The Indian approach to health has become world-renowned for its holistic approach to health and healing. Its practices have been globalized, particularly in the past two decades, as more people are turning to alternative treatments for health conditions and to improve overall wellness. It contrasts Western allopathic medicine, which defines health through the physical body and often conceals or problematizes emotional and mental disorders, regarding them as independent, rather than interdependent spheres of health.

Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, this Indian medicine system considers each person’s unique psychological, emotional, and physical conditions. This attention to the individual is based on three energies or doshas (vata, pitta, kapha) that are present at the time of birth and affect our emotional, physical, and mental functioning. Our doshic makeup is known as our constitution. It supports our ability to live in harmony with nature and the ways things are because it evaluates our individual proclivities toward certain conditions and behaviors, through the elements. The gunas, on the other hand, can be consciously altered (increased or decreased) by the way we interact with and respond to our environment, and the thoughts we keep.

The ultimate goal of Ayurveda, through the use of Ayurvedic herbs, dietary management and mindful lifestyle practices is to support our deeper understanding of ourselves, our tendencies, and our relationship to the world. We can enhance our health and extend our longevity by incorporating more healthy practices into our lives at any time!

These powerhouses of healing energy can lower blood pressure, improve circulation, and alleviate anxiety, among many other benefits because they contain such things as anti-inflammatory properties, anti-oxidants, and natural analgesics, to name a few. Even simply beautifying our skin, losing weight, or boosting our immune systems is achievable by including some of these herbs and supplements into our daily routine. Depending on the health condition, Ayurvedic herbs can be consumed internally as nutritional supplements, externally (applied to the skin), or through aromatherapy.

The overall belief in Ayurveda is that disease and suffering are the results of an imbalance in the three doshas. This imbalance of energy is owed to inadequate nutrients, unhealthy lifestyle practices, harmful thought patterns, and being out of sync with our natural, inherent rhythms. These stresses manifest in ways that the body is unable to recuperate from without the help of

One of the most essential practices for restoring balance and supporting our natural circadian rhythm is the use of Ayurvedic herbs and supplements. In conjunction with diet and healthy lifestyle practices, such as relaxation, exercise and exposure to fresh air, supplements can detoxify the body, enhance mood, and balance emotions, leading to an overall happier life.

Ayurvedic herbs are often sold in formulas of two or more because they can sometimes be more effective in specific combinations. Certain herbs help to promote the action of or work in harmony with another.

You may wonder, why take a supplement instead of the fresh root or ground powder?

Particularly in the West, many Ayurvedic herbs are inaccessible because they grow in the Indian subcontinent, which is one of the reasons why supplements are in such demand. The level of active medicinal ingredients can also vary greatly in raw herbs, depending upon their source. Nutritional supplements contain standardized extracts to ensure consistent potency of the active ingredients of medicinal Ayurvedic herbs, while additional concentrated extracts also have a potency much greater than the fresh or ground botanical root. A good turmeric supplement, for example, contains about 95 percent of its active ingredient curcumin, while the natural root powder contains only three percent. You’d have to consume about 16 grams of the bitter powder to achieve the effectiveness of one 500 mg capsule!

The following three Ayurvedic herbs are among the most common. All three are available as single supplements or in bulk, through a variety of proprietors, but Jiva Botanicals offers some of the highest-grade concentrations of active ingredients of all three herbs. Our natural health supplements are sourced from organically grown herbs, in line with sustainable farming practices, and are ethically manufactured and distributed. If you’re wondering where to buy supplements, check out our online herb store for an assortment of products. Ayurvedic herbs and supplements are most effective when taken according to your individual constitution, so it is wise to consult a doctor before beginning any treatments.

Read more about the benefits of ashwagandha here.

Read more about the benefits of triphala here.

Read more about the benefits of turmeric here.