Attain Wellness and Vitality with Ayurveda Tea

Reviewed by Experts

The ancient Indian medical system of Ayurveda has been practiced for thousands of years. In Sanskrit, ‘Ayur’ translates as life and ‘Veda’ means science or knowledge. Thus ‘Ayurveda’ means ‘the science of life’ and it has been around for as long as 5000 years. Ayurveda focuses on the belief that the health and wellness of living beings depends on the balance of mind, body, and spirit. It incorporates diet, lifestyle, herbs, and yoga to truly heal from within. This natural system of medicine draws from the wisdom of nature’s goodness for cures and remedies to alleviate a variety of ailments. Ayurveda makes use of fruits, roots, herbs, minerals, and spices to promote wellness of the mind, body, and spirit.

Three Doshas – Pitta, Kapha & Vata

Ayurveda believes that a person’s body is made up of a unique balance of three elemental forces, or Doshas: Pitta (fire), Kapha (water), and Vata (air). When there is an imbalance in these Doshas, the flow of the body’s energy gets disrupted and this may lead to illness and diseases. Yoga, meditation, and diet are some of the techniques used in Ayurveda to balance a person’s Dosha. Aside from these techniques, one’s Dosha can also be balanced with the help of herbal remedies or Ayurvedic teas.

Learn more about the three doshas here.

What are Ayurvedic Teas?

Ayurvedic teas include a blend of natural ingredients that provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, relaxation, and detoxification benefits, to name a few. Ayurvedic teas are used to balance one or more of the Doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) and this goal is best achieved by blending a synergistic combination of supportive herbs.

Pitta Tea

Imbalances in Pitta Dosha cause inflammation in the skin or joints, feelings of anger, criticism, jealousy, and other heated emotions. To balance the Pitta or fire Dosha, Ayurveda recommends herbs and spices that have a cooling effect. Here’s a simple recipe for Pitta tea that you can try at home:

Ingredients:

•     1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
•     1/4 teaspoon coriander
•     1/4 teaspoon fennel
•     1/4 teaspoon fresh coriander leaves
•     1/4 teaspoon rose petals
•     1 cup boiling water

Method:

1. Mix the cumin seeds, fennel, coriander leaves, and rose petals together.
2. Add the boiling water.
3. Steep for five minutes, covered.
4. Strain and discard herbs and spices and serve cool, lukewarm, or at room temperature

Benefits of Pitta Tea ^[1][2][3][4]

1. Cumin seeds have been found to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic effects. It is also very good for liver.
2. Coriander seeds are mainly used as a drug for indigestion, against worms, rheumatism, and pain in the joints.
3. Fennel seed is a rich source of high dietary fibre (28.7 %) and is also used in aromatherapy. 

Also, learn how to pacify pitta dosha

Kapha Tea

Kapha imbalance symptoms include feelings of lethargy, heaviness, and stubbornness or sluggishness, as well as low libido, allergies and weight gain. Here’s a simple recipe for Kapha tea:

Ingredients:

•     1/4 teaspoon dry ginger
•     1 clove
•     1/4 teaspoon dill seed
•     1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seed
•     1 cup boiling water

Method:

1. Mix the ginger, clove, dill seed, and fenugreek seed, together.
2. Add boiling water to the herb and spice mixture.
3. Steep for 5 minutes, covered.
4. Strain and discard the herb and spice mixture, and serve hot.

Benefits of Kapha Tea ^[5][