Ayurvedic Tips For a Healthy Winter

by | Oct 4, 2022 | Ayurveda

Ayurvedic Tips For a Healthy Winter

In Ayurveda, winters are the season of Kapha with strong Vata undertones. The weather is cold, damp and heavy, making you sleep more, eat more and move less. You can also observe the cold, dry and windy qualities of Vata in the atmosphere. The winter season officially marks the onset of long dark nights that lead to fatigue and dryness in your body.

To lead a healthy lifestyle during winter, you need to adapt to the practices opposite to the qualities of the winter season, as according to Ayurveda, opposites bring balance.

Replenish and Thrive in Winters With These 6 Ayurvedic Tips

● An Ayurvedic Winter Diet To Boost Your Health
Favor cooked seasonal vegetables like sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, and legumes during winters, and incorporate healthy oils like ghee and sesame oil to keep dryness at bay. Always eat warm, fresh and cooked meals in winter, like hot grain cereals for breakfast and roasted veggies and soups for lunch.

● Bring the Magic of Herbs
Let the winter herbs become a core component of your diet. Incorporate healthy herbal teas such as cinnamon tea, ginger tea, Tulsi ( Indian basil )n tea, etc., to boost immunity and keep your body warm.

● Self-Care Is the Key
Focus on bringing balance through self-care. One of the best practices you can adapt from Ayurveda is Abhyanga or self-massage. Winters are the time when you should replenish your skin by massaging it with warm organic oils, such as sesame oil. You can also put a little Nasya oil in your nostrils.

● Let’s Get Moving and Look Within
Practice slow-flowing Yoga every day to get your body moving in this season of lethargy. Winters are also an excellent time to begin meditation. Try to practice meditation every day before sunrise. In Ayurveda, this time is known as Brahma Murta and is considered perfect for spiritual practices like meditation.

● Don’t Stay Trapped In The House
Yes, we know that the cold temperatures force you to remain housebound. But don’t let that Vata quality catch up to you. Go out and enjoy some fresh air and winter sun while the weather allows. Go skiing or snowboarding as the winter sun gives you some much-needed vitamin D.

● Change Your Lifestyle With a New Skill
Winters give you the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill. Ayurveda says it will help direct your Vata constructively and shake up your Kapha a little. Learn a nurturing hobby like knitting or playing a musical instrument in this.

We believe in collaborative relationship-based care where our Ayurvedic Doctors, Ayurvedic Practitioner, Ayurvedic Supplement Brands, Ayurvedic Nutritionists & Chefs, Yoga, and Meditation Trainers are in sync. Contact the team who passionately works together to hold your hand in this healing journey.

Conscious Karma or Conscious Action

by | Sep 17, 2022 | Ayurveda

Conscious Karma or Conscious Action

A quote about Conscious Action

The famous yoga teacher and the founder of Iyengar Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar said “Action is a movement with intelligence. The world is filled with movement. What the world needs is more conscious movement, more action.”

Conscious Action and Awareness

Karma encompasses not just our actions, but also the states of awareness that we adopt. Understanding karma involves opening your heart to much more compassion and kindness, both for yourself and for others. Every action we do in life has a ripple effect, much like a stone hitting the water.

Connect with Higher Consciousness

A body-mind will always have some karma, some process of action that causes it to respond and react. Consciousness, on the other hand, transcends Nature and is free of karma. As a result, the more awake and aware we become, and the more we connect with our true selves or higher consciousness, the more freedom and choice we have.

Understanding Karma

Understanding karma is key to living well. You can embrace the principles of karma to achieve success in your life. For example, if you want to be successful in life, consciously assist others in being successful. This will generate positive karma for you and plant the seeds for the possibilities you are generating for others, to manifest for you. Just help others to heal if you wish to mend anything in your own life. The law of karma is all about choosing.

Choose to Respond over React – a Conscious Effort

We can’t always control what happens in our life, but we can always control how we respond. We cannot ignore what is happening in the world: conflict, violence, ailments, and a considerable amount of suffering from a variety of sources. Even though we have fantastic moments when we rise above everything and transcend reality, we always have to return to what is going on in our own lives as well as the world at large. We can’t reject reality, no matter how unpleasant it might be at times.

