Skip to content
  • About
    • Our story
    • Our science
    • Hormona App
  • Hormones
    • About hormones
    • Hair Loss
    • Irregular cycles
    • PCOS
    • Infertility
  • Hormona Library
  • For business
    • Employers
    • Partnerships
    • Hormona Ambassadors
Menu
  • About
    • Our story
    • Our science
    • Hormona App
  • Hormones
    • About hormones
    • Hair Loss
    • Irregular cycles
    • PCOS
    • Infertility
  • Hormona Library
  • For business
    • Employers
    • Partnerships
    • Hormona Ambassadors
  • En
  • Sv
Menu
  • En
  • Sv
Get the app
  • Self care

Introduction To Ayurveda – What is Ayurveda And How Can It Help Me

The Hormona Team

In the Western world when we think about our health we tend to think of cure rather than prevention; think of all the times you’ve been unwell and visited the doctors to be given pills and potions to bring you back to health only for the problem to return again at a later date. That, though, is a fairly recent development. Long before healthcare, there was Ayurveda…

What Is Ayurveda?

When something goes wrong with our mind or body we tend to isolate the problem and focus on treating the issue as a singular problem, but our minds and bodies are intricately linked and effected by a variety of different factors, such as, what we eat and our environment.

Ayurvedic medicine is a holistic approach to health and wellbeing that believes in order to live a healthy happy life we must make sure all the different elements and energies, inside and around us, are balanced to prevent disease and disharmony.

Where Does Ayurveda Come From?

Ayurvedic medicine has its roots in India and has been around for thousands of years; it is one of the oldest medical sciences that is still very much active in the world today. The word Ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit words for life (ayus) and science (veda) so literally means the science of life. These teachings were written in scripts that have been translated and passed down for centuries and still form the basis for Ayurveda that is practiced today.

How Does Ayurvedic Medicine work?

Ayurvedic teachings believe that there are three natural energy forces that are at work in the body.

These are called ‘Doshas’ and are:

  • Pitta – This is the force that governs your body’s digestion and transformation. It is associated with water and fire elements and its qualities are hot, oily, spreading and sharp.
  • Vata – This is the force that governs movement and communication in the body. It is associated with ether and air elements and its qualities are light, cold, dry, clear, rough and mobile
  • Kapha – This is the force that governs structure and cohesiveness and is associated with earth and water elements and its qualities are heavy, slow, cool, oily, smooth, dense and soft

All three Doshas are at work within each individual with one Dosha more dominant than the others. In order to stay healthy and prevent disease we must ensure our Doshas are in balance.

You can find which is your dominant Dosha by either visiting an Ayurvedic practitioner or by answering an online questionnaire.

Why Should You Balance Your Doshas?

Ayurveda believes in the 20 qualities principle which states there are ten pairs of opposites called ‘20 qualities’. For example, hot is the opposite of cold and rough is the opposite of smooth. This same principle applies to balancing your Doshas; to bring harmony into your Dosha you must ensure its opposite quality is balanced.

How Do You Balance Your Doshas?

Ayurveda believes balancing these oppositions is achieved through managing your diet, environment, routine and thought and behavior patterns. Ayurveda also teaches us that the world is in an ever-constant cycle of change and to live healthily we must adapt to these changes, paying particular attention to how seasons affect us.

It is important to think of Ayurveda as your own personal health system unique to you rather than a one size fits all approach; connect with your body and think about the foods you eat and when you consume them and then ask yourself how you feel? Do you feel heavy and lethargic if you eat at certain times or do certain foods make you feel unwell? By connecting with your body you will learn what nourishes you and what your body needs to consume to reach its full potential. 

How Else Can I Incorporate Ayurveda Into My Life?

Yoga

Eating the right foods for your Dosha is a great way to start your Ayurvedic journey but its beliefs and practices are far-reaching and can be incorporated into so many different areas of your life.

