Rakesh Sethi, BS, CAHP
Wellness Speaker/ Author/
Ayurvedic Practitioner
What is Ayurvedic Consultation?
Archive for the ‘Ayurvedic Medicine’ Category
Ayurvedic Massage: What a Great Benefit!
Wouldn’t you like a massage that does more than just relaxation? Ayurvedic massage is a unique massage that offers incredible following benefits:
- Nourishes the mind and body
- Strengthens immunity
- Increases stamina
- Builds muscle tone
- Reduces stress
- Removes toxins (more effective when followed by exercising and sauna or steam bath)
- Slows down aging
- Calms mind and helps sleep better
- Balances and heals body faster
With so many benefits, wouldn’t it be nice to get an Ayurvedic massage every day. Well, it is recommended that you do it every day. However, with limited available time every other day will be fine too or even once a week will offer tremendous benefits. Imagine, that is fifty two times a year more than what you do right now.
Can you do this massage at home? Of course you can. In fact giving Ayurvedic massage to each other would be an excellent activity for a couple. In addition to the above benefits, you nourish your relationship as well.
What oil to use?
Ayurvedic Massage oil herbal formula for men and women
You can use sesame oil but to enhance the benefits of the ayurvedic daily massage use Ayurvedic Massage Oils. These precise blends of ayurvedic herbs and aromas are more easily absorbed by the skin than sesame oil or other regular massage oils, and as a result, rejuvenate your body quickly. You can purchase Rejuvenation Massage Oil for Men and Women in our online store.
How do you do Ayurvedic massage?
Follow the simple instructions below:
- Warm cold pressed three table spoons of oil (per person)
- Start with vigorous massage on the head with palm of your hand
- Using gentle strokes, massage the forehead, temples, ears, and face
- Massage the rest of your body arms, hands, legs, feet, back, and chest
- Massage stomach with gentle clockwise strokes
Note: To get more familiar with the Ayurvedic massage strokes, I would recommend receiving a massage a few times from an Ayurvedically trained massage therapist or Ayurvedic practitioner. But even if you don’t have a chance to learn from a trained therapist, you should continue on your own. The most important part is to supply the oil in a loving way.
Caution: No hard deep tissue strokes should be used. Remember gentle loving strokes promote calming effect on the mind. Do not do Ayurvedic massage if you are overweight, have fever, or bad digestion.
Give 20- 25 minutes time to absorb the oil to deeper layers of your skin. Use this time to do stretches, bending, twisting, or even gentle running. After oil nourishes to the deeper layers, sweating in sauna or steam bath is wonderful to detoxify your body. Stay in sauna till you are sweating, perhaps 10 minutes or so. After that take warm shower with mild soap and shampoo. Avoid using hot water and harsh soaps.
Portable Sauna
Note: If you do not have access to sauna, you can get one a portable sauna here. For full benefit of massage, use sauna after every massage.
One of my clients, a woman in her thirties had spotting after her periods around the ovulation time for over three years. After some tests, her doctor couldn’t find anything and recommended taking birth control pills to remove this problem. She didn’t want to take the pills with concern of possible side effects plus she was also trying to get pregnant. Just then she had started to do an Ayurvedic massage two times a week. After about eight weeks, she saw her spotting completely went away.
This real life example illustrates how Ayurvedic massage can strengthen, balance, and heal minor irritable problems in otherwise healthy body. Ayurvedic massage is a loving treatment for your mind and body. Enjoy it with your partner. Be Well!
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Is Ayurveda and Yoga a Religion or Science?
Every once in a while I come across someone who rejects the scientific medical system of Ayurveda and Yoga on the basis of its origin in India. Their reason- Hindus came up with Ayurveda and Yoga and follow it, and so by following mind-body wellness suggestions from Ayurveda and Yoga will “pollute” other religious believes. If you believe “will pollute” to be absolutely true then that is the truth for you. However, if you would like to know the roots and practice of this science, please read on and then make up your mind.
1. Coming from Sanskrit words, the ‘Ayur’ means life and ‘Veda’ means science. The word Ayurveda means ‘Science of Life’. 
2. The word ‘Yoga’ also comes from Sanskrit and means “to unite”. So what is it uniting? It is a methodology of uniting spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical components of you for one single purpose of promoting health, wellness, and peace. Spiritual component is always regarded as pure consciousness. It is your choice to color it with any faith or religion that works for you.
