Examination methods in Ayurveda: 7. the anamnesis
Our tour of Ayurvedic examination methods and diagnostic techniques began with pulse diagnosis and led us on to tongue inspection, analysis of excretions, examination by hearing and feeling and finally to eye and face diagnosis. The Ayurvedic anamnesis, called Prashna Pariksha, now forms the conclusion of our journey. Prashna means question, pariksha means examination. The word „anamnesis“ comes from [...]
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 [...]
Ayurvedic drinks: focus on fruit juice
When I squeezed my own orange juice from halved fruit at the breakfast buffet in a trade fair hotel a few days ago, I was surprised once again: to fill a 200ml glass with juice, I needed 6 halved oranges! I would never have eaten this amount as fruit, but I could certainly have drunk more glasses of the juice. Many people [...]
Salads and raw food from an Ayurvedic perspective
„In Ayurveda, food is always cooked softly and raw food is avoided“ is a widespread misconception. It is true that in Ayurveda an overload of the digestive system is seen as the cause of many diseases. In classical Ayurveda, leafy salads were hardly ever used. The food group „Haritavarga“ traditionally referred to fresh „greens“ and included fresh ginger, lime, radish, coriander leaves, carrots, onions [...].
Fact check: Is Ayurveda vegetarian?
India is the country with the most vegetarians in the world and hardly any Ayurvedic doctors there eat meat. This leads many to conclude that the consumption of meat is probably forbidden in Ayurveda - for health, ethical and spiritual reasons. Many Western authors of Ayurvedic books confirm this assumption. But does it actually correspond to classical Ayurvedic guidelines? The fact is: unfortunately [...]
Reheating meals in Ayurveda? An analysis
Life has become faster. More and more tasks, demands and obligations need to be dealt with in less and less time. The procurement and preparation of food is also becoming increasingly rationalised - there is often no time for relaxed shopping at the market and enjoyable preparation. The solution is to reheat convenience food or the last hot meal [...]