6.1 What is Dhatu? DHATU, A SANSKRIT WORD, REFERS TO THE SEVEN BUILDING BLOCKS OF THE PHYSICAL BODY. THE SEVEN DHATUS IN THE BODY ARE COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS SAPTADHATU. Dhatus are a layer or stratum associated with the tissues of the body. They actively support the structure of the body and its functioning aids in […]

7.1: Role and Impact of Taste The action of tasting your food can significantly impact your body. The Sanskrit word for taste, Rasa, has a number of potent meanings. Some of the most common ones are experience, enthusiasm, juice, plasma and essence. These diverse meanings give a hint of the significance of taste within Ayurvedic […]

शरीरेन्द्रिय सत्वात्मा संयोगो। – चरक संहिता १।४२śarīrendriya satvātmā saṃyogo।1.42 Meaning: The union of Shareera (body), Indriya (sense organs), Satva (mind) and Atma (soul). Chapters 1-7 have introduced you the foundational frameworks of Ayurveda. These include the aims and philosophy of the field, elements of the universe, and then then internal bodily concepts of the doshas, […]

9.1 How Digestion Works AYURVEDA HOLDS THAT YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU EAT, BUT RATHER WHAT YOU DIGEST. There is a well known saying, ‘You are what you eat’, which illustrates the importance of digestion to maintaining good health. This also puts forth the question: how much do we actually know about our digestive system? […]

10.1 Kitchen as a Pharmacy LEAVE YOUR DRUGS IN THE CHEMIST’S POT IF YOU CAN HEAL YOUR PATIENT WITH FOOD,” WERE THE WORDS QUOTED BY THE GREEK PHYSICIAN HIPPOCRATES, THE FATHER OF MODERN MEDICINE. Spices and herbs taste great, and also ignite our digestive fire when we use them to cook. . They also house […]

11.1 Effect of Seasons and Weather on your Body As temperatures dip, the days get shorter and the air becomes dry. This is how a season makes its onset. Seasonal changes can be easily seen in the environment like leaves changing their colours, animals hibernating etc. Humans too have to change their habits and adapt […]

12.1 Pillars Of Wellness Ayurveda describes 5 pillars of wellness which are essential to good health. As we all know, a yogic lifestyle is about balance — a dynamic dance unique to each of us. These five pillars include rest, movement, food and nutrition, meditation and emotional well-being. Rest is defined as a situation of […]

यथा ह्यल्पेन यत्नेन च्छिद्यते तरुणस्तरुः।स एवाऽतिप्रवृध्दस्तु च्छिद्यतेऽतिप्रयत्नतः॥एवमेव विकारोऽपि तरुणः साध्यते सुखम्।विवृध्दः साध्यते कृछ्रादसाध्यो वाऽपि जायते॥ Transliteration:yathā hyalpena yatnena cchidyate taruṇastaruḥ।sa evā’tipravṛdhdastu cchidyate’tiprayatnataḥ॥evameva vikāro’pi taruṇaḥ sādhyate sukham।vivṛdhdaḥ sādhyate kṛchrādasādhyo vā’pi jāyate॥ English Translation:Just as a tender plant is easy to cut down, the same requires much more effort when fully grown. Likewise, any disease is manageable […]

लये संबोधयेत् चित्तं विक्षिप्तं शमयेत् पुनः।सकशायं विजानीयात् समप्राप्तं न चालयेत् ॥ Transliteration:laye saṃbodhayet cittaṃ vikṣiptaṃ śamayet punaḥ।sakaśāyaṃ vijānīyāt samaprāptaṃ na cālayet॥   English Translation:When the mind is in a stage of dullness, stimulate and awaken it. When the awakened mind thus becomes turbulent, calm it down. In the process, recognize the dirt that has surfaced. […]