How You Perceive the World Affects Your Health
“Purusha is that pure Consciousness
that exists, lives and dwells in the city of senses.
The body is a city of senses.”
-
Dr. Vasant Lad
In Ayurveda, we say „we are what we can digest“. This does not only mean food, but all stimuli, outside impressions as well as our emotions. Two people can have the same experience, but handle it completely different; not being able to handle an experience can not only cause mental unease, also affects our body (e.g. through cortisol, a stress-response).
On an epigenetic level, everything we experience, our lifestyle, behavior, and environment influence how our genes are expressing themselves. That is why Ayurveda puts such an emphasis on seeking sattva – harmony, balance, equilibrium in all of life, not only in food.
We put our focus on the five senses because through them, we experience the external world.
Each sense corresponds to an element:
Space, wind, fire, water or earth.
HEARING
Your sense of hearing is associated with space. When you lose your ability to hear, your brain shrinks with it. ⠀
Taking in too many sounds affects our nervous system and increases Vata. It is a dosha that consists of the element space and air. Too much of these elements within us, can lead to nervousness and anxiety.
You can help this sense, by applying cotton balls with a few drops of sesame oil in your ears, preferably in the evening. This will lubricate your ear canal and the tiny hairs in our ear that are essential to hearing.
Are you listening to all thoughts your mind creates?
Mantras and nature sounds can aid your sense and your mind, as well as pranayama and meditation.
Ask yourself: What are you listening to on a daily basis? Maybe there is a need to live a more balanced lifestyle.
SIGHT
You are constantly taking in visual stimuli, especially through computers and phone screens.
Your eyes can easily become irritated as a result.
Eyes are governed by the element of fire, by Pitta dosha.
You can keep your eyes healthy by splashing water with a few drops of rose water in them – this will help cool fiery Pitta down.
This can also aid itchy eyes during allergy season.
SMELL
Your sense of smell is governed by the element earth.
Daily use of nasya oil - 2 drops in each of your nostrils in the morning will:
· aid your brain
· prevent early graying
· sharpen sense organs
· alleviate stiffness in head, neck, shoulder and jaw
· excellent for dental, ear, nasal, eye ache and sinusitis
· improve sleep
· improve clarity of mind
· prevent dark circles to form under your eyes
· prevent headaches
· viruses from entering through your nose.
You can also use a neti pot once a week to cleanse your nasal cavity. But it is only applied for prevention! As soon as you have a runny nose, do not use the neti pot.
TASTE
Your taste organ is associated with water.
Scrape your tongue daily to remove toxins (ama) and try gandusha, which is oil pulling.
I recommend using sesame oil as it is able to cleanse your saliva glands. Afterwards rinse your mouth well and brush your teeth.
Your mouth is the gateway to your heart. Pathogens that enter here, move through the blood stream and affect your heart. The plaque that builds up there not only affects your heart, studies showed it can affect the brain as well. 63% of plaque from the brain came from the mouth, which can lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
Make sure you incorporate all 6 tastes, called the Shad Rasa, into your diet. They will feed all 5 elements which correspond to the different tastes within your body.
Leaving your body and also your mind fully nourished, satisfied and without cravings.
Find out more about the Shad Rasa.
TOUCH
Touch, through your skin is associated with air. ⠀
Isn’t touch a wonderful medium for affection, for love?
Love in sanskrit is „sneha“ and it is also used for the word oil, for a very good reason – both are interconnected.
Already in the ancient text of sage, Charaka explains oil massage to be the number one anti-aging method:
„The body of one who uses oil massage regularly does not become affected much even if subjected to accidental injuries, or strenuous work. By using oil massage daily, a person is endowed with pleasant touch, trimmed body parts and becomes strong, charming and least affected by old age.”
-
Charaka Samhita Vol.1, V:88-89
Try abhyanga, a warm oil massage for your whole body after or before your shower.
Apply sesame oil for Vata dosha, coconut or sunflower oil for Pitta and almond for Kapha.
This practice calms airy Vata dosha and grounds you.
If you have a lot of Kapha, you can dry skin brush before oiling. This will move your lymphatic system and sweep out toxins. Afterwards you can do oil self-massage.
Abhyanga is a self-love practice that will not only relax you but also decrease anxiety.
Here is a little glimpse into the Vedic scriptures of the Katha Upanishad, talking about the senses.
“Driven by the senses we become bound;
Master of the senses we become free.
Those who seek freedom must master their senses.”
-
The Amritabindu Upanishad
I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into how to take care of your senses from an Ayurvedic perspective. In the end, you are the universe experiencing itself through the senses.
Much love,
Lisa