Ah, I totally get you — Ayurveda can feel like a maze of names and terms initially! It’s like, every time you think you’ve got the hang of one herb or therapy, ten more pop up from nowhere. To answer your question, there’s no one-size-fits-all Ayurveda name list, unfortunately. That’d be too easy, huh? But there’s defnitely some ways to organize and familiarize yourself with these concepts.
You could start by making your own list, you know? Divide it up into categories that suit you, like herbs, treatments, or even by doshas like pitta, vata, and kapha. It helps to jot down what each herb or therapy is known for. Focusing specifically on the dosha can really streamline this process. For you, with a predominatly pitta constitution, you’d be lookin’ at cooling remedies like sandalwood paste or herbs like shatavari and gotu kola.
Books and online resources like blogs or Ayurvedic websites can be treasure troves. Often, they offer charts or glossaries that provide brief overviews of what each herb or treatment is for, and, sometimes, which dosha it balances. And don’t forget about panchakarma! Basti (enema), nasya (nasal cleansing) and virechana (purgation) are indeed part of this therapy and often included in many educational resources.
When studying these terms, try not to memorize like you’re cramming for an exam. Maybe focus on one new concept a day? Dive a bit deeper into it, get to know its characteristics, how it’s used in practice, maybe even try it out if it’s safe and accessible. That way it’s less overwhelming, you know?
And hey, don’t be too hard on yourself for not retaining everything at once, nobody does. Ayurveda is vast, and believe me, even practitioners who’ve been at it for years still learn new things. So take your time, enjoy the journey, and let curiosity lead the way.


