The gut in Ayurveda: tips for gut health
Hippocrates coined the famous phrase 2,500 years ago: „A healthy gut is the root of all health.“ Ayurvedic teachings also recognise the gastrointestinal tract as the source of health and illness, happiness and suffering, life and death. Accordingly, it is important for a healthy, happy life to promote intestinal health. Ayurveda offers [...]
Fascinating organ: the thyroid gland in Ayurveda
The thyroid gland has fascinated me for 25 years like no other organ. It is as small and delicate as a butterfly and at the same time so important for our health. It demonstrates the interdependence of mind and body and is an indicator of our inner balance. Our ability to regulate tension and cope with stress (resilience) has a direct effect on our [...]
Crisis as an opportunity: the coronavirus pandemic from an Ayurvedic perspective
I've just come from the weekly market and the atmosphere is bizarre. People are waiting in long queues in front of the stalls, more than two metres separate them from the person in front, and there is an eerie silence. A virus is keeping Germany and the world on tenterhooks. The number of new infections is rising exponentially, one breaking news story follows another, public life is drastically [...]
Food supplements in Ayurveda
Some call them herbal pills, others spice powders, healing schnapps or medicines. No matter what name we want to assign to Ayurvedic products, one thing is certain: no health system in the world has a variety of herbal products and formulations comparable to Ayurveda. The science behind these products is called „Dravyagunavijnana“, which translates as the „science of substances and their properties“. The basis [...]
Ayurvedic treatment of Hashimoto's thyroiditis
It has an exotic name, was discovered over 100 years ago by a Japanese pathologist and is one of the most common causes of hypothyroidism in adults: in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the body's own defence system produces antibodies against thyroid proteins for unknown reasons and causes chronic inflammation. More than 10% of the German population are affected, women about [...]
Turmeric in Ayurveda: the yellow gold
Curcuma has been used as a spice and medicinal plant in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for over 5000 years. Over 3,000 scientific studies prove that curcuma is one of the three most important medicinal plants on our planet with a dizzying array of possible uses. However, there are a few rules to follow in order to maximise the health benefits: Curcuma is not just curcumin, the spice powder [...]
Ayurvedic treatment of thyroid diseases
Small organ - great importance: The thyroid gland influences the metabolism and functional state of almost all organs and its health is therefore of paramount relevance from an Ayurvedic perspective. Hardly any other organ reacts so sensitively to stress and, conversely, affects the psyche as quickly as the thyroid gland in the event of illness. This places a considerable burden on those affected and [...]
Snacks in Ayurveda
How many meals a day are healthy? Many nutrition experts differ on this question. Ayurveda has a crystal clear position on this. The fact is: In Ayurveda, food is only considered beneficial if it a) has an optimal nutrient composition according to individual needs and b) is easily digestible. The seemingly „healthiest“ foods can harm us, [...]
Sweets in Ayurveda: Are sweet sins allowed during the Christmas season?
Every year, our resistance to sweet temptations is put to the test at Christmas markets, company parties and family gatherings. Gingerbread, biscuits, stollen and cinnamon stars are irresistible to many and are as much a part of winter as the barbecue is to summer - often followed by a guilty conscience about weight gain or the unnecessary health burden. How beneficial [...]
Dal and mungdal: lentil dishes in Ayurveda
Dal refers to dishes made from peeled and split pulses such as lentils or chickpeas. Dal is a delicious staple food in India and an indispensable part of Ayurvedic cuisine. As Ayurvedic cuisine is predominantly vegetarian, dal dishes are the most important source of protein. A typical Ayurvedic main meal consists of the triad of grains, vegetables and dal. Raw vegetable side dishes or [...]