No doubt these are stressful times we live in. Every day our bodies, minds and spirits are all subjected to the ravages of stress. Worries about job security, emotional traumas and economic difficulties weigh on many of us.
The healing art of Ayurveda, which originated in India, literally means “life science” and is considered to be an alternative form of medicine in the western world. However, many of its practices are believed to alleviate and reduce stress and improve overall well-being.
According to Ayurveda, there are three different manifestations of day-to-day stress, mental, emotional, and physical, each requiring different approaches and therapies.
In the West, we don't usually dwell on the distinctions between our reactions to stress—we tend to focus on general coping solutions applicable to all, such as a hot bath, a long walk, or a day at the beach. But with Ayurveda, stress reduction hinges on a complex understanding of each individual person. Since no two people handle setbacks the same way, everyone requires a different stress-relief strategy: What might work for one would not for another. Ayurveda provides specific lifestyle, dietary, herbal, and yogic solutions for each individual that can not only diffuse tension but also help build a foundation for lasting peace of mind.
Ayurveda Explained
Yoga's sister science of Ayurveda is a system of healing that integrates basic physiology, emotional disposition, and spiritual outlook, then presents all three in the context of the universe itself. Dating back 5,000 years to the ancient Sanskrit texts the Vedas, Ayurvedic theory takes nearly every conceivable stress influence into consideration—from seasonal and planetary changes that affect our well-being to subtle bodily impurities that can precipitate disease. It also sheds light on the thought patterns and physical tendencies that make stress either a constant stumbling block or a non-issue, depending on how well we understand ourselves.
Comprehending such an exhaustive system may seem daunting to those who haven't made it their life's study, but when it comes to managing stress, Ayurvedic concepts can be boiled down to a basic idea: Trace stress back to its roots, then find lasting ways to change the patterns that cause it.
Ayurveda and Emotional Stress
Emotional stress can be caused by just about anything—work, a problem in a relationship, the loss of a relative, or any situation that might hurt the heart. Emotional stress can present itself in many ways—through irritability, depression, and emotional instability. It affects sleep in a different way than mental stress - it can cause you to wake up in the night and not be able to go back to sleep.
Emotional stress disturbs Sadhaka Pitta, the mind-body “operator” concerned with the emotions and functioning of the heart. To balance emotional stress, you need to favor Pitta-pacifying foods and routine, such as:
• Eating lots of sweet juicy fruits
• Favoring Pitta-pacifying foods such as the sweet, bitter and astringent tastes
• Drinking a cup of warm milk with cooling rose petal preserve before bed
• Cooking with cooling spices such as cardamom, coriander, cilantro, and mint
• A daily self-massage with a cooling oil such as coconut oil
• Going to bed before 10:00 p.m.
A complex and living system of natural health care, there are many ways Ayurveda may be able to help you explore and find the correct path to improved emotional and physical well-being. The formula in some respects may feel a bit complex, but at its very roots it is a natural and ancient system that could very well offer you relief from stress and other health concerns, and does offer some common sense solutions. It’s growing in popularity in western society for good reason, as it strives to address the spiritual, physical, and emotional aspects of our individual health.
To learn more about Ayurveda, please visit the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine online.