The Theory of Karma

While the concept of karma teaches that the present conditions are a result of our own actions, it also teaches that we have the ability to change them. We have the ability to influence the future—both our own and humanities. Every scenario and condition we encounter in life is an expression of the state of mind in which we choose to live. From the point of view of collective karma, everything that is happening in the world is no longer someone else’s karma. It’s our karma.

The karma theory is quite encouraging. It tells us that we can alter ourselves and our circumstances. Change does not always happen overnight, but we can take steps to start changing our collective karma. The type and quality of the words we speak, as well as the actions we conduct, are all determined by our thoughts. The most effective way to improve the world is to cultivate a love for ourselves, one another, and all living beings that share our beautiful planet.

Konscious Karma by ASHAexperience

Let us nurture that kind heart for everyone—for ourselves, our world, and all of humanity.

With this faith, realization, and philosophy team ASHA embarks on Konscious Karma- the conscious movement that aims to connect and nurture organic relationships through Ayurveda and Yoga with Healers who are on their healing journey.

ASHAexperience pledged to reach out to the world and support all on their personal journey of well-being and healing. We believe in supporting physical, mental, and emotional health by creating a balance through traditional practices based on Ayurvedic and Yogic Science and empowage of empires 2 download portugues crackeadoering our global Ayurvedic and Yogic healing community of Doctors, Healers, Mentors and Yogis.

Team ASHA offers ancient Ayurvedic treatment and practices to the world and creates a sustainable society by offering self-care practices through Ayurveda and Yoga.

614 words | Picture Source: Pexels

We believe in collaborative relationship-based care where our Ayurvedic Doctors, Ayurvedic Practitioner, Ayurvedic Supplement Brands, Ayurvedic Nutritionists & Chefs, Yoga, and Meditation Trainers are in sync. Contact the team who passionately works together to hold your hand in this healing journey.

Panchakarma – an Ayurvedic practice of Healing and Rejuvenation

by | Jul 31, 2022 | Ayurveda

Panchakarma – an Ayurvedic practice of Healing and Rejuvenation

Ayurveda always targets the underlying cause of the illness and cures it holistically. Because Ayurveda is often associated with oil massage, there is also a widespread misperception regarding Panchakarma. People believe that Panchakarma is a treatment which consists of herbal oil massages and some detox drinks as treatment methods. However, this is not the case; ayurvedic practitioners treat patients using oils, fruit juices, spices, and a variety of other organic ingredients in addition to herbs. Panchakarma is a natural cleaning procedure that removes impurities from the body and restores its inherent healing potential. It is a time-tested natural therapy that detoxifies the body and restores its core balance and energy.

The Panchakarma Treatment

In Ayurveda, panchakarma literally means “five activities,” and it consists of five cleaning treatments. Vaman, Virechan, Basti, Nasya, and Raktamokshana. These Sanskrit terms stand for laxatives, herbal enemas, vomiting treatments, nasal rinse, and phlebotomy. These methods aid in the removal of undesirable chemicals from the gastrointestinal system, oesophagus, respiratory tract, and blood vessels.

Panchakarma works on the principle of Ayurveda called – “Shodhana Chikitsa”. Shodhana Chikitsa focuses on maintaining an ideal level and a balance between the three Prakriti Doshas of the human body. The Prakriti model consists of
● Vata dosha (Air dominant constitutional imbalance)
● Pitta dosha (Fire dominant constitutional imbalance)
● Kapha dosha (Water dominant constitutional imbalance)

Different ailments are caused by an imbalance in the amounts of different doshas. Panchakarma program corrects dosha imbalances and restores harmony to the human body’s functioning.

Panchakarma cleansing is a time-consuming process. It necessitates certain preparations both before and after. Each of Panchakarma’s treatments or karmas/actions has three stages:
● Purva karma (preparatory phase)
● Pradhana karma (purification phase)
● Paschat karma (follow-up phase)

The Five therapeutic procedures of Panchakarma
● Vamana (induced vomiting)
● Virechana (induced bowel movement)
● Basti or Vasti (medicated enema)
● Nasyam (nasal insufflation)
● Raktamokshana (release of impure blood from the system)

Insight of the Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapies:
● Vamana: It helps to clear up the respiratory tract. This is the first therapy offered as part of the Panchakarma program.
● Virechana: This treatment balances out the Pitta dosha. All tissues and organs feel invigorated as a result of the blood purification.
● Basti or Vasti: This ayurvedic detox therapy tries to cleanse the entire body of all accumulated toxins and to address the Vata dosha imbalance.
● Nasyam: Its purpose is to remove accumulated kapha/mucus from the neck and head area.
● Raktamokshana: This therapy tries to cleanse the body by eliminating polluted blood and replacing it with new, pure blood.

