Jenga provides a surprisingly good way to understand how Āyurveda views health and disease. While we often focus on the moment when the tower finally comes crashing down, Āyurveda tells a more interesting story through everything that happened before it. At the start of the game, the tower is solid. You can remove a block without anything dramatic happening, which gives you every reason to remove another, and then another. Eventually there are gaps throughout the structure an

For most of my time practicing Āyurveda, my focus was naturally on people. Then I got Jenna. Jenna is my now eight-year-old German Shepherd, and thankfully she is thriving. Something her vet comments on each year. It was precisely because I wanted to keep her that way that I became increasingly aware of the ecosystem of health issues that comes with having a large-breed dog. With German Shepherds, you dread hip and joint issues that may be lying and waiting to rear their ugly

We tend to think of medicines and supplements in fairly simple terms. Something is either good for us, or it isn't. Turmeric is good for inflammation. Ashwagandha is good for stress. Magnesium helps with sleep. Once something earns the label "healthy" or "natural," it can be easy to assume that taking it must therefore be beneficial. Caraka offers a much more interesting way of looking at this. In the very first chapter of the Caraka Saṃhitā, we find a rather striking observa

If you spend enough time studying Āyurveda, you begin to notice something: it can be incredibly particular. As someone whose long-standing nickname is “Particular Brian,” this clearly explains my attraction to Āyurveda. In an almost obsessive manner, we ask question after question. When should you wake up? When should you eat? When should you sleep? What should you eat in summer as opposed to winter? When should you exercise, and how much? There seems to be an order to almost

What if Āyurveda is really a way of understanding life itself? That is a question I find myself coming back to more and more. Most people who encounter Āyurveda today are introduced to it as a traditional system of medicine. Perhaps you first hear about the three doṣas, or discover an herb like ashwagandha or turmeric. Maybe it is through yoga, meditation, diet, or ideas of what best suits your individual constitution. All of those things are certainly part of Āyurveda. But t

Discover how Āyurveda’s time-tested science aligns with modern research on centenarians. Learn how Rasāyana practices, the cultivation of Ojas, and disease prevention can help you live not just longer, but better.

Rethinking Protein Through an Āyurvedic Lens Walk through any health food store today and you’ll notice something: protein is everywhere...

Āyurveda teaches us weather is far more than just a backdrop to our lives.

Finding Your Center in A Political Whirlwind In today’s polarized political climate, particularly here in the United States, it is common...

Quick Silver: Mercury in Āyurveda Mercury, a substance with a long history of use in traditional medicines across the world, holds a...

For centuries, turmeric ( Curcuma longa ) has held a revered place in Āyurveda. Known as Haridra in Sanskrit, turmeric has been prized...

In Āyurveda the origins of disease are often subtle, evolving over time before manifesting as symptoms. This process, referred to as...

Few natural substances evoke the same reverence in Āyurveda as honey ( madhu ). Ancient Ayurvedic texts celebrate honey as a substance...

In Āyurveda, Kapikacchu, also known as Mucuna pruriens or velvet bean, is revered for its powerful therapeutic properties. This herb’s...

Psyllium husk, commonly known as isabgol in India, has a rich history rooted in ayurvedic and modern applications. Derived from the...

For millennia, Āyurveda has provided a consistent understanding of nature and her remedies. Rooted in ancient wisdom, Āyurveda offers a...

In Sanskrit, annakāla translates to ‘meal time’, referring to designated times for consuming meals. The concept emphasizes the importance of

Ojas is considered the essence of life — the subtle energy that governs vitality, immunity, and overall well-being.

In today’s fast-paced world, food has become more about convenience than nourishment. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Standard...

As the New Year begins, many of us aspire to make meaningful changes to our health and lifestyle. Yet, the challenge often lies in...