Ayurveda’s ancient texts have many positive things to say about the benefits of abhyanga, the age-old Ayurvedic practice of self-massage with warm oil. If only they’d added a few lines about how to avoid gunking up your towels, bathtub, and pipes! Fortunately, there are some simple measures you can take to keep your bathroom sparkling clean and your environment safe.
Ayurvedic Massage Oils for Every Day. We’ve all heard it before: take care of ourselves first; prioritize our own well-being, because only then can we most effectively care for others; we have to love ourselves before we can love anyone else; etc... start by giving our bodies some love with ayurvedic self-massage - abhyanga!
Good article we found on the Refinery29 site on the benefits of Netra Tarpana, a condition than many of us who stare at computer screens experience. And of course, you can get this treatment at our Panchakarma Centre: http://maharishiayurveda.co.uk .................................................... While the term "ayurveda" might be unfamiliar, there isn't a category of beauty that the ancient Indian practice hasn't influenced. From treatments like oil pulling and body brushing to star ingredients like turmeric and ashwagandha, everything seems to [...]
There is a story in the Ayurvedic tradition that thousands of years ago a great gathering of leading Ayurveda experts or Vaidyas met together to decide which single health strategy was the most widely effective. Panchakarma treatment came out on top, as it seemed to be useful for pretty much any health conditions. Panchakarma is often translated as rejuvenation therapy and its [...]
Peter Brown: So Dr Donn, I recently read an article in a health magazine, which talked about the wide range of benefits from oil pulling. The article also mentioned that oil pulling originated in Ayurveda. Could you describe to us what oil pulling is and what its benefits are both in Western medical terms and also in Ayurveda terms? Dr Donn Brennan: Oil pulling is part of [...]
There are so many detox treatments on the market these days that a question can arise: “How is Panchakarma detoxification treatment different from all these other treatments that promise to remove my toxins”. Below is a transcript of the above video in which Ayurveda practitioner, Dr Donn Brennan, explains how the expert use of specific oils is central to the effectiveness of Panchakarma in cleansing the [...]
Because of its unique ability to penetrate into cells and cross the brain-blood barrier, Ayurveda considers ghee to be a highly effective medium for transporting the healing nature of herbs very deep into our body tissues. For thousands of years Ayurveda has created numerous Ghritas or herbalised ghees – herbs infused into ghee in order to enhanced their therapeutic effects. How are Ghritas produced? Ayurvedic practitioner, Dr Donn Brennan [...]
We are told to drink plenty of water each day as it’s good for our brains and for the rest of the body. We are told to drink filtered or bottled water as the chlorine added to mains water to kill bacteria is bad for us. Now we are told that the plastic used in water filters and bottled water contains endocrine disruptive chemicals (ECDs) that damage our hormone [...]
When I was growing up, cow’s milk was hailed as a complete food and essential for growing children. These days, milk allergies and lactose-intolerance have become a major issue; concerns are voiced about its saturated fat content; and many people cite ethical issues around how we treat dairy cows as a reason to avoid milk. Let me put my own cards on the table. Despite its potential problems, [...]
I run courses on Maharishi AyurVeda, food and cooking and one frequently asked question is, “What’s the best oil to cook with?”. I respond that my favourite cooking oils are ghee, coconut oil and olive oil*, in that order. There is no controversy surrounding olive oil – after all, haven’t there been lots of TV ads implying that perpetual youth and vitality are almost guaranteed through consuming it? [...]
Steve Newport’s Alzheimer’s symptoms have slowed considerably, and some symptoms have even reversed, after his wife added coconut oil his diet. His wife, Dr Mary Newport, a physician who runs a neonatology ward at a Tampa, Fla., hospital, started him on this coconut oil regime after he failed the Alzheimer’s clock test, a test designed to measure a wide range of cognitive abilities. After two weeks of taking coconut oil, [...]
After years of being vilified, butter is experiencing a revival in recent years as consumers have shifted their preferences from processed foods back to natural foods. For decades we were sold the myth that butter clogs our arteries and causes heart disease. Now many people have realised that the main culprit, in the modern epidemic of circulatory and heart problems, is not butter, or other dairy products, but the [...]
Ghee is used in many Indian recipes and is one of the best cooking fats you can find. It does not oxidise when heated, as do most vegetable oils (oxidisation can lead to free-radicals floating round your body – not exactly desirable). Ghee has marvellous properties and is highly regarded, both as a nutrient and as a preservative for foods and [...]
As we grow older, it can be extremely challenging to lose fat just through diet and exercise. To really fight that stubborn fat, the ancient medical system of India, known as Ayurveda, uses age-old techniques that target the exercise-resistant fat by igniting your digestive fire. This is the biggest difference between Ayurvedic weight loss and techniques and more conventional Western methods – Ayurveda focuses on why your fat cells [...]
The next fat fighter is something I call the Triphala Treat. Triphala is an ancient ayurvedic herb that is composed of three dried Indian superfruits that work synergistically together: Amalaki, haritaki and bibhitaki. Amalaki works as a natural antioxidant and removes excess inflammation from the body. It also helps to increase lean body mass and maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Haritaki supports the body’s natural cleansing process by gently removing toxins [...]
Ayurvedic Fat Fighter #4 Add curry powder to each meal. Ayurvedic medicine recognises six tastes – sweet, salty, sour, bitter, astringent and pungent. In order to feel satiated at a meal and eat less, you have to have all six tastes present in your food. These six tastes also help to improve your digestion and melt fat in your body. The average American diet usually only has three of these [...]
Ayurveda considers ghee the best oil to cook with, as well as the best oil for your health. Ghee is said to balance all three Doshas, the controlling principles of the body. Ghee is the pure oil extracted from butter and we’ve all been told that animal fats are supposed to be bad for us. So why do all Ayurvedic practitioners [...]
Are Trans Fats really that bad? Try typing trans fatty acids into Google and you’ll get a wealth of articles on the connection between these fats and obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease and cancer. Many people also point out that the dramatic increase in the incidence of such diseases during the twentieth century coincided with the increased occurrence of trans fatty acids in our diet. Many studies uphold this observation[2]. [...]
Some trans fats are good for you Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is a trans fat, but unlike the trans fats that get created when oil is hydrogenated, it’s a naturally occurring and beneficial trans fat. The digestive systems of grass-fed cows naturally produce plenty of CLA. This particular trans fat is linked to improved heart health[6], suppression of tumours[7], reduced belly fat (in pigs)[8], and fat loss in the obese [...]
