The Journey of Ayurvedic Powders

Sometimes a mistake turns out to be a good thing – like the time my ingredients order accidentally got switched with another persons. This happened quite recently, and I'm pretty sure we both came out ahead. For my part, I was allowed to keep the package, so I'm guessing the other person received the same message.

The supplier will surely also come out ahead from this. Letting both of us keep and use ingredients we might never have otherwise tried will undoubtedly result in additional future orders.

Thanks to this little mix-up, I have thrown myself into researching and getting acquainted with 2 exciting new discoveries - both of which are ayurvedic powders.

Ayurvedic - What's That?

The word Ayurveda is Sanskrit (yes, it's that old) and means life knowledge. Ayurveda is often percieved as being a form of alternative medicine, but this is only part of the story.

Ayurveda is described as 'the science of 8 components' as well as 'the science of life'. One of the 8 components of Ayurveda is traditional Hindu medicine. Other components include dentistry, toxicology, and even anti-aging.

It's all About Balance

According to Ayurveda, a person has 3 doshas. Doshas are bodily humors that, together, make up that persons constitution. If the doshas are in balance, the person will be in good health. Maintaining balance between the doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kaptha – is a focus of ayurveda.

But there is more to it than that. One might say Ayurveda is all-encompassing – a holistic approach to body-mind-consciousness that includes "environmental mindfulness and spiritual progression in the total health picture." (link)

What Does Science Say?

Since ayurvedic medicine has been around long before modern science started doing clinical tests, some believe ayurveda is 'way ahead of the game'. If modern science is to prove or disprove ayurvedic medicine, it really does have a load of testing to catch up on.

There is some research being done. For example, Cancer Research UK published this information in 2013 about ayurvedic medicine in relation to cancer. Early research does look promising, but it is still far to soon to tell. Tests have not yet involved humans, and no randomized clinical trials have been done as yet.

LisaLise Experiments Coming Up

In coming posts, I'll be examining the ayurvedic powders that were delivered to my door. After getting to know the raw ingredients, I plan to incorporate them into a few skin and/or hair care products. If all goes as I hope, then I will also be posting a new how-to (or maybe even 2) using ayurvedic powders.

Stay tuned!

Do Tell

Do you work with ayurvedic ingredients? Feel free to share your experiences!

PS. If you are knowledgable in Ayurveda, please forgive my barely-scratching-the-surface description of this vast subject, and do feel free to drop a comment with additional information.

More About Ayurveda

Wikipedia
Ayurvedic Medicine  - NCCAM
WebMD- What is Ayurveda
National Ayurvedic Medical Association