In This Article
Gut health, or the health of the gut microbiome, is a crucial aspect of overall health and well-being. In Ayurveda, the gut is seen as the foundation of health, as it plays a crucial role in digestion, absorption of nutrients, and elimination of waste. The three doshas, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, each have a unique influence on gut health.
Vata individuals tend to have a more delicate gut microbiome, which can lead to issues such as bloating, gas, and constipation. They may also experience dryness in the gut, leading to difficulty in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. To support Vata gut health, it is important to consume warm, cooked foods and to avoid cold, raw, or dry foods. Herbs such as licorice, fennel, and ginger can also be helpful in promoting a healthy gut microbiome and reducing inflammation.
Pitta individuals have a strong gut microbiome, which can lead to issues such as acid reflux, heartburn, and indigestion. They may also experience heat in the gut, leading to difficulty in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. To support Pitta gut health, it is important to consume cooling foods such as cucumbers, melons, and mint. Herbs such as coriander, fennel, and licorice can also be helpful in reducing heat and promoting a healthy gut microbiome.
Kapha individuals tend to have a sluggish gut microbiome, which can lead to issues such as weight gain, fatigue, and slow digestion. They may also experience dampness in the gut, leading to difficulty in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. To support Kapha gut health, it is important to consume light, dry, and warm foods and to avoid heavy, sweet, or cold foods. Herbs such as ginger, cumin, and black pepper can also be helpful in stimulating gut microbiome and reducing inflammation.
Overall, in Ayurveda, maintaining a healthy gut microbiome is seen as crucial for overall health and well-being. It is important to understand the unique gut health needs of each dosha, and to make dietary and lifestyle choices that support a healthy gut microbiome. Regular use of herbs can also be beneficial in promoting gut health and reducing inflammation.
Herbal Supplementation
Herbs play a crucial role in Ayurvedic medicine, as they possess unique healing properties that can be used to address a wide range of health issues and bring balance to the doshas. Each dosha has unique needs when it comes to supporting your gut microbiome, and certain herbs can be more beneficial for each one.
Vata individuals tend towards dryness, instability, irregularity, and a lack of microbiome diversity. They benefit from herbs that reduce their digestive stress and support increased microbiome diversity.
- Elim 1: a blend of three fruits (amla, haritaki, and bibhitaki) along with slippery elm, licorice and a microdose of psyllium husk. This helps to tone the bowel while combating dryness and sluggish elimination that is commonly seen in Vata imbalances.
- Gentle Digest: a blend of five herbs (ginger, cumin, fennel, coriander, and cardamom) that balance Vata and help to relieve gas and bloating and improve digestion.
- Slippery Elm Prebiotic Formula: a blend of rough cut Vata-balancing soluble fibers (slippery elm, licorice and marshmallow root) to sooth the lining of the entire digestive tract while boosting beneficial gut bacteria.
- Gut Revival: a blend of colonizing probiotics that establish a new healthy stable of beneficial gut bacteria while creating an environment unsuitable for undesirable bacteria. It has also been shown to increase bowel movement transit time by 56%.
Pitta individuals tend to have a decent balance between good and bad bacteria in the gut. They benefit from cooling and soothing herbs to prevent an excess of Pitta and in turn an increase of bad bacteria.
- Neem Boost: a combination of neem leaves and amalaki that balances Pitta in the digestive tract while breaking up unwanted biofilm in the intestinal tract that can lead to abdominal belly fat.
- Cool Digest: helps to cool and soothe the digestive tract, reducing Pitta-related indigestion and discomfort and bloat.
- Leaky Gut Support: helps to improve digestion and relieve Pitta-related loose stools and occasional diarrhea.
- Flora Restore: a colonizing probiotic proven to attach to the gut lining and proliferating greater numbers of permanent and beneficial gut bacteria. Studies show it also increased bowel movement transit time by 56%.
- Gut Health Restore: a combination of neem, mimosa, and vidanga that rids the gut of undesirable bacteria while creating a gut environment suitable for the proliferation of beneficial bacteria.
Kapha individuals tend to have a buildup of mucus and other waste products in the gut, leading to sluggishness and decreased overall digestive function. They benefit from herbs that are stimulating and increase microbiome diversity.
- Manjistha: helps to reduce Kapha-related congestion by supporting the lymphatic system’s ability to remove waste.
