Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word derived from two roots: ayus, which means life, and veda, which means knowledge. It has its root in ancient Vedic science and encompasses our entire world – nature, the body, mind and spirit. Ayurveda focuses on prevention of illness and the body’s natural power to heal itself.
History and Basic Principles
Ayurvedic medical texts date back to 2500 B.C. According to the ancient texts, there are five elements that compose everything in the universe, including the human body: earth, water, fire, air, and sky/ether.Within the human body, there seven layers–called dhatus–that get treated: plasma, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow, semen or female reproductive tissue.
Additionally, there are 8 branches of Ayurvedic medicine, as follows: Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Eye & ENT, Psychiatry, Toxicology, Prevention, and Aphrodisiac Therapy.
Prevention
Ayurveda recognizes that all of life, whether it be human, plant or animal, must live in harmony with nature in order to survive. Like the owner’s manual for your car speaks of maintenance schedules for the long term health of your car, Ayurveda teaches daily and seasonal routines that ensure maximal health and longevity. In Ayurvedic medicine, prevention starts with a lifestyle that is in harmony with the changing cycles of nature.
>>> Learn how to eat with the seasons
Diagnostic Tools
Ayurveda employs a holistic, highly personal approach to diagnosis. Body-type analysis, tongue reading, pulse diagnosis, skin analysis, mental & emotional health, digestive strength, physical health, overall well-being, and intent listening to your symptoms and concerns, help to find and address imbalances in the body.
Body Types (Dosha)
Body types, or doshas, are reflections of the qualities of nature. They give insight not just into the tendencies of our bodies, but of our mental, emotional, and behavioral characteristics as well. According to Ayurvedic medicine, prevention is dictated by the unique requirements of your body type. Because we are unique, what we eat, how we exercise, when we sleep, and even where we prefer to live, will be different from one person to the next. The best and most healthful practices for each individual can be better understood by knowing one’s body type.
Ayurvedic Healing
In Ayurveda, we believe that healing starts from within. In fact, the idea of prescribing a sedative herb to relieve insomnia or a laxative to relieve constipation is contrary to the Ayurvedic philosophy. Ayurveda teaches that, when the root cause of an imbalance is treated rather than just the symptoms, the body can heal itself . When this is not happening, it is usually because the body does not recognize the problem as a problem. The cure, then, is in the enhancement of the body’s own internal awareness of itself.
Ayurveda uses specific herbal formulas, lifestyle techniques such as yoga, breathing, and meditation, massage, dietary recommendations, and special detox methods, to achieve this.
John Douillard’s LifeSpa Organics is our line of Ayurvedic herbal formulas that are independently tested to be 100% pure and free of lead and contaminants. These whole-herb formulas are based on ancient Ayurvedic formulas, and available from our online store.
>>> Learn about Ayurvedic Consults with John Douillard
>>> Shop by health topic at our Ayurvedic online store
Our Philosophy: Ayurveda is for Everyone
Ayurveda’s ancient wisdom is overwhelmingly supported by modern science. By harnessing the power of the two, we can distill the most potent methods of diagnosis and treatment.
The philosophy of Dr. John Douillard and LifeSpa is that Ayurveda is for everyone. The amazing techniques at its core are accessible to anyone who wants to feel better. Many of these techniques can even be done at home, at your own pace, in only a few minutes a day.
>> Learn about home cleansing and detox programs
Ayurvedic Medicine Online
 | The 28-Day Ayurveda Challenge is a self-paced educational course designed to relieve stress, improve sleep, and feel better by learning an easy and pleasurable routine that you can do every day, no matter how busy you are. Each day, Dr. John will show you how to implement a new Ayurvedic technique through a daily email, video and tip sheets. Learn about the 28-Day Ayurveda Challenge, or if you’re ready to start, you can purchase it here. |
 | Over the years, John Douillard has developed an approach to learning the pulse which covers an enormous amount of ground in a short period of time, relaying the larger portion of my pulse reading knowledge in a complete and holistic way in just ten weeks. Over the course of these ten weeks, you will receive a weekly mixed-media lesson, including:
Learn more about Ayurvedic Pulse Reading, or if you’re ready to start, you can purchase it here. |
 | A groundbreaking course from Dr. John Douillard DC that shows you how to achieve emotional freedom by perfecting digestion. Produced and delivered by our good friends over at Floracopeia, we are thrilled to be able to offer this course jointly with them. Perfecting Digestion: the Gateway to Emotional Freedom is a powerful course that will train you to reset the balance of the body and bring emotional freedom of the mind. Dr. Douillard will be your guide in this inspiring, profound, and practical seven module course that includes two question-and-answer sessions. Take the FREE 4-part video training now or if you’re ready to start, you purchase it here. |
 | The Transformational Awareness Technique (TAT) is a complete meditation method brought to you by Dr. John Douillard, DC and compiled from over thirty years of meditation experience, both in personal practice and teaching. Over the course of six weeks, learn a powerful series of non-denominational meditations appropriate for beginners and advanced practitioners alike, and designed to go beyond stress relief to creating real transformational change in your life. Take the FREE 3-part video training now or if you’re ready to start, you purchase it here. |
 | Join Dr. John Douillard for The 3-Season Diet Challenge. It’s free! This challenge takes you through a year of eating seasonally with month-to-month support and guidance. Nature provides the ideal harvest for each season to keep you strong, healthy, energized and focused. New research suggests that our gut microbes are meant to change seasonally by the foods we eat. Seasonal microbes optimize digestion, mood and immunity – the way nature intended! Learn more about the 3-Season Diet Challenge and sign up for FREE today! |
New to Ayurveda? Start here:
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word derived from two roots: ayur, which means life, and veda, which means knowledge. It has its root in ancient Vedic science and encompasses our entire world – nature, the body, mind and spirit. Ayurveda focuses on prevention of illness and the body’s natural power to heal itself. …click here to read full the article.
New to Ayurvedic Body Types?
New to Ayurvedic Body Types?Ayurvedic Body Types, also known as doshas, are the foundation for understanding yourself from an Ayurvedic perspective. Your Body Type Quiz will help you formulate a new way of living that balances your strengths and weaknesses with the natural cycles that permeate our day-to-day lives. Learning to live an Ayurvedic lifestyle is learning to live in harmony with our personal body type’s needs through diet, herbs, lifestyle, stress relief techniques and diet. Find out what makes up your constitution: vata, pitta, or kapha?
New to Ayurvedic Herbs?
New to Ayurvedic Herbs?Ayurvedic medicine is founded on the understanding that illnesses are due to a weakness in the body that allow for a disease to take hold in the first place. Therefore, if one were to stay in perfect health, they would be essentially immune to the sicknesses that might plague others around them. Ayurvedic herbs are designed to help support the body’s natural functioning and healing. In this way, Ayurvedic herbs build strength so that your body can do the natural healing it was made to do. Get the top five herb recommendations!
New to Eating Healthy with Ayurveda?
New to Eating Healthy with Ayurveda?Nature provides the ideal harvest for each season to keep you strong, healthy, energized and focused. The 3-Season Diet aligns our desires with the foods that nature has provided in season for thousands of years. In the winter we naturally crave soups, nuts, warm grains, and other high fat and protein foods such as meat and fish. In the spring we want salads, berries, and leafy greens — a naturally low-fat diet. And in the summer, when the days are long and hot, we require cooling and high-energy foods such as fruits and vegetables, which are a naturally available high carbohydrate diet. Keep reading to learn more about the 3 Season Diet and the FREE 3 Season Diet Challenge!
New to Ayurvedic Relationships?
Learning to love is learning to live. In learning to love freely and openly others, we can learn how to truly be and love ourselves uninhibitedly. When we hold back a little bit of our love from people who are close to us and choose only to show ourselves or share ourselves in small doses or hidden glimpses we are effectually only preventing ourselves from getting in touch with or true potential and ultimate selves. Watch the video now!
