Maharishi Ayurveda Blog

The amazing healing properties of sesame oil have been relied upon since Vedic times to treat a wide range of health issues. Known as "til" oil in Sanskrit, this oil was the subject of a treatise by the ancient Ayurvedic student Charaka. Writing at length about all aspects of Ayurvedic medicine, Charaka claimed that linoleum acid-rich sesame oil is the very best of all oils.

The daily Ayurvedic self-massage, known as abhyanga, recommends the use of sesame seed oil, due to its high antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The oil is extremely nourishing, and regular use …

Allergic disease is taking on epidemic proportions across the developed world. It is estimated that 20% of Australians have at least one allergy, one of the highest rates among developed countries. One in three of the UK population will experience an allergy at some stage in their lives, and the figures are similar in the United States.

Spring-time Allergies

Seasonal allergies, such as those resulting from grass, weed, tree pollen or mould, are a common cause of allergy symptoms. If you are one of the millions who experience itchy eyes, sneezing, a blocked nose and wheezing, you are no doubt …

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Do you feel a little more round than you would like? Or do you have a weight problem? Doctors and scientists generally agree that men with more than 25% body fat and women with more than 30% body fat have a weight problem.

According to Ayurveda there is not a one size fits all. Some people are naturally more round, with a mild appetite and a slow efficient metabolism that easily gains weight and require a focused effort to loose weight. While another person may have a slim to thin body shape with a fast metabolism which requires regular meals to keep comfortable. Every individual has an …

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Going out for a meal can be difficult if your goal is to have a wholesome and tasty meal. Many cafes and restaurants have the food prepared well in advance of it ready to eat. It's likely to sit behind glass for sometimes days before arriving on your plate. Another scenario is going to your local organic cafe filled with happy thoughts of the healthy meal you're about to consume, only to hear the "PING" of your food being nuked in the microwave.

Ayurvedic texts are clear: Food contains intelligence. What does that mean? This can be loosely equated with its nutritional value, although includes …

Panchakarma is considered to be the most essential Ayurvedic purification therapy; since ancient times this practice has been used by Maharishi Ayurveda to build strength and promote youthfulness, well-being and longevity. Many factors contribute to toxins, impurities and blockages in the body's channels, such as poor diet, poor digestion, environmental toxins and stress. Panchakarma is a sequence of treatments designed to remove toxins and impurities from every single cell in the body, by utilising the organs that the body uses for elimination: sweat glands, intestines, urinary tract and …

Achieving younger-looking skin that exudes a wonderful healthy glow is a matter of caring for it from the inside as well as on the outside. The four key elements of skin care, according to Maharishi Ayurveda, are nourishment, rehydration, detoxification and stress removal. By looking at natural skin remedies for each of these elements, you can begin to transform your skin for the better.

Nourishment

The best way to nourish your skin is to follow a skin-friendly diet. This includes lots of sweet juicy fruits, multiple grains, a wide variety of cooked vegetables and light, easy-to-digest …

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Dealing with stress can be a stressful experience in itself. Whether it is related to work, personal life, health or a specific life experience, knowing how to relieve stress is not always a straightforward process. As the fast-paced, competitive modern world puts increasingly tough demands on everybody, a growing number of people find themselves suffering from stress-related health problems, including insomnia, anxiety and depression. More and more people are trying to juggle work with family life, and feeling the pressure to excel in every aspect of their lives, which can lead to a huge …

When you eat, the energy from the food is turned into the fuel your body needs to stay healthy and strong. This process is known as sugar metabolism. In many people, however, this transformation isn’t as effective as it could be. Maharishi Ayurveda practitioners believe that this is due to a Kapha dosha imbalance, combined with a sedentary lifestyle. Using natural herbal remedies to create a Kapha balance can kick start the metabolic process.

First of all, how do you know if you have a Kapha dosha imbalance? Some people are more likely to have more Kapha in their mind/body makeup; these …

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Each season we pass through is linked to an Ayurvedic Mind-Body type, or “Dosha”. Spring links to Kapha, Summer with Pitta and Winter with Vata. These respective Doshas have a tendency to increase during their associated season - the heat of summer tends to push the Pitta in us, whilst a cold and windy winter tends to increase our Vata.

These seasonal movements of the Doshas in our physiologies can be offset by eating appropriately for the season. Time and place are important aspects in choosing what to eat, and most of us unconsciously work to balance these all the time. Take as a simple …