Ayurveda has for thousands of years offered practitioners the means to maintain health and stave off disease. By attuning our diets and lifestyles to our unique constitutions, we maintain the balance within ourselves that preserves good health. People have turned to Ayurveda to balance hormones naturally, conceive and have a healthy, natural pregnancy or menstrual cycle. Studies have shown that various therapeutic effects of Ayurveda have been effective in helping to treat sub-fertility due to PCOS, a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, resulting from insulin resistance and hormonal imbalances. Ayurvedic treatment has also helped women for centuries overcome absence of periods (amenorrhea) or infrequent menstruation, irregular periods, infrequent or no ovulation, multiple immature follicles, increased levels of male hormones, thinning hair, excess facial and body hair growth and various symptoms of PMS including acne and oily skin.

Healthy skin is beautiful skin. When we use harsh chemicals found in so many commercial skin care products, we so mistreat our skin that we may feel compelled to further use these harsh chemicals to help mask the damage done. Whether you have dry vata skin, sensitive pitta skin, or oily kapha skin, once you understand your skin type, you can find the correct ancient, natural skin treatments that will balance these qualities and promote a healthier complexion. Ayurveda recommends using totally natural products on the skin: preferably ingredients that are also safe for the skin. In addition, by following a healthy diet and a balanced lifestyle, the skin will respond to these Ayurvedic treatments and will naturally balance itself as the entire body is eased into greater balance and health.

In Ayurveda, there are six facets of taste. These are sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent. Each flavor has a specific function, such as calming the nerves, increasing the absorption of minerals, or stimulating digestion. Ayurveda believes that all six facets must be incorporated into a meal to achieve optimum health. It also makes sense that all six facets constitute complete dietary nutrition that the body needs.

Treatment through touch can be administered through massages and oils. Various strokes and pressures can affect the dosha and help bring them into balance. The Ayurvedic massage focuses on stimulating the flow of life energy (prana) throughout the body. When warm herbalised oil is rubbed gently all over the skin, the body and mind will feel pampered and relaxed. Hence, one is encouraged to treat their skin to the magic of this massage (abhyanga) every now and often.

Remedy through smell is practiced through the inhalation of different scents and aroma from essential oils and plants. The oil molecules reach the limbic system in the way of nerve impulses and send signals to the nervous system. The stimulation of the limbic system can help improve one’s memory. One of the primary forms of treatment is aromatherapy, which is suitable to bring balance to the dosha. Essential oils are mainly used to stimulate the olfactory system and enhance mood. A relaxing aromatic bath can also release tension in the body. It can also be executed in conjunction with massage using essential oils.

Drinking enough water is important to stay hydrated. One of the ancient Ayurvedic practices is drinking copper infused water. Water stored in a copper vessel has the ability to balance the three doshas (vata, kapha and pitta) in the body by gently infusing the water with the positive health properties of copper. Water stored in a copper vessel will also become naturally alkaline which helps balance the body’s pH levels.

Detoxify from time to time. Detoxification helps the body cleanse and feel vibrant throughout the practice. Ayurvedic detox methods such as Shankaprakshalana, Jala Neti and Mini Detox help to get one feeling their best self safely.