Panchakarma program for Healing and Disease Prevention

Panchakarma treatment is founded on Ayurvedic fundamental beliefs, which indicate that sickness is caused by the accumulation of toxins in the body as well as imbalances in both the mind and the body.

Most illnesses can be avoided by using Ayurvedic treatment and the Panchakarma program. Toxin buildup at critical levels can be avoided by doing Panchakarma cleansing treatments on a regular basis. Adopting a Panchakarma health program once a year helps the body fight off numerous health conditions.

Individuals who are already suffering from a serious physical illness or disease will benefit from Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapy. Respiratory problems, Cardiac problems, Joint diseases, Psychological disorders, Dermatological diseases, Fertility problems, Gastrointestinal problems, Slipped Discs, Insomnia, Movement Disorders, and many ailments arising from lifestyle disorders or deep rooted psychosomatic issues are some of the medical conditions for which Panchakarma has proven to be beneficial.

Panchakarma is more than just a therapeutic method. Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapy entails complex cleaning processes to relieve stress. Releasing stress and tension prepares the body tissues to accept the full advantages of diet, nutrition, and exercise. What distinguishes this Ayurvedic method is that it is intended not only for healing but also for prevention and regeneration.

Benefits of Panchakarma

Panchakarma is an Ayurvedic miraculous system that cures numerous diseases both after they occur and even before they appear. Panchakarma has stimulating, preventative, restorative and curative properties. It is especially beneficial for people suffering from chronic diseases that cannot be treated only with medication and nutrition.

It addresses all health difficulties caused by lifestyle disorders such as stress, indigestion, insomnia, fatigue, and so on. It helps to clear the mind, promotes immunity, improves digestion, accelerates metabolism, detoxifies holistically, rejuvenates tissues, and strengthens organs.

Duration of the Panchakarma Treatment

It is vital to highlight that following a complete physical examination and diagnosis, a Panchakarma program is customised for each individual. As a result, there is no one recipe that works for everyone. Ideally it takes about 21 days to 28 days to complete the detox processes. The nature of Panchakarma therapies differs from person to person understanding the specific treatment and its intensity.

Connect ASHA

Start your Panchakarma journey with us at one of the best and authentic Ayurvedic Panchakarma clinics in Kerala, India where all the ancient therapies and bespoke treatments are administered by a team of Ayurveda professionals, Doctors and experienced Panchakarma practitioners. Plan your healing and rejuvenation journey with us and live a happy and fulfilling life.

References: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov | https://www.researchgate.net

We believe in collaborative relationship-based care where our Ayurvedic Doctors, Ayurvedic Practitioner, Ayurvedic Supplement Brands, Ayurvedic Nutritionists & Chefs, Yoga, and Meditation Trainers are in sync. Contact the team who passionately works together to hold your hand in this healing journey.

Ayurveda- The Alternative Treatment for Psoriasis

by | Jun 3, 2022 | Ayurveda

Ayurveda- The Alternative Treatment for Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease, usually treated with corticosteroids and salicylic acid-based ointments. Those looking for an alternative, natural, less invasive and holistic remedy can turn to Ayurveda.
Today more and more people are looking for natural remedies and cures for chronic diseases, and psoriasis is no exception. Modern medicine offers psoriasis therapy in the form of corticosteroid creams which, when used long-term, pose a number of problems.

Read on to find information on psoriasis and alternative treatment that can be helpful and effective!

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a condition that affects the skin and accelerates the life cycle of cells. The condition ranges from mild (less than 3% of the skin is affected) to severe (more than 10% of the skin affected) and includes symptoms such as dry, cracked skin that tends to bleed, red, itchy patches and flaking, as well as the joints swollen and stiff, also known as psoriatic arthritis. Here the patient tends to have sore joints, which are often hot due to the inflammation. This commonly causes swelling of the fingers and toes and is accompanied by pain in the back or feet.

About 125 million people worldwide are affected by psoriasis, many of whom also develop psoriatic arthritis. This condition can present at any age, but most patients tend to show the first symptoms between the ages of 15 and 25 and progress to psoriatic arthritis between the ages of 30 and 50.

Psoriasis signs and symptoms

Aside from the common symptoms, psoriasis is often accompanied by many consequences on the quality of life, particularly for women. For example, patients experience a physical impact such as pain and discomfort, which limits the activities they can undertake, a psychological impact, such as being more aware of one’s image, and social implications, such as the tendency to avoid social encounters or the knowledge of new people.

Traditional therapy for Psoriasis

Nobody is entirely sure of the cause of psoriasis; however, some known triggers could worsen the condition, including stress, smoking, vitamin deficiencies, and more. There is also no known cure for psoriasis, simply medications and measures that patients can take to minimize discomfort and symptoms..

Causes of Psoriasis according to Ayurveda

According to Ayurveda, the kushta roga (skin disorder) related to psoriasis is triggered by imbalances in the dosha Kapha (the body mood associated with the elements earth and water) and Vata (the body mood associated with the elements air and ether.). These doshas are believed to negatively impact blood tissues and skin, as well as the aqueous components of the skin. Kapha causes the skin to become coppery or whitish in color, while Vata causes it to become scaly and dry.

Furthermore, the accumulation of ama, also called metabolic waste, caused by environmental stressors, unhealthy eating habits, and lifestyle can contribute to the onset of psoriasis. In Ayurveda, improper eating habits are considered a significant cause of psoriasis; Certain foods such as citrus fruits, curds, fish, sweets, sesame oil, rice flour, and milk should be avoided. In general, all excessively salty, spicy, or acidic foods, carbohydrate-rich, refined or sugar-laden foods, as well as heavy and hard-to-digest foods, are not recommended. But that’s not all, as it also warns against the consumption of incompatible foods (viruddha ahara), as they could have a toxic effect on the organism; an example of incompatible foods are fish and milk.

Ayurvedic treatment for psoriasis includes:
Lepanam: In this treatment, medicines along with some herbal liquids are mixed together in the form of a paste applied to the affected parts of the body. Lepanam acts as a body scrub used to smooth the skin, rejuvenate blood circulation, relieve body aches, remove skin disorders, manage pain, etc.

Abhyanga: Abhyanga is one of the most important treatments in Ayurvedic treatment of psoriasis in India. External oleation or Abhyanga is a specialized oil massage. According to Ayurvedic theory, Abhyanga helps move toxins to the intestines to promote their elimination from the body. Abhyanga is also known to reduce skin dryness and decrease the severity of flaking.

Snehapanam: Internal oleation (Snehapanam) uses medicated oil. The type and volume (dosage) are determined depending on the constitution of the patient. Dosage and combinations are also based on dosha constitution and disease progression. Medicated ghee for the Ayurvedic treatment of psoriasis usually contains liver-cleansing, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulating herbs. Snehapanam decreases the scaling (patches of skin that come off), itching, and dryness of psoriasis.

Pizhichil: For this therapy, the practitioner pours medicated oils continuously on the patient’s body for a few minutes. The therapy invigorates, relaxes, nourishes, and improves the body’s immunity by enabling detoxification.

Takradhara: Takradhara is a solution of butter, and medicated herbs poured all over the patient’s body. The treatment helps nourish the skin, and the medicinal herbs help repair skin cells and reduce inflammation.

Diet: Diet is very important in this treatment. Food consumption actually modifies the disease. The practice, therefore, advises the patients to follow a strict menu containing easily digestible and balanced diets with ingredients to maintain the appropriate levels of the Pitta and Kapha doshas.

Panchakarma – Ayurvedic way to finalize the cleansing of a detoxification of the organism:

As per the causes, psoriasis is caused due to imbalance between the body’s doshas due to the toxins present in the body. So if you want to cure psoriasis from its roots, then the only thing that can help you is by cleansing the body of all toxins. By doing this, the balance between doshas will be created within the body, and the immune system will restore its proper functioning. This deep cleansing of the body is accomplished by a process called panchakarma-in Ayurveda. A special diet accompanies these therapies.