3. Vedic culture practiced this science thousands of years ago even before Hinduism was formed.
For more than 5,000 years this science of life has been practiced in India. Since majority of people in India are Hindus, it is easy to associate this with Hinduism. Incidentally, in India Hindus are NOT required to practice Ayurveda and Yoga. It is a free personal choice of diet and lifestyle for promoting health and wellness.
The practice of Ayurveda and Yoga has been working in disease prevention and healing for thousands of years. This ancient medical system is based on natural scientific laws of nature. Natural laws govern all cycles in nature. Since we are part of nature, they also govern our cycles. If we move with scientific understanding in harmony with those cycles we create and enjoy wellness and if we move against, we create dis-ease and suffer. Free download a Basic Ayurveda mini-course.
The evidence from research in mind-body health connections in modern science is corroborating with the approach of Ayurvedic medical system that takes into account the whole individual’s mind, body, and spirit to build immunity (preventing diseases) and promote wellness. In fact there are many other areas where the conventional medicine discoveries map right on with the Ayurvedic medicine. Example of one such discovery- Are You at Higher Risk for Coronary Heart Disease– New Ways to Check?
Just because the practice of Ayurveda and Yoga originated in India, it is not reserved only for Hindus. The whole world can benefit from it. Similarly, the medical practice discoveries made in the west are not just reserved for Christians. The whole world can benefit from them.
The focus here needs to be on the scientific natural laws. Just like the statements, ‘you reap what you sow, every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and law of karma’ are true not because some famous scientist or popular religion says so. It is because the statements represent the same law of nature even though the statements are from different sources. Carefully analyze and you will find natural laws are perennial and hold true on their own merit, regardless of whom or where they originated. Be Well!
“Doing meditation” Image courtesy of Pixtawan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Kapha Pitta Vata Imbalances; Diseases Related to Kapha and Pitta
In the Ayurveda medical system, health in one word is “balance”. When this balance is tipped, our body starts to suffer and if this suffering continues, it develops into a disease. It is due to imbalance in one or more of the three doshas (energies), “Kapha Pitta Vata”. Here you will discover diseases due to Kapha and Pitta imbalance. Another article covers diseases related to Vata imbalance. To get familiar with “Kapha Pitta Vata” energies and discover what energies make up your constitution, please subscribe below to FREE Ayurveda Basics course.
While majority of the diseases are due to Vata imbalance in the body, Kapha or Pitta imbalance are also responsible for some of the very common diseases. In this article I will focus on the diseases related to when the Kapha energy is imbalanced and diseases related to when the Pitta energy is imbalanced.
Kapha (earth) energy is responsible for stability, structure, storage, and growth. Kapha controls strength, size, rate of growth of the body, and storing information in mind. Typically when Kapha energy is disturbed, the body starts to put on weight (unnecessary growth) by storing more fat, thickening of tissues and blood, and retaining extra body fluids. This leads to unbalancing of the Vata energy as well. As a result, imbalances create compromised and inefficient body’s storage & growth functions leading to a disease. Typical symptoms; body becomes heavy, dull, slow, and stuffy with mucus. Diseases that are related to Kapha Imbalance:
Note the following list is of common diseases but is not all inclusive list:
- Allergies/Mucus
- Asthma
- Colds
- Cholesterol higher levels
- Diabetes
- Edema
- Growth (Unwanted) like tumors
- Obesity
All Kapha related disorders should be addressed with Kapha pacifying diet and lifestyle after consulting with an ayurvedic practitioner. It is quite often when Kapha energy is disturbed, Vata is also disturbed. So the treatment plan has to be designed keeping both energies (doshas) in mind. Next we will see what happens to our health when Pitta is imbalanced.
Pitta (fire) energy is responsible for providing “heat” for processing functions in the body. All metabolic, catabolic, and other processing functions, even information processing in the mind are performed by Pitta. When Pitta (dosha) energy is imbalanced, the main digestive “fire” and even a cellular “fire” could be disturbed. Processing functions like breakdown of food, absorption of nutrients, and metabolizing at cellular level are compromised. This leads to depletion of strength and perhaps even dryness in the body. And dryness can also alter Vata energy balance. Diseases triggered from Pitta imbalance are:
- Diarrhea
- Feverish body
- Headaches
- Heartburn
- Hyper Tension
- Inflammations (internal or external)
- Skin diseases
All Pitta related disorders should be addressed with Pitta pacifying diet and lifestyle.
