Menopause – important life transition not an illness

Thankfully the menopause is getting a lot of airtime now, and so it should.  It has been a source of shame and misunderstanding for too long.  How do we view the menopause in Ayurveda? Menopause essentials Let’s first recap the menopause essentials.  The accepted definition of the menopause is the Read more…

Live life in balance

Your guide to dosha imbalance

I’m feeling these symptoms, what do they mean? Do I have a dosha imbalance? Or do I feel pretty balanced? Each dosha has its qualities so the simplest way to gauge a dosha imbalance is to see which of these qualities is getting increased for you. For example, your skin Read more…

Grass Pollen

Hay fever be gone

The hay fever season is almost with us much to the chagrin of those who suffer with it.  There is a lot that can be done to prevent and help with hay fever in Ayurveda, do read on! There are different variations of hay fever Any dosha can be responsible Read more…

Natural Cycle

Women, love your cycle (and men, it REALLY helps to know)

Women have an amazing aid to living a healthy and happy life. The menstrual cycle. Now, if you are man, please don’t stop reading here as likely as not, you know a woman. She would likely be very impressed and grateful for any glimmer of understanding of this topic and Read more…

Quick purge

Panchakarma – powerful therapy, intense results

The elder tree that lurks in my garden makes an attempt each year to take over.  Every year, I chop it back to its stalk and ensure it doesn’t achieve its goal.  Every year I think I should probably dig it up and prevent any further dashes for glory but Read more…

Tune into daily rhythms for best health

Sleepy in the afternoon? Sluggish in the morning? Unable to fall asleep at night?  Finding meditation or study difficult? You may be planning your activities at times when they work against you rather than for you. While writing my last article on sleep, I got really excited by the new research Read more…

Wind tree

Watch the wind – it’s a tricky little fellow

Given my usual fascination with digestion, you’d be forgiven for thinking I mean that kind of wind.  But, for once, I don’t.  In this instance, I refer to vata, the ‘wind’ (or air and space) principle in your body and mind.  It is one of the three doshas (vata, pitta Read more…

Caffeine – gets us moving, at what cost?

“Let’s meet for coffee”.  Who doesn’t say it?  I don’t even drink coffee and it is still a phrase that trips off the tongue.   Coffee has reached cult status and it is no surprise.  That hit of caffeine feels good.  When you start adding in creamy milk, syrups and chocolate Read more…

The 6 tastes of Ayurveda

Balanced meals, balanced person, that’s the concept.  Ayurveda has a delightfully simple way of devising a balanced meal; it’s all done through taste.  There are 6 tastes, and if you have a balance of all 6 in your meal, your meal will be nutritious and, importantly, satisfying (assuming that your Read more…

Sun through clouds

From SAD to happy with Ayurveda

Wow, it’s lovely to see the sun out.  Out comes the sun and out come the smiles.  Have you found that this winter’s dreadful weather has been making you a bit sad?  Or indeed, quite a bit S.A.D.?  With the lack of sunlight in the winter months, many people start Read more…