Ayurveda Remedies

Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine that has been practiced for over 3000 years.  It is the traditional system of medicine in India which makes it one of the widest used systems of alternative medicine.  The word Ayurveda means "wisdom of life" and focuses on the entire body when diagnosing and treating diseases.

A large part of Ayurveda is spiritual health.  Things like evil spirits, planetary alignment, and direct actions by gods influence health and disease.  While these beliefs may not be widely accepted in most of the world, it does not prevent you from benefiting Ayurveda Herbal Remedies.

According to Ayurvedic philosophy, there are three energies or "doshas" that make up our bodies.  We are a combination of at least 2 doshas and most people are stronger in one than the other.  When our doshas get too far out of balance, disease and health problems follow.

Some of the things that cause balance or imbalance are diet and exercise, spiritual and emotional health, digestive health, and the elimination of wastes in our systems. 

This matches up pretty closely with conventional health wisdom.  We all know that diet and exercise are important.  We know that extreme stress and emotional stains can cause us to be sick.  If our digestive systems aren't working properly, we get sick or have issues with our weight.  Lastly, toxins in our system are pretty commonly talked about now too.

As you can see, the philosophies of Ayurveda are not all that different from what you probably have heard before.  The medicines, however, are very different and in most cases better for you.

There are thousands of remedies that are used in Ayurveda medicine.  Below are some remedies you may have heard or even used as well as a few that you may want to add to your medicinal repertoire.

• Ginger Root - This is a common remedy for stomach problems as well as the cold or flu.  You can eat it or drink it in tea.  If you have ever had ginger ale (real ginger ale with ginger in it) to help a stomach ache, you know that ginger really works.
• Aloe Vera - The gel inside the leaves of the aloe vera plant can be used to soothe burns and help heal other cuts and scrapes.  My grandma always had fresh aloe vera plants around to treat minor injuries.
• Cayenne Pepper - Try putting a little cayenne pepper in your socks to keep your feet warm when it is cold out.
• Onion - Place an onion slice on a fresh burn to soothe away the pain.
• Cinnamon - Cinnamon is a natural anesthetic so you can put it on a cut or scrape to help it heal.  Not only will you heal faster you will smell festive!

These are only a few of the remedies you can use every day.  They work whether you believe in the spiritual aspects of Ayurveda or not.  Check the references section at the bottom for some links to more helpful websites.