asthma, migraine, etc.)
  • increased attention & improved concentration
  • Overcoming anxiety & addictions
  • the fight against depression & burnout

Yoga also has many benefits, such as increasing flexibility, effectively balancing stress, and helping with a wide variety of problems, from tension to helping with slipped discs. Yoga is incredibly versatile and helpful in a wide variety of life situations.

Whether for seniors, children, pregnant women, or in the office - the many different styles mean there is something for everyone! Yoga can even help you lose weight. In fact, it's a wonderful way to shed pounds. In summary: Yoga brings the necessary balance for a happy and healthy life. That's why you should definitely give this Ayurvedic stress management a try.

Ayurveda cures in Europe

Ayurvedic cleansing cures are extremely popular here in Europe - and rightly so. Our everyday lives are characterised by stress and pressure to perform, and we rarely get the chance to really take care of our health.

Therefore, there is a broad interest in holistic health care with complementary naturopathy. Ayurvedic cures offer just that: inner harmony & physical health.

A special procedure ensures that each person is treated individually and holistically.

A detailed discussion with an expert, as well as a pulse diagnosis, will then put together a very personalised course schedule.

Part of it are body treatments, steam baths and Ayurvedic massages, but also treatments to detoxify and strengthen the immune system.

Yoga and breathing and relaxation exercises are also part of the Ayurveda cure. The whole thing is rounded off by the focus on a balanced diet. Toxic foods are avoided and the harmful substances in the body are eliminated through ghee.

The AyurDetox cure is particularly suitable here. In this way, the self-healing of the body is activated - one finds more satisfaction and well-being.

Conclusion: Ayurveda as natural care

Ayurveda is more than just a trend - by focusing on the individual needs of our body, we can improve our lives sustainably. A balanced diet brings the doshas into equilibrium, with yoga and meditation we can gain harmony, and through beneficial cleansing cures and massages the body detoxifies itself sustainably. In this sense, Ayurveda is an enriching way of life with the goal of inner and outer satisfaction.


Cover photo: © zakaria - stock.adobe.com

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