Depending upon age, gender, family history, and keeping other factors in mind, an ayurvedic practitioner can make the right recommendations for pacifying and detoxifying treatment plans for “Kapha Pitta Vata” imbalances. Keeping your energies (doshas) balanced maintains and promotes health and wellness naturally. So please consult with your ayurvedic practitioner and also with your physician when you start natural treatments along side with any medication you are taking. Subscribe to FREE mini course below to discover your constitution:
“Overweight” Image courtesy of AKARAKINGDOMS at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Vata Pita Kapha Imbalances and Diseases Related to Vata Imbalance
It is a well known fact that when our body goes off balance we land ourselves some sort of complication leading to a disease. In the Ayurveda medical system, it is viewed that one or more out of the three energies, “Vata Pita Kapha”, (also know as Doshas) has gone off balance. This imbalance creates an aggravation in the body which results in a disease. In this article I would briefly like to explain what happens when Vata energy goes off balance. To get familiar with “Vata Pita Kapha” energies and discover what energies make up your constitution, please subscribe below to FREE Ayurveda Basics course.
Vata (air) energy is responsible for all movements in the body. Vata controls all neuromuscular activities, body functions, and even activities of the mind. All movements must take place like a fine clock-work in the body. Without the movement energy, Pita and Kapha energies are useless; in fact, the body is a dead body. On the other hand, if the movement is blocked, altered, slowed, or sped up, the body systems functions get compromised. So Vata (air) is the most important energy in the body to keep balanced and most often to go off balance. Just as in the nature, it is difficult to predict and manage movement of air. So it is with managing Vata energy and keeping it balanced in our body. It is estimated that 60 to 65% or approximately 2 out 3 diseases are a result of Vata imbalance. Other diseases related to Pita and Kapha imbalance are covered in a separate article.
Diseases that are related to Vata Imbalance:
Note the following list is just a sample and not all inclusive. I have chosen the most well known and commonly occurring diseases.
- ALS- Lou Gehrig’s
- Alzheimer
- Amenorrhea- irregular or absence of period
- Arthritis
- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Autism
- Bells’ Palsy
- Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
- Cataract
- Chronic Anxiety Disorder
- Erectile Disorder & Early Ejaculation
- Dysmenorrheal- severe painful menstruation
- Endometriosis
- Fibromyalgia (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
- Joint Pains
- Hypothyroidism or Hyperthyroidism
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Ptosis- drooping eyelid
- Parkinson’s
- Ringing in Ears
- Sciatica
All Vata related disorders should be addressed with Vata pacifying diet and lifestyle. Please note, when Vata is imbalanced Pita and Kapha may also become imbalanced. Depending upon age, gender, family history, and keeping other factors in mind, an ayurvedic practitioner can make right recommendations for pacifying and detoxifying treatment plans. So please consult with your ayurvedic practitioner and also with your physician when you start a natural health and wellness treatment along side with any medication you are taking.
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Ten Simple Ayurveda Tips for Life Long Health
“Do We Care Better for Our Cars Than our Bodies?” Strangely enough I really think so. We are concerned more about being stranded on the freeway somewhere than stranding our selves in the hospital with heart attack someday. We do not fill the car with wrong type of gasoline but yet we will fill our own body with wrong types of food. We give our car a break while it is in the garage for regular tune ups. But we do not take a break even while eating meals. And then we wonder in a few years, in spite of eating healthy, how we could land a disease. Today I want to share ten simple Ayurveda Tips to change the lifestyle for better health and avoid chronic illnesses.
You are doing our best to live right to keep your body healthy and avoid illnesses. My goal is to augment your effort by making some suggestions, perhaps add missing links. Following are ten simple Ayurveda tips based on ancient wisdom of natural wellness:
- Drink a glass of warm to hot water (not coffee), first thing when you wake up.
- Get to know your Body Constitution. Each person is uniquely built with physio-psychological constitution. Based on your constitution, certain foods and activities are more suitable for you than others. To assess your body type, please subscribe below to the FREE “simple secrets to good health” mini course and discover your unique body constitution.
- Select foods according to your Body Constitution. Food is the first medicine for the body. Clean eating with right foods help prevent your body from becoming sick in the first place. From an Ayurvedic consultation, receive a personalized Ayurvedic Diet and Lifestyle chart with list of recommended herbs, spices, and foods as per your body constitution .
- Make eating a ritual. Take the time to make it light and relaxed time while offering food with love to your body. Do mindful eating. Connect with your body and mind while enjoying every bite full of tasty flavors and nutrition. Disconnect from work, internet, TV, and other interruptions. Studies have shown when we are distracted with these activities while eating, you gain weight by unknowingly eating more food and/or you absorb less nutrition from your food, even if the food is full of nutrition. Allow your mind to relax and enjoy!
