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 [...]
