Author Archives: AyurvedicOils

Ayurvedic Oils: The Incredible Power To Bring Heaven On Earth

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We live in an unstable world and none of us are aware of what might happen tomorrow. Besides our busy schedules and countless number of our routine tasks, most of us want to reach the heaven at the end desperately. We never know how heaven would be but we dream and aspire to be there someday or the other. How will you actually feel if someone says that you can feel the divinity and the bliss of heaven on earth? Great…..is what I have to say and expect the same from you also. Yes! The heavenly touch of Ayurvedic essential oils and their vital values have indeed the incredible power to make us feel how heaven would truly be. These oils have the clout in them to revoke the holistic spirit that lies deep within you. Ayurvedic oils are often a symbol purity and integrity; hence they directly penetrate into the cells of our body.

The use of Ayurvedic essential oils that are natural extracts from plants are one of the    oldest practices of Ayurvedic healings. There are certain special Ayurvedic oils that mesmerize you with their rich and heavenly power, especially Almond oil, Jojoba oil, Juniper Berry Essential Oil and Palmarosa Essential Oil. These Ayurvedic oils invigorate your mind while providing complete relaxation to your entire system.

Almond oil: Almond, commonly known as ‘The King of nuts’ is originated from the Mediterranean countries. The sweet oil extracted from Almonds is versatile with manifold healing properties. Almond oil does not carry much fragrance with it but highly helps in nourishing your skin in all climatic conditions. Almond oils are used in the cosmetics manufacturing industry for providing natural glow to the skin along with lustrous shine to your hair. Regular usage of Almond and its oil can create wonders to you both physically and mentally.

Jojoba oil: Age is the only critical factor that cannot be gained back in our lifetime but Ayurveda strongly suggests that nothing is impossible in this world as the term ‘Impossible itself says I’m Possible’. Jojoba oil extracted from jojoba seeds aims at retaining your age as sweet 16 always. Wondering how..??? One of the most prominent features of Jojoba oil is to prevent your skin from wrinkles. This non-greasy oil enters vividly into your skin and helps you retain a soft, supple and beautiful skin throughout your life, thereby helping you stay younger from within. Jojoba oil is used as an effective replacement to whale oil that has been banned to be imported in the US since 1971.

Juniper Berry Essential Oil: Juniper Berry Essential Oil is extracted from Juniper berries that are being collected from few of the rarest species of evergreen shrubs. Juniper Berry essential oil is best when used for meditation purposes and has sky-scraping medicinal values. It is used in the treatment of numerous contagious diseases. Its pleasant and sweet fragrance relieves your mind from stress and aids you to step into a new-fangled world.

Palmarosa Essential Oil: Palmarosa essential oil is derived from the aromatic grassy leaves of Palmarosa plant. It is used by several physiotherapists in their ailment procedures. Palmarosa oil acts as an effective antioxidant in treating all sorts of bacterial, fungal and viral infections. It is also proven to be the best oil to prevent one from rashes and other skin infections. Habitual use of Palmarosa oil keeps you free from tension and extreme stress.

Food, clothing and shelter were the basic amenities of human beings but in this modern world, beauty, youth, health and peace have become the basic necessities inevitably. Thus Ayurvedic oils provide you the best of the best things granting you the ultimate pleasure of being in heaven while you are still on earth.

Thought for the day:

To see the world in a grain of sand, and to see heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hands, and eternity in an hour.                                -William Blake

Suggested Reading:

  1. Ayurveda & Aromatherapy: The Earth Essential Guide to Ancient Wisdom and Modern Healing By Dr. Light Miller, Dr. Bryan Miller
  2. The Aromatherapy Companion: Medicinal Uses/Ayurvedic Healing/Body-Care Blends/Perfumes & Scents/Emotional Health & Well-Being (Herbal Body)
    By Victoria H. Edwards
  3. Perfect Health: The Complete Mind/Body Guide, Revised and Updated Edition By MD Deepak Chopra

Reference Links:

  1. Jojoba Oil by  Wikipedia
  2. Almonds – The King of Nuts by Dr. Verena
  3. Ayurveda Oils by Siddhalepa

Five Vital Elements of Ayurveda

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The universe by itself is interrelated in some or the other way. Everything in this world is bound by five unique elements of life and has gradually become the five vital elements of Ayurveda, rightly known as the science of life. I often think that my 2 eyes are just not enough to admire the magnificence of nature and enjoy its excellence in each of its significant existence. One such immeasurable quantum of nature’s solace is the presence of the five essential elements namely Water, Earth, Space, Fire and Air in every survival of this globe. With such importance, the heavenly science of Ayurveda calls these elements as the building blocks of life, comprising human beings as the major part.

Every single thing in this world, be it a living being or a non-living object is exclusive and unique in its own because of a differing ratio of the five elements of life.  Even the Ayurvedic remedies like herbs, Ayurvedic essential oils, yoga, meditation and other natural remedies aim at nurturing the values of these five elements. Ayurveda identifies human body as a combination of the five vital elements in varying proportions, making an individual unique from his fellow being. Every object in nature follows an orderly mechanism that would make us speechless in awe. We rise on Earth and finally rest on Earth only. In between, all the five elements play a significant role in our daily lives, determining our physical, biological, psychological, social and environmental attributes. They are indivisible and together they are known as Panchamahabhutas in Sanskrit.

The theory of five vital elements and human system: Let’s now have a look at the way that these five elements lead, rule and influence the personality traits and attributes of mankind.

1. Water (Jala, Apa, and Neer): Most of us know that the Earth comprises of 70% of water and just 30% of land, similarly the human body is also made up of about 70% water, but for which the human system would stop functioning. The presence of water in our body is witnessed through trouble-free movement of various parts of the body and governs various fluids like blood, saliva, plasma, mucus etc.

In short, our body is supplied with the necessary energy only with the presence of this predominant element that regulates our body temperature as well. All the liquid items that we drink are all various forms of water and intake of water enhances suppleness, coolness, softness and the moisture of the skin. On an emotional perspective, water can be compared to a loving, gentle and compassionate personality with kindness and consideration.

2. Earth (Dhara and Prithvi): Anything that is stable and solid can be represented as a form of earth. The nourishing solid food items that we ingest are from earth. Earth represents strength, durability, firmness and might.  The muscles, tissues, bones, hair, fat, skin, cells, nails and teeth of the human body are governed by this dominant element. Mentally, earth stands for braveness, steadiness, vigor, constancy and the attributes of a warrior at heart, essential for a healthy and hearty life filled with challenges.

3. Space (Akash): The ever-present dominant force encircling the Globe is the space also known as ether. What comes to your mind when you just look at the clear sky in the early hours of the day? This sight brings utmost joy, humbleness, openness, liberty and an immaculate ray of hope and light to me. Space is everywhere and it is this space in the human heart that accepts and gives love without boundaries and in the body, it is considered as the container that accepts all kinds of impressions. This element is said to be present in the human system, wherever cavity and emptiness is present like stomach, intestines, nostrils, lungs, bladder, ears, throat, blood vessels and mouth. Light and hollow food items like wafers, corn flakes etc, are examples of foods with the presence of ether element.

4. Air (Vayu): This vital energy is forceful and itinerant. Without air the entire world would stop breathing and would look lifeless. The oxygen that helps us survive is just a part of air and acts as the foundation for all the positive reactions in the human body. The functioning of the major parts of the body like intestines, heart, lungs, joints and stomach are supported by air. The intake of air enhances circulation, coolness and movement. Physically, air is attributed to light, weightless, dry and movable characteristics and mentally, it is related to an active, vibrant, full-of-life and energetic personality that can influence and stay optimistic.

5. Fire (Agni): Fire grants the essential power that the body needs to digest and react to all metabolic, nervous, perspiring and challenging activities. It is only the fire in you that can help you withstand difficulties and win over the most critical situations in your life. This energy element converts food to fat and transfers the necessary energy to bones and muscles. The presence of fire determines your intelligence and the body temperature. It augments digestion, color and glow of the skin and metabolism. Hot, rough, sharp and clever traits are associated with fire.

Just like the five fingers in our palms, these five elements are highly important and form an integral part of every human being according to Ayurveda. Each of these building blocks play an imperative role in different phases of our life like Earth and Water elements are predominant during the childhood, when the body attains growth physically, whereas the element of Fire rules during adulthood when the body undergoes a drastic change. When we attain old age, the body tends to lose its flexibility and there is the predominance of Air and Space elements. I trust that this fundamental knowledge about the five vital elements of Ayurveda helps us realize that our body that is blended with nature, naturally.

Thought for the day:

“Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind and intellect and also ego-sense; these are the eight-fold division of my nature. This is inferior. Know my mother nature, the higher, Oh Mighty-Armed, the life-element by which the universe is upheld”. (7:4-5)                                                        – Bhagavad Gita

Suggested Reading:

  1. The Ayurveda Encyclopedia: Natural Secrets to Healing, Prevention, & Longevity By Swami Sadashiva Tirtha
  2. The Subtle Energy Body: The Complete Guide By Maureen Lockhart Ph.D.
  3. Textbook of Ayurveda, Volume One: Fundamental Principles By Vasant Lad

Reference Links:

  1. The Five Elements Part I: Ether by California College of Ayurveda
  2. Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Comparative Overview by NCBI
  3. Ayurved, the science of life by Richfield

The Goals of Ayurveda: The Ultimate Wisdom For Life

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Every single task in this world has a purpose or a determined goal behind its sustenance. When this applies to simple things, then think of Ayurveda the noble science. Yes! The Ayurvedic goal has 4 prominent facets for life and each of them constitutes a vital part and parcel of our daily lives. These goals act as a point of connection between nature and mankind as it basically focuses on assuaging human torments.

The constitution of the human body is known as Prakriti and it is solely based upon the unique combination of Doshas also known as Ayurvedic body types namely Vata, Pitta and Kapha. This helps us in hitting perfect balance between our physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual and environmental lives while pacifying the mind, body and soul. According to Ayurveda, a person can be called healthy only when he/she undergoes the positive conditions of finest robustness, sense of balance, tranquility and natural bliss.

The Ayurvedic Acumen: The ancient wisdom gifted by our ancestors has brilliantly talked about the 4 goals of human life, each of which is practical without any kind of embellishment. None of these goals reflect egocentricity or narcissism but apparently guides us to live happily by accepting ourselves and others also. With these goals, Ayurveda always aims at bringing back the right balance in the constitution of the human body. This common sense science wants human beings to understand their physical and mental set up along with the environmental factors that affect their health. This is where Ayurveda lays the foundation for treating illness first and preventing it in the future as well. Such sensible goals of realism are:

1. Dharma, the genuine purpose of life: The first goal of life according to Ayurveda is called as Dharma, which is a determined path of righteousness and the law of living right. It suggests you to be yourself and live originally without any imitation to be a better person to the world.

You can never a imagine a ‘tiger’ to be soft and feeble as a ‘deer’ and being ferocious is the Dharma of a tiger for which it cannot be cursed or blamed as it is created in such a way. Imitating like a deer will deteriorate the trust, respect and actual personality attributed to a tiger. ‘It is better to be yourself imperfectly than be like someone else perfectly’ says Bhagavad Gita, the most respected sacred book of the Indians. It also clearly explains about the eternal duties of a person, the benefits of performing them and the adverse effects of failing to carry out your duties in the third chapter, Karma Yoga.

Each and every individual is unique and has an exclusive trait or a specific set of attributes. It is that inborn and natural quality of you that decides who you are? And what are the roles you need to play in the society just be being ‘YOU’. Practicing a predetermined code of conduct will help an individual to lead a disciplined life and be a successful personality of his/her family and society through which he/she can do justice for his creation.

2. Artha, the scale of security: To live a closely controlled life of values, you basically need money or wealth but for which you might fail in rendering your duties to your family and your society. Understanding this important inference has made Ayurveda to indicate Artha as the second goal of life.

This doesn’t mean to accumulate wealth illegally and live a posh life but to lead a contented and meaningful life that helps in the progress of your culture as a whole. Failing to attain this goal of life means failing to earn enough for accomplishing your basic needs like food and shelter, which will increase your dependency, make you depressed and deprived of your needs, ending up in abandoning Dharma, the noble rationale behind your life.

3. Kama, the delight or decisive pleasure: Life cannot be mechanical and human beings are not just machines but social animals, who need some kind of pleasure or eternal joy to attain perpetual happiness. Such an enduring joy can be conquered only when there is a perfect balance of amusement and delight in the midst of a complicated life that he/she runs to reach Artha while abiding by Dharma simultaneously.

To be clear, Kama is not just the pleasure attained from mere sex as many of them mistakenly understand the term. Ayurveda insists that recreation, enjoyment, amusement and other things that contribute to cheerfulness including sex should be enjoyed and experienced at a healthy level. Too much of which would affect your physical and emotional well-being and when a comparatively lower level of pleasure will make you crave for things and feel depressed about not getting it.

4. Moksha, the lasting liberation: After passing through all the three goals of life, every individual prefers to attain Moksha or the ultimate freedom. Every religion in this world for that matter has a strong trust that their soul would reach their Creator in the world after.  Moksha or the final goal of life is the spiritual liberation where your mind, body or spirit is no more bound by any of the social or environmental factors.

At this stage an individual would have completed all his duties and would start realizing the divinity, sacred love and the reason behind his creation in an unambiguous manner. He/she would arrive at the everlasting bliss of their life and get ready to reach the next world where he would be rewarded for his life on earth. This can also be called as stage of surrender, where an individual completely admits himself to God, thanking Him and showing his gratitude for all the gifts He has given through all the stages of one’s life. Yoga and Meditation act as the influential part of attaining Moksha.

Remembering these goals and following them without any digression can certainly help you live a balanced life, free of diseases, filled with wisdom and fruitful for the entire society granting complete peace of mind.

Thought for the day:

Every goal, every action, every thought, every feeling one experiences, whether it be consciously or unconsciously known, is an attempt to increase one’s level of peace of mind. By Sydney Madwed

Suggested Reading:

  1. Ayurveda: Life, Health, and Longevity by Robert E. Svoboda B.A.M.S
  2. Textbook of Ayurveda, Volume One: Fundamental Principles
    By Vasant Lad
  3. Tao and Dharma: Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda
    By Robert Svoboda, Arnie Lade

Reference Links:

  1. Dharma by Wikipedia
  2. Karma Yoga by Bhagavad Gita
  3. The Wisdom of Ayurveda: The 4 Goals of Life by Jonathan Glass, LAc, MAc