We believe in collaborative relationship-based care where our Ayurvedic Doctors, Ayurvedic Practitioner, Ayurvedic Supplement Brands, Ayurvedic Nutritionists & Chefs, Yoga, and Meditation Trainers are in sync. Contact the team who passionately works together to hold your hand in this healing journey.

What does Ayurveda offer to today’s youth?

by | May 13, 2022 | Ayurveda

What does Ayurveda offer to today’s youth?

Ayurveda is traditional Indian medicine that aims to prevent disease, cure and maintain health, and promote longevity.

Health is a state of complete well-being that goes beyond the absence of disease, involving different areas of human life. In fact, according to Ayurveda:

“We are what we think.”

The content of our mind in terms of thoughts, attitudes, and emotions determines our way of being and our general health.

“We are what we eat.”

The choice of foods suitable for our constitution (Prakriti) but also the way in which these are combined with each other, the way in which they are prepared and again, the time of meals and the state of mind in which they are consumed affect the balance of our body and mind.

Ayurveda is traditional Indian medicine that aims to prevent disease, cure and maintain health, and promote longevity.

Health is a state of complete well-being that goes beyond the absence of disease, involving different areas of human life. In fact, according to Ayurveda:
Furthermore, Ayurveda has handed down detailed knowledge of herbal medicine with its natural preparations, traditional treatments such as massage, and other techniques to strengthen and detoxify the body. These, described in ancient texts and handed down today, offer a valuable contribution to improving the lifestyle, especially in modern society where the natural rhythms are often distorted.

Finally, remember that Ayurveda has been fully recognized as “traditional medicine” by the World Health Organization.

Common problems faced by today’s youth and how does Ayurveda help them?

Nowadays, youth face many problems from anxiety to insomnia, depression and obesity to infertility. Why?

Because we lead a life outside of the rhythms of nature, we eat food that is not always healthy; we work at absurd pace and times, and we are stressed and anxious. This creates an imbalance in our life and immune system, thus affecting our physical and mental health and overall well-being.

Ayurveda, Indian natural medicine, has always helped humanity, especially youth, prevent disease and fight aging and its negative effects, including mood and mental processes, through multiple approaches.

Let’s discuss some common problems faced by today’s youth and how Ayurveda is helping overcome them :

Lower the stress and anxiety levels

Stress is a typical problem in young professionals and is linked to every aspect of health. If you are depressed or overwhelmed by your hectic routine then Ayurveda can help you.

Ayurvedic medicine uses several natural techniques to alleviate anxiety and the symptoms of depression. And, consequently, lower cortisol levels in the body. These techniques include meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, herbal supplements, visualization, or mantra repetition.

Keeps skin healthy and glowing

Everyone wants beautiful and healthy-looking skin. Ayurveda has hundreds of remedies to help keep skin velvety and glowing. Vegetables such as cucumber, lettuce and daikon have purifying properties and high water content. For this reason, they are also easy to digest.

Physical activity keeps the body firm and muscular and helps eliminate toxins through sweat.

Nuts and seeds oil contain good fats and Omega 3s that help keep the skin healthy and reduce inflammation in certain skin conditions.

For skin cleansing, you can use a neutral Ayurvedic Neem-based soap.

Promotes hormonal balance

Ayurveda naturally helps to “maintain hormonal balance”, resulting in a pain-free period or other symptoms and healthy pregnancy. In 2010 a study done by the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka highlighted that the use of certain essential oils, medicinal plants and a healthy diet help to balance the hormonal system.

For centuries, Ayurvedic medicine has also helped women resolve amenorrhea (lack of periods) or irregular periods, make hair stronger, limit body hair growth, and prevent numerous symptoms of PMS, including acne and oily skin.

Support against infertility

Ayurveda supports mothers and fathers before, during pregnancy and after childbirth. Evaluate each individual case and propose specific individual therapies if there are infertility problems. In addition, it offers advice for a healthy conception, and taking care of nutrition. For the body, it offers physical activity, yoga and personalized massages right up to the time of delivery.

Ayurveda in motherhood

Ayurveda helps the future mother because it tries to make the child who is born stronger and healthier.

It helps before pregnancy. If you decide to have a child, you start by taking care of yourself with detoxification and tissue strengthening practices. In fact, pregnancy affects the baby’s life. For the first 9 months, the universe for the fetus is mom’s belly, and everything she does will affect the future of the baby. So the nutrition, behavior, psychological and mental attitude of the mother is crucial for the fetus, for the newborn and for the adult it will become.

Ayurveda teaches to take great care of nutrition during pregnancy, favoring the alternation of foods according to the organ that is developing.

It cleanses the body

Ayurveda is beneficial for purifying the body through medicinal plants, herbal teas, healthy foods and plenty of rest. In addition, some practices increase circulation and liver functions.

Helps to lose weight or to maintain it

Ayurvedic supplements are helpful when you want to lose weight. The extra pounds can be lost thanks to the consumption of natural and healthy foods. According to some studies conducted, changing your diet can help you lose weight more effectively.

Common in Ayurvedic medicine is trikatu, based on ginger and pepper of different types, which helps speed up the metabolism.

Helps fight insomnia

Having a late dinner, drinking caffeinated beverages before bed, watching TV or mobile phones, and eating spices or heavy foods in the evening can disrupt sleep and aggravate the nervous system.

Ayurveda can help you sleep thanks to simple tips such as the use of jasmine essential oil or coconut oil to massage on the scalp or soles of the feet, drinking a cup of hot almond drink or herbal tea, or saying a positive affirmation.

Finally, the words of wisdom for young people

Everyone wants to be healthy so that they have the best chance of realizing and enjoying their full potential in life. But that of “optimal health” seems such a complex issue that it is not always easy to know how to reach this “holy grail”.

Although, at first, it may seem like a foreign concept to our way of thinking, understanding your constitution provides considerable help in achieving perfect health.

In Ayurveda, the individual constitution is known as Prakriti, which means “nature” and is linked to one’s genetic typology. Ayurveda teaches us how to determine our constitution by observing ourselves and our sensations; this is a very simple and valuable lesson in terms of individual enrichment.

By discovering our true nature, we can live a truly authentic existence – a life that satisfies us and allows us to enjoy good health.

We believe in collaborative relationship-based care where our Ayurvedic Doctors, Ayurvedic Practitioner, Ayurvedic Supplement Brands, Ayurvedic Nutritionists & Chefs, Yoga, and Meditation Trainers are in sync. Contact the team who passionately works together to hold your hand in this healing journey.

Ayurveda and Women’s Health, Pain-Free Periods

by | Mar 31, 2022 | Ayurveda

Ayurveda and Women’s Health, Pain-Free Periods

For many women, experiencing pain several days to weeks before the onset of the monthly period is an unfortunate reality. Research shows that almost 40% of women experience premenstrual symptoms which disrupt their daily lives.

According to Ayurveda, during a woman’s menstrual cycle, the Apana vayu, which is connected to the Vata dosha and governs the downward flow of energy in the pelvis, is working to cleanse the body of the uterine lining once menstruation takes place. The increased Vata qualities in the body can result in symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, fear, and scatteredness, inability to focus, feeling cold, constipation, and tiredness.

Ayurvedic Tips for Period Pain Relief

1. Yoga

Practicing Yoga daily and certain asanas during that time of the month can help keep period pains at bay. In general terms though, it is good to take rest during the first three days of menstruation. If you suffer from cramps or lower back pain, you can practise some soft and simple poses to ease your discomfort.

Child’s Pose (Balasana)
Yoga isn’t just about external flexibility. The impact of many poses also benefits your organs, acting as a sort of internal massage. Child’s pose does this by flexing your reproductive organs, as well as releasing tension in your back, shoulders, and neck.

Inverted leg pose – Viparita Karani
Physical, mental, and emotional benefits abound in this pose. The inverted leg pose improves circulation and digestion, lowers blood pressure, boosts energy levels, and soothes your nervous system. It’s also said to increase creative thinking and problem solving. During your period, be sure to only practise inversions where the pelvis is in contact with the floor or at the same height as your head, as inversions where the pelvis is lifted – like with salamba sarvangasana (supported shoulderstand) and sirsasana (headstand) interrupt the downward wind (apana vayu), which sets when your period is about to start. This could then cause additional health problems in the long run.

Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend – Upavistha Konasana
On your period or not, the wide angle seated forward bend asana is immensely helpful when the stress of life is getting to you. Like with every other asana, the benefits aren’t singular. This forward bend helps to stimulate your abdominal organs, leading to less painful cramps, both in the short and long-term.

Reclining Twist – Bharadvaja
One of the most popular poses for dealing with menstrual pain is the reclining twist. Why? Because it feels good and has massive health benefits. For starters, your back and hips will get a great stretch (much-needed if you’re dealing with aches and pains from your period). Moreover your digestive organs will get the required stimulation due to the fresh blood flow from this pose.

Cobra Pose – Bhujangasana
The Cobra asana helps to stretch the abdominal and lower abdominal portions. Your lower back and lower belly will both benefit from the cobra position. This helps relieve menstrual cramps and tension in the lower back.

2. Eat light, warm, cooked foods

While seemingly simple, this advice can actually pose a challenge for many women, who prefer a diet of raw vegetables and uncooked foods. However, the period is an essential time to eat simple, unprocessed, cooked foods. Most importantly, stay away from raw foods such as salad, raw vegetables, unsoaked nuts, beans, sugar, and processed foods, as they are more difficult to digest. Light, nourishing and cooked dishes will give your agni (digestive fire), giving our body the chance to focus on cleansing without too much additional work that a raw food diet could suppose, especially if you are generally prone to digestive problems like bloating or constipation.

3. Get plenty of rest

That’s right, sleep! Falling and staying asleep can be hard enough, and during periods it can get even more challenging. Go to bed before 10pm and if possible, allow yourself to wake up naturally, without an alarm. Even if your schedule does not allow for an alarm-free morning, be sure to minimize overexertion, and be kind to yourself during this time.

4. Stay hydrated

During periods, hot tea can provide menstrual pain relief. They can give much-needed comfort to your distressed muscles. Along with that, herbal teas like chamomile tea, ginger tea, peppermint tea, lavender tea, green tea, lemongrass tea, and cardamom tea can provide you with some much-needed freshness. It can also decrease the pain and relieve fatigue.

5. Massage with essential oils

In the days up till your menstruation, practise self-massage. Add a few drops of any essential oil to a carrier oil and give yourself a gentle massage. The ideal proportion is one drop of essential oil to one teaspoon of carrier oil. Give yourself a massage for 20 minutes for effective results. Also, while massaging, one should target specific points in the abdomen, back, and side, applying the oil in circular movements. Please do note that it is not advised to do a self-massage with oil during the first three days of your menstruation, as you also need to digest any oil you apply once it has been absorbed by the skin and entered the organs and body channels. Since your period is a detox in itself, we want to focus on the cleanse, to then afterwards nourish the body tissues. If you suffer from PMS-related symptoms like back pain, then it is advised to practise self-massage especially during 3-5 days until your period is due.

6. Use a heating pad

An age-old remedy, a heating pad or hot water bottle is all you need sometimes to get some menstrual cramp relief. This is because heat relaxes uterine muscles and those adjacent to them, while the body channels also dilate, giving way for the menstrual fluid towards the vagina for elimination and promoting a good flow.. Heating pads and hot water bottles can also be used to fight lower back aches during your period.

7. Put cinnamon & ginger in your recipes

Cinnamon and Ginger have anti-spasmodic, anti-clotting, and anti-inflammatory properties, which are useful for menstrual pain relief. Cinnamon is an excellent source of fiber, calcium, iron, and manganese and Ginger is an excellent source of antioxidants. Stir one-fourth teaspoon of cinnamon powder and half teaspoon of crushed ginger into a cup of hot water, boil it for five minutes, add little honey ( optional)  when the tea becomes lukewarm, and then sip it slowly. Start drinking two to three cups of ginger cinnamon tea one to two days before your period starts to prevent cramps. Be sure you buy Ceylon cinnamon, as its quality is highly superior compared to other types like Cassia cinnamon.

We believe in collaborative relationship-based care where our Ayurvedic Doctors, Ayurvedic Practitioner, Ayurvedic Supplement Brands, Ayurvedic Nutritionists & Chefs, Yoga, and Meditation Trainers are in sync. Contact the team who passionately works together to hold your hand in this healing journey.