According to Ayurveda, the eyes are the seat Alochaka Pitta, one of the five subdoshas of Pitta. Pitta governs heat, metabolism and transformation. Whenever our eyes are open, they are involved in the complex process of transforming light into ideas: distilling foreground from background, recognizing objects presented in a wide range of orientations, and accurately interpreting…

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men. In addition, prostate enlargement is found in 50 percent of American men in their sixties, and up to 90 percent of men in their seventies and eighties. While modern science claims that the specific cause of prostate cancer is unknown, the traditional view from Ayurveda…

Ayurveda complements the modern medical approach to migraine, cluster and tension headaches by introducing subtle techniques for determining the root imbalance at the basis of headaches and providing natural approaches to removing those imbalances. There is a general agreement as to what physiological changes in the brain create headache pain. In every case there must…

For the US and other mid-latitude countries north of the equator, the sun’s rays in the summer months hit the Earth at a steeper angle than in the winter. Because the sun’s rays at this time are not as spread out, they hit the earth more directly. Therefore the environment absorbs more of the sun’s…

While the usual focus of Triphala usage is to relieve constipation, it is timely to note that triphala is also said to help boost the immune system, offering both anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. Let’s look more at this valuable herbal combo. Triphala has long been known as one of Ayurveda’s best herbal remedies for keeping…

During the summer months, both Pitta dosha and Vata dosha can become aggravated. The increasing power of the sun’s rays takes away the earth’s cooling qualities and allows dryness and heat to predominate. It also causes an increase in wind, which further decreases the quality of Kapha and increases Vata. Exercise during the summer should…

One of the traditional recommendations of Ayurveda is to drink water from a copper cup. According to the ancient science, water stored in a copper vessel has the ability to balance all the three doshas (Vata, Kapha and Pitta). Ideally water should stay in the copper container for at least eight hours. Ayurveda recommends starting…

Now that the cool, wet Kapha days of spring are behind us, it is time to adjust to the increase in heat in our environment. The hot, sunny, and dry days of summer mean that that same heating influence is increasing in our physiology. Ayurveda refers to this as Pitta. Pitta is hot, sharp, sour,…

Modern science has come up with the term: bioenhancer. Bioenhancers are “newly” discovered compounds that are supposed to mark a “new chapter in medical science.” By definition, Bioenhances are substances that increase the “bioavailability and bioefficacy” of other substances. Peririne, (a compound naturally occurring in black pepper) along with cucumine (found in turmeric), and gingerols…

Looking for more energy? Perhaps you should consider what fuel you are using to keep your body running. Let’s consider this from an Ayurvedic perspective: are you giving yourself enough prana? Understanding Prana Prana is the principle of energy responsible for giving life to and maintaining the body. Prana is the vital energy present in fresh vegetables…