What exactly are the four basics of Ayurveda??

Question

Hi dr, I need some help about Ayurveda actually. So basically my healths been kind of messed up lately, feeling super low energy, tiredness, and digestion issues like bloating all the time. My friend, who's been doing yoga n all, told me Ayurveda might help cuz it worked well for her sister or smthing. She said it has like these basics or something?? i googled quickly and found out something about "what are the four basics of Ayurveda?" or smthing like that. Anyway, its a bit confusing for me so maybe you can help me figure this out clearly.

See, I never really did much health-wise before, just eating whatever, whenever, not really excercising except for walking my dog in the evening. Recently, my digestion got really bad, I'm feeling bloated alot of times. someone even told me my digestion and emotions might be connected according to ayurveda, which kinda makes sense to me coz whenever I stress out my stomach gets upset too. Also Ive been dealing with sleep problems lately and tried melatonin but didnt work much. I wanna give Ayurveda a shot cuz everyone around me is saying its gentle and natural, and frankly I'm tired of popping random pills like tylenol everytime i get a headache or feeling tired.

The thing is, when I searched online for Ayurveda I found this stuff called doshas and all these terms which was totally new to me. There were also people saying stuff like, you gotta understand the "four basics of Ayurveda" first to balance your health. But im honestly lost there—what even are these four basics of Ayurveda? I tried to find a simple answer, but got more confused with all the detailed explanations. One website said its about diet and lifestyle, another said about herbal medicine, mind-body balance or something, so now im totally lost.

Ive also been struggling with digestion lately, a lot of bloating, constipation sometimes too, and just generally low energy throughout the day. Maybe if I understand clearly "what are the four basics of Ayurveda?", I could actually start making changes in my routine to get better. I'm also curious if Ayurveda can suggest something simple like morning routines or any simple stuff to start with, because im really bad at complicated routines or strict rules and all.

Basically my questions are these, can you please tell me exactly what these four basics are and how exactly it might help me improve my health? Also, do I have to do all four things together, or can I start slowly with just one or two? Any tips or specific examples from your experience would be awesome cuz honestly im clueless right now.

thanks a ton, really need your advice on this one!

Dr Sujal Patil · Answer

Ayurveda focuses on balancing your body, mind, and spirit through diet, lifestyle, herbs, and emotional wellness. The four basics of Ayurveda are designed to address these aspects to restore harmony in your health. First is diet (Ahara), which suggests that food is your primary medicine. Ayurveda emphasizes eating foods that suit your body type (dosha) and the season, focusing on warm, easily digestible meals, especially if you're experiencing bloating or digestion issues. For example, adding spices like ginger and cumin can stimulate digestion, while avoiding cold or heavy foods helps prevent discomfort.

The second aspect is lifestyle (Vihara), which stresses the importance of a balanced daily routine. Simple practices, such as drinking warm water with lemon in the morning to kickstart digestion, or doing light stretching or yoga, can help improve your energy and digestion. Ayurveda also recommends getting enough rest, waking up early, and going to bed on time to balance the body's natural rhythms, which can help with energy and sleep problems.

Lastly, Ayurveda incorporates herbal remedies (Aushadhi) and the mind-body connection (Sattva) to address internal imbalances. For digestion, herbs like triphala or ginger can be helpful. Ashwagandha may be used to combat stress and boost energy. Ayurveda also places great emphasis on reducing stress through techniques like meditation or breathing exercises, which can improve both your physical and emotional well-being. By focusing on these fundamentals gradually, you'll begin to notice improvements in energy, digestion, and overall health.

Dr. Harsha Joy · Answer

In Ayurveda, the four basics refer to key principles that aim to balance the body, mind, and spirit, helping to restore health and vitality. These basics are Ahar (diet), Vihar (lifestyle), Aushadhi (herbal medicine), and Adhyatma (spiritual well-being). The goal is to create harmony among these aspects to improve overall health. Ahar focuses on eating foods that suit your unique body constitution (dosha) and help balance digestion, which could be helpful for your bloating and low energy. Vihar involves adjusting your lifestyle, like incorporating daily routines, exercise, and sleep patterns to support your body’s natural rhythms. Aushadhi refers to using natural herbs and treatments to support the body’s healing processes, often for specific ailments like digestion issues. Adhyatma focuses on mental well-being and emotional balance, which could be the link to your stress and digestion problems. You don’t need to adopt all four at once; you can start by focusing on one or two, like improving your diet or creating a more consistent sleep routine. This holistic approach, especially starting with diet and stress management, might help you improve your energy and digestion. Starting simple, like incorporating warm water in the morning or reducing processed foods, could make a big difference.

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