- After a meal for optimum digestion, your stomach should be half full with “solids”, one quarter full with liquid, and one quarter empty with “air”.
- Allow 4-5 hours in between meals. When possible eat at least one meal per day with a family or a group of friends.
- Drink very little water with the meals. Wait about 45 minutes and drink good amount of water. NEVER drink ICED water/drinks just before, during, and right after the meals. Iced water compromises your digestive fire leading to slow or inefficient digestion.
- Do at least once per week Oileation (Ayurvedic Massage)of your body as per your Body Constitution. Ayurvedic Massage is a loving application of oil all over your body with light massaging motions. Leave the oil to soak in for 25 minutes before taking a shower. This nourishes your body while slows down aging. Ayurvedic massage oil is available here.
- Exercising 2-3 times a week. This is nothing new; however, I want to include this for some of us who needs extra motivation and reminders. In my gym, I regularly meet some people who can barely walk but they are there doing their thing. I call them just pure inspiration for the rest of us. Aerobics, sports, walking, yoga, weights, and other resistance exercises are all good. Choose your exercises as per your body condition and your goals.
- Form a daily and weekly routine! The MOST important part is- STICK to it
Imagine Implementing the Small Ayurveda Tips & Receiving Big Health Benefits
Imagine your life if you took care of your body, “your vehicle for your lifetime journey”, with these simple ayurveda tips. You would live with vibrant health; creating meaningful healthy relationships; bursting with energy while undertaking your responsibilities; enjoying life to its full potential; and creating health in others by spreading happiness to every one who surrounds you. You would prevent chronic illnesses like obesity, diabetes, anxiety disorders, depression, and fatal illness like cancer. Economically, you would save loads of money by NOT needing pharmaceutical drugs. And let’s not forget, you would avoid the dangerous side effects that come from using synthetic drugs. Natural Ayurveda tips offer true preventive care and promote health and wellness naturally.
Subscribe below to discover your body type and basic Ayurvedic knowledge in FREE mini course.
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Simple Secret to Health: You Are What You Digest
Health and wellness subject matter is my passion. In my years of practice I have discovered one simple secret you are what you digest! Your wellness plan must be designed around your unique mind body constitution by selecting foods, herbs, & spices that favor your uniqueness. Here the right eating to promote health takes on a whole new meaning. You can read more about my professional services and products on achieving true wellness at workplace and in your life.
One size doesn’t fit all so what may be healthy food for one person may not be so good for another. The old saying “you are what you eat” needs to alter a bit to “you are what you digest”. To have an optimum digestion, you must eat foods suitable to your body constitution. In Ayurvedic context- it is selecting and eating foods to suit your Physio-psychological (mind-body) constitution. The Ayurvedic intelligence stems from an age old proven Natural Medical system of Ayurveda. Ayurveda (ai-ur-veyda) is health management system. See more Ayurveda tips for good health in another article.
Here I am focusing on the physical body and how to keep it balanced and healthy. I’ve put together a free mini-course outlining simple ways to help you get started quickly. Everybody is built with unique Mind-body constitution. You must discover yours.
This FREE course is designed to teach you the essentials of Ayurvedic science; what is body constitution, how many different types are there, how to take a test to assess your body constitution. Right eating means not only selecting healthy foods but those healthy foods that are favorable for your unique body constitution digestive ability. So on this basis, you are what you digest.
In this FREE ‘Mini’ Course, You’ll Learn:
- The #1 most overlooked factor when it comes to preventive care and promoting health (balance) in body systems…
- 3 dominant energies that pulsate in every one of us and are present in different proportions…
- What makes you and every one else unique…
- What does balance means in a person and what is balance for one person may not be a balance for another person…
- How to determine and assess your own unique Mind-Body constitution
- One size doesn’t fit all. You must select suitable foods as per your Mind-Body constitution type- you are what you digest…
I would highly recommend you to take this first step to lifetime wellness. Right eating as per Ayurveda promotes optimum digestion which is a cornerstone of preventive care. This is a foundation for building and promoting health and true wellness naturally. Should you decide to access this free mini course, you will receive the first lesson immediately via email and followed by a new lesson everyday till the last lesson is delivered.
Be Well,
Rakesh Sethi, BS, CAHP
“Girl eating” Image courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net