Ayurvedic Importance of Fragrance and Aroma

Fragrance plays an important role in determining your mood and mood swings are often controlled by sweet smelling odors in the field of Aromatherapy, which is an incredible part Ayurveda. A celebrated book on Aromatherapy states that fragrance can aid in alleviating pain and have a significant impact on your behavior and personality. We cannot disagree with the fact that ‘Odors vest deeply within our minds even after many years’. If you ask me about my memorable fragrances I would tell you the fresh, elite and the exquisite fragrance of red roses that reminds me about my favorite time in my aunt’s garden during my childhood days and the relishing smell of fried potatoes make me feel like being with my Mom. At this juncture, let’s have a look at the Ayurvedic importance of fragrance and aroma in healing mankind.

1. Aroma for complete care: Aromatherapy is one of the significant methods of Ayurveda, which is used to treat the individuals according to their Ayurvedic body types like vata, pitta and kapha. For this purpose, Ayurveda suggests the use of essential oils and the natural aroma of herbs. This is trusted to enhance the function of the brain and promote well-being from within.

Most of the times these Ayurvedic essential oils are applied to the skin or used in some form or the other in which the skin comes in contact with the aroma. Human skin is the effective channel through which the benefits of these aromatic oils pass through the bloodstream making the system hale and hearty. Many researchers have proved that the natural aroma augments the functionality, relieves pain, supports mood fluctuations and revives the human body, which is a part of nature.

2. The healing properties of Ayurvedic essential oils: Ayurveda trusts in nature and any form of healing using nature’s gifts falls under Ayurveda. According to this thought, essential oils are extracted from leaves, stem, flowers, roots, bark or from other parts of a plant and essential oils is the backbone of Aromatherapy that is used to boost physical and mental fitness. There have been instances in which Ayurvedic essential oils are used to treat innumerable conditions and the gentle aroma of a handful of essential oils is proven to enhance the function of heart and blood circulation.

3. Ayurvedic Tea: Nothing other than a refreshing cup of tea with an enriching aroma can give the right start to your day. The three types of Ayurvedic tea according to the individual body types are anti-strain tea, stimulating tea and balancing tea. These teas are caffeine-free and grant you the real freshness while maintaining the right metabolism of your body.

4. Expert Ayurvedic Massage therapy: An expert Ayurvedic massage therapy with the right essential oils can offer you plenty of health benefits. These essential oils are chosen in such a way that they are infused with a heartening and soothing aroma, which would help you chase out stress, depression, fear, anxiety, insomnia, nervous disorders and many more. An Ayurvedic massage aids in revitalizing your mind, reducing muscular pains, relaxing your nervous system, improving the texture of your skin and striking a perfect balance between your mind and body.

Ayurveda is a spiritual medicinal system that has been practiced for more than 5,000 years and if this historical healing art states that aroma has a greater impact on our health, how can we refute it?? Try using any of the above mentioned ways to experience the power of a natural fragrance.

Reference Links:

  1. Ayurveda and Aromatherapy: The Earth Essential Guide To Ancient Wisdom and Modern Healing by Dr. Bryan Miller and Dr. Light Miller
  2. Aromatherapy for the heart and Circulation by healthy.net
  3. Ayurvedic Teas by Tea Blossoms

Ayurveda and Turmeric Essential Oil: The Natural Bond

You can seldom find an Indian kitchen without this noble herb named ‘Turmeric’, used since 4000 years in the ancient healing system known as Ayurveda. The power of this herb is being realized by the contemporary researchers and innumerable research studies prove its efficiency, fighting for its stand in healing even the most complicated of the diseases. Each and every part of the turmeric plant is beneficial in its own ways and the essential oil is extracted from the rhizomes or the roots of this plant and that is why most of the times, Turmeric essential oil is favorably called as Turmeric root essential oil. Whenever and wherever you talk about or think about Ayurveda, you can never neglect the essence and health values imparted by this grand herb known as ‘Kanchani’ in Sanskrit meaning ‘The Golden Goddess’.

Healing properties of ‘versatile’ herb Turmeric: Turmeric herb is scientifically known as Curcuma Longa. The essential oil extracted from  the roots or bulbs of  this Indian Saffron plant by steam distillation process is said to have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, analgesic, anti-oxidant, anti-spasmodic, antiseptic, diuretic, anti-allergic, digestive, vulnerary, carminative, astringent, cardiovascular, cholagogue, anti-tumor, appetizer, stimulant and alterative properties proven to be the best natural cure for the most problematical human illnesses like cancer, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, urinary tract infections, amenorrhea, hemorrhoids, gallstones, sexually transmitted diseases (STD) like Genital Herpes, Hepatitis-C etc, liver problems and even the most obscure skin disorders. Ayurveda suggests the use of turmeric in daily cooking for its priceless medicinal benefits.

Ayurvedic health benefits of Turmeric essential oil: Ayurveda has proudly named Turmeric as an ‘All-Purpose Cleanser’, insisting on the benefits of this herb in purifying the body from internal and external disorders. This energizing herb is meant to support the imbalance of Kapha body type (who are generally fat, obese and with a hefty body) with its warming properties and that is why Turmeric is used as an effective remedy in numerous natural weight-loss treatments. It also helps in resuming the function of pitta and vata body types also.

Nature’s shield against cancer: Cancer is hard to think and difficult to digest and I have personally felt the pain of losing my near ones to this deadly disease, being ignorant of the curative values granted by Ayurveda few years back. Turmeric has been used in numerous Ayurvedic treatments to help fight against cancer as it is said to restrain the development of fresh blood vessels in tumors and holds its growth. An accepted research in 2011 has witnessed that Turmeric essential oil has the capacity to fight against the free radicals in the body and act as excellent antioxidant, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory agents. Ayurveda’s uses of Turmeric oil as an effective tool for preventing cancer has again been proved by this research which says that Turmeric essential oil increases the level of Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and augment carcinogen detoxification in the human body and effectively function as a perfect cancer-preventing force.

Brilliantly assists the digestive system: Along with imparting irresistible aroma and flavor to the food, turmeric supports the function of the digestive system. The safety prescribing authority of herbs in Germany known as the German Commission E has allegedly approved the use of Turmeric in treating digestive disorders. It stimulates the mucous element in the gastric juices and aids in curing irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, constipation and other chronic digestive disorders. Turmeric essential oil strengthens digestion and eliminates the toxins that are stored in the gastrointestinal tract.

Pampers the skin perfectly: Turmeric is the beauty secret of Queens since the prehistoric period. Ayurveda suggests the use of Turmeric daily as it protects the skin from harmful bodies and gives a flawless fair complexion. You might have come across the use of Turmeric essential oil in innumerable skin care products in the market for it is celebrated to treat wounds, eczema, wrinkles, pigmentation of skin, pimples, acne, psoriasis, cuts, burns and other skin infections.

Other health conditions: According to Ayurveda, turmeric is said to reduce Kapha (mucous secretion) and hence it is used an as effective aid in treating respiratory problems like asthma, bronchitis, accumulation of phlegm, common cold, cough, flu etc. It improves blood circulation and helps in treating female health problems like amenorrhea, dysmennorhea, uterine tumors, endometriosis and cysts. It protects the liver, treats diabetes, kidney pain, colitis, food poisoning, headache, vascular dysfunction, blood pressure, inflammation, swelling and reduces excess cholesterol.

How to use Turmeric essential oil: This powerful essential oil can be diluted with carrier oils and used as a topical application or for a relaxing Ayurvedic massage. Few drops of oil can be added to potpourris, vaporizers, candles or diffusers for combating germs in the air and protecting the environment naturally. It can also be added to your bath tub for an aromatic, healing, stimulating and energizing bath. Turmeric essential oil is generally ingested for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties but it is strictly advised to consult an expert Ayurvedic Practitioner before using this oil internally and if you are pregnant or getting ready for a child.

All that glitters is not gold’ is a popular adage. With the bright golden color, Turmeric in the Ayurvedic world can be remembered by saying ‘All that glitters is Turmeric’ (rightly called as the Golden Goddess).

Thought for the day♥

He who has health has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.

                                                                                    -Thomas Carlyle

Suggested reading:

  1. Turmeric: The Ayurvedic Spice of Life by Prashanti DeJager MS
  2. Curcumin: The 21st Century Cure: Prevent and Reverse: cancer, depression and dementia, digestive disorders, diabetes, pain and arthritis, heart disease and more by Jan McBarron M.D.
  3. Turmeric and the Healing Curcuminoids by Muhammed Majeed, Vladimir Badmaev, Frank Murray

Reference Links:

  1. Turmeric: ‘The Golden Goddess’ by California College of Ayurveda
  2. Turmeric by University of Maryland Medical Center
  3. An evaluation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive activities of essential oil from Curcuma longa. L by PubMed
  4. Uses of Turmeric in Ayurveda by IndiaNetzone

Levels Of Ayurvedic Healing: From Illness To Wellness

I have decided to do something special from today……Something that can refresh your minds………something that can influence your thoughts and something that can augment your purpose of living………….. Yes! All I am about to do is to share a strong thought of life every day, so that along with Ayurveda, the ‘Science of Life’ you will also learn something that says ‘What Life Is All About?’. To begin with today’s value for life, here comes the first wonderful thought to enlighten you.

The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease”.   – Thomas Edison.

How will you call someone who inculcates on your complete wellness? Won’t you feel like calling or comparing that person to your ‘Mother’ even though he/she is not related to you in anyway either through a blood relationship or through friendship at least? For such a special, sturdy and genuine reason, Ayurveda is called as the ‘Mother of All Healing Sciences’. No wonder that even in today’s digital living, this method of holistic healing is the precursor and pioneer of mind-body medication for which it has been identified as the medicine of the future, even before thousands of antique years.

As per Dr. David Frawley’s renowned book ‘Ayurveda and the Mind- The healing of consciousness’, Ayurveda identifies four principal levels of healing. They are:

  1. Disease Treatment: An occurrence of a disease is a clear indication that your body is not working in the exact way it should work. There is something wrong within your arrangement. This is the final stage when the human system needs to be repaired and treated for wellness. The noble science of Ayurveda trusts in healing mankind just in a pure natural way without the use of vaccines, exasperating allopathic medicines, serums, toxic or harmful pharmaceutical drugs and extremely powerful injections with high chemical composition. Ayurveda, the science of simplicity believes in treating illness with the use of a unique healing power in the universe, which is nothing other than ‘Mother Nature’ with the protective and secure Ayurvedic therapies for physical, mental and emotional fitness.
  2. Disease Prevention: The superiority of a healing system lies in that progressive move of preventing the disease along with the treatment. Ayurveda is such a superior way of curing people as it considers that each individual has a unique physical and mental set up. Identifying their Ayurvedic body types or Doshas and guiding them in leading their lives in a methodical way according to an individual’s constitution of mind, body, senses and more (Prakriti) inherited at the time of birth. Each of the three doshas contributes and governs particular functions and Ayurveda teaches and helps one to restore balance between the doshas and lead a resistant life that is free of diseases. Health is an enduring process and Ayurveda educates you in maintaining a uniform order in your lifestyle, eating habits, work atmosphere, psychological and other environmental conditions.
  3. Life Enhancement: Ayurveda has a strong faith in the thought that a disciplined lifestyle with a nutritious diet, use of natural herbs, Ayurvedic essential oils, and Ayurvedic massage therapy along with the regular practice of meditation, systematic yoga and regular exercises is a sure shot way for leading a sustained life with an increased life span. This is how the ancient Ayurvedic practitioners and the followers of Ayurveda helped themselves for living longer with full of positive verve and vitality.
  4. Awareness Development: The eternal and spiritual science called ‘Ayurveda’ does not create awareness about a particular disease or illness just like an AIDS awareness program. It does much more. It makes us understand the real meaning of spiritual freedom and help us realize our stand in this universe. Above all it insists on an amazing fact that the universe is vested within each individual and the way we use our energy and strength gives a real purpose to our lives to carry with. The best way suggested by Ayurveda to gain this awareness is the real quality time you spend for yourself through meditation.

Look at the way that Ayurveda has put up the virtual meaning for a human’s life. Undoubtedly, it renovates us and this power is more than enough to heal humanity and revolutionize one from illness to complete wellness.

Reference Links:

  1. Ayurveda and the Mind-The Healing of Consciousness by Dr. David Frawley
  2. Ayurveda Beyond the Elements By Lyn Vasudeva
  3. Ayurvedic Healing by Dr. David Frawley