- Warm Digest: helps to warm and stimulate the digestive system, reducing congestion and sluggishness.
- Turmeric Plus: helps to improve digestion, cleanse liver and gallbladder and reduce Kapha-related stagnation in the gut.
- Triphala: a blend of three fruits (amla, haritaki, and bibhitaki) that helps to cleanse and tone the digestive tract.
- Mucus Destroyer: a blend of Ayurvedic herbs (turmeric, ginger, sitopladi churna, and black pepper) that gently pulls mucus off the gut lining restoring normal function.
If you are new to taking Ayurvedic herbs or supplements, we highly recommend downloading this short free ebook to set you out on the right track from the get-go:
Dinacharya (Ayurvedic Daily Routine)
Dinacharya, or daily routine, is an important aspect of Ayurvedic medicine and can greatly support gut health and the microbiome. Some practices that can support your gut health include:
- Waking up early: Rising early and starting the day with a sense of freshness can help regulate the digestive system and improve gut bacteria balance.
- Jihwa Prakshalana (tongue scraping): Scraping the tongue can remove bacteria and toxins from the tongue, which can improve oral health, support gut health, and improve taste.
- Drinking warm water: Drinking warm water first thing in the morning can help stimulate digestion, flush out toxins, and support gut health. Option: add juice of ¼ lemon.
- Gandusha (oil pulling): In the shower, swish oil around the mouth for 10-15 minutes to support a healthy mouth microbiome and protect against undesirable bacteria and gum issues. We recommend using LifeSpa’s Swish Oil Pulling Therapy.
- Nasya (nose oiling) and Karna Purana (ear oiling): In the shower, add a few drops of LifeSpa’s Nasya Oil in the nose and ears. This is an easy way to keep the sinuses, eustachian tube, and cervical lymph lubricated, clear, healthy, and functional.
- Abhyanga (self-massage): Applying warm oil to the body while showering or before bathing can calm Vata, fight stress, improve circulation, help stimulate immunity, and support gut bacteria balance. We recommend using LifeSpa’s Tri-doshic Massage Oil or Lymphatic Massage Oil.
- Grounding practices: Practicing yoga, pranayama (breathing), meditation, or other forms of exercise in the morning before starting your day can help stimulate digestion, improve overall health, and support gut health. Practice my One Minute Meditation up to ten times per day to help cope with stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Eating at regular intervals: Eating at regular intervals can help regulate the digestive system and prevent overeating or undereating, and support gut bacteria balance. Make breakfast and lunch the main meals of the day.
- Eating a balanced diet: Eating a diet that is balanced in terms of the six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent) can help ensure that all the necessary nutrients are being consumed while supporting gut bacteria balance and maintaining gut health.
- Avoiding eating late at night: Eating late at night can disrupt the body’s natural rhythms, negatively impact digestion, and harm gut health.
- Avoiding eating in front of the TV or computer: Eating while distracted can lead to overeating and poor digestion, which can harm gut health and bacteria balance.
- Get to bed early: Settle into bed early around 9:30 PM so you are asleep by 10 PM.
In Ayurveda, the daily routine, known as Dinacharya, is considered a crucial aspect for leading a fulfilling life, which is why I created the 28-Day Ayurveda Challenge. Each day in this eCourse, you will learn a new challenge to incorporate into your daily routine that relieves stress, promotes health, and quiets the mind. By the end of the Ayurveda Challenge, you will have effortlessly incorporated a daily routine that lasts for 20-30 minutes, and it will be simple, enjoyable, and impactful. You will soon experience feelings of calmness, focus, and increased energy. This daily routine will not be seen as a chore, but rather a means of reward, as the benefits far outweigh the small time investment.
Nutrition
According to Ayurveda, each dosha has specific dietary needs and practices that support gut health.
For Vata dosha individuals, it is important to consume warm, cooked foods that are easy to digest, such as soups and stews. Spicy, cold and dry foods should be avoided, as they can aggravate Vata. It is also beneficial to include foods that are high in healthy fats, such as cultured ghee, olive oil and avocado, to help lubricate the digestive tract. It is recommended to eat at regular times and to chew food well. Although it is important for everyone to eat seasonally all the time, it is especially important for Vata individuals to eat seasonally during the Fall and Winter seasons when Vata individuals are at greater risk of accumulating an excess of Vata that can lead to fatigue, weak immunity, and poor sleep.
We recommend downloading our Winter Grocery List for examples of what to eat as a Vata during this season. For Vata body types during the winter months, it is especially important they follow these Vata-balancing dietary rules:
- Reduce foods that are pungent, bitter, and astringent or have a cold, dry, and light quality.
- Increase foods that are sweet, sour, and salty or have a heavy, oily, and hot quality.
For Pitta dosha individuals, it is important to consume cooling foods such as fruits and vegetables. Spicy and sour foods should be avoided, as they can aggravate Pitta. It is also beneficial to include foods that are high in healthy fats, such as coconut oil and flaxseeds, to help cool the digestive fire. It is recommended to eat at regular times and to chew food well. Although it is important for everyone to eat seasonally all the time, it is especially important for Pitta individuals to eat seasonally during the Summer when Pitta individuals are at greater risk of accumulating an excess of Pitta that can lead to indigestion, irritability, and skin concerns.
We recommend downloading our Summer Grocery List for examples of what to eat as a Pitta during this season. For Pitta body types during the summer months, it is especially important they follow these Pitta-balancing dietary rules:
- Reduce foods that are pungent, sour, and salty or have hot, dry, and light quality.
- Increase foods that are sweet, bitter, and astringent or have a heavy, oily, and cold quality.
For Kapha dosha individuals, it is important to consume warm, light and dry foods such as salads and steamed vegetables. Heavy and oily foods should be avoided, as they can aggravate Kapha. It is also beneficial to include foods that are high in fiber, such as fruits and vegetables, to help keep the digestive tract moving. It is recommended to eat at regular times and to chew food well. Although it is important for everyone to eat seasonally all the time, it is especially important for Kapha individuals to eat seasonally during the Spring when Kapha individuals are at greater risk of accumulating an excess of Kapha that can lead to fatigue, sadness, congestion, and heaviness.
We recommend downloading our Spring Grocery List for examples of what to eat as a Kapha during this season. For Kapha body types during the spring months, it is especially important they follow these Kapha-balancing dietary rules:
- Reduce foods that are sweet, sour, and salty or have heavy, oily, and cold quality.
- Increase foods that are pungent, bitter, and astringent or have a light, dry, and hot quality.
It is important to note that these are general recommendations and it is always best to consult with an Ayurvedic practitioner to determine the best dietary plan for your individual needs.
As humans have advanced, we have grown more and more disconnected from the natural cycles and circadian rhythms which leaves many of us scratching our heads when we’re asked to eat seasonally. To help us reconnect with these rhythms, I created a free program that delivers seasonal guidance and recipes every month directly to your inbox. I call it the 3 Season Diet Guide, I highly encourage you to check it out. New research suggests that our gut microbes are meant to change seasonally with the foods we eat. Seasonal microbes optimize digestion, mood, and immunity, the way nature intended!
Cleansing
Cleansing plays a crucial role in Ayurveda as it is aimed at purifying the body and restoring balance to its natural systems. At times, the imbalances in our doshas can become so severe that regular dietary changes, herbal remedies, and lifestyle practices are not sufficient to bring us back into balance. In such cases, a more comprehensive detoxification program, known as a cleanse, may be necessary. Cleansing can correct doshic imbalances that are negatively affecting our physical and emotional health, thereby enhancing our overall well-being. These cleanses can be performed seasonally, in Spring and Fall, or as needed to support the body’s natural cleansing processes. LifeSpa offers a wide variety of cleansing options to fit your unique needs, discover the perfect cleanse for you here.
Further Education
Expand your knowledge by exploring these comprehensive ebooks and engaging online courses related to gut health and the microbiome:
- Perfecting Digestion: Gateway to Emotional Freedom (eCourse)
- Digestive Troubleshooting Guide (free eBook)
- Digestible Guide to Gut Health (free eBook)
- The Protein Solution: Combat Hidden Signs of Protein Deficiency (free eBook)
- Short Home Cleanse (free eBook)
Getting Started
Top Ten Ayurvedic Tips for Occasional Heartburn
Stress or Junk Food: Which is Worse for Gut Health?
Scientists Call the Loss of Healthy Microbiome Bacteria an Extinction Event
New Science Shows Triphala with a Probiotic May Boost Longevity and Microbiome Health
Why You Need Leaky Gut Support
Gut Health: Inhibit Intestinal Biofilm with Neem
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