Ayurveda was developed alongside yoga. Like the foods you eat, certain yoga asanas can benefit certain Doshas; this is why if you practice yoga you may find some moves far more challenging than others! Think of yoga as the physical side of Ayurveda; whilst Ayurveda focuses on your health and healing, yoga is the actual moving of your body and mind.

Getting The Right Type Of Rest

Getting enough rest is one of the main pillars of Ayurvedic medicine and if neglected this is where you are likely to feel the most imbalances in your body. Ayurvedic teachings believe the day is split into six, four-hour periods and each one is governed by each Dosha twice.

They are:
  • 2am – 6am – Vata. This is the optimum time to wake up when Vata energy is most prominent. Ayurvedic teachings believe it’s best to wake up before sunrise and harvest the creative and energetic properties of Vata.
  • 6am – 10am – Kapha. As Kapha energy increases this is the best time for physical activity, before the sun is at its highest. This is also the best time for breakfast but as Kapha energy is quite heavy it is best to eat something light.
  • 10am – 2pm – Pitta. Your digestive fire is at its strongest during this time so have your biggest meal of the day between these times.
  • 2pm – 6pm – As Vata energy increases during these times this is when you will be most creative. If you crave sugary things during this period it suggests blood sugar issues and you should increase the amount you eat during your lunch.
  • 6pm – 10pm – As heavy Kapha energy takes over during this time this is the perfect time to wind down and prepare for sleep. Avoid electronic devices or anything that will overstimulate your brain.
  • 10pm – 2am – Pitta. The restorative benefits of Pitta take over during this time so this is when you should be getting the most sleep; use this time to let your body eliminate toxins and process all the wonderful things you achieved that day.

This guide will give you a solid foundation on which to build a daily routine that is in harmony with each Dosha’s energy flow. Routine should be at the heart of everything we do; a regular well structured day will help us radiate health and peace.

Ayurveda And Your Future

Our health and wellbeing is our most valuable possession and we all have the ability to live a healthier more balanced life.

While this may look different for each of us Ayurvedic medicine is a great place for anyone who is serious about their health to start. Ayurvedic medicine is a vast and in-depth practice that can change the way we view Western medical techniques and how we think about holistic approaches to our health and wellbeing.  By employing small changes in accordance with Ayurvedic practices you will see huge benefits to your mind and body which will start you on the journey to a healthier, happier you.


Disclaimer: This website does not provide medical advice. The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

  • May 9, 2020
  • Self care
The Hormona Team

The Hormona Team

Articles by the Hormona team are written by the amazing people that are, or have been, involved in Hormona and who all stand behind the cause and purpose of educating and empowering women to live better and healthier lives. It’s all of our goal to share personal stories, helpful information, tips, tricks and experiences to help other women in our community in their daily lives and on their hormonal health journey.

More stories

women laid on the sofa to illustrate how to increase libido in women

How To Boost Libido in Women

clear substance on beige background

Tracking your cycle through cervical mucus

womans neck to to illustrate the relationship between hormones and pain

Hormones and pain: How your cycle affects sensitivity

RELATED POSTS

woman holding her tummy

Period bloating remedies: Beat the bloats

Bloat. The word sounds just like it feels, doesn’t it? You feel extra fluffy and full. Your clothes

Read More »
woman facing away in mirror

ADHD and hormones: What you need to know

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 2019, six million children in the

Read More »
jug of water being poured in glasses

Bloating before period? Yes, it’s a real thing.

It must be that time of the month again…or is it? Wait, didn’t I just get my period

Read More »
  • Our story
  • Our science
  • Hormona Library
  • Our story
  • Our science
  • Hormona Library
  • Partnerships
  • Contact
  • Career
  • Contact us
  • Partnerships
  • Contact
  • Career
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Sign up to our newsletter

Follow us
Instagram Facebook Linkedin Twitter

© Wlness Science Ltd 2023

Language
  • En
  • Sv
  • En
  • Sv
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can always opt-out if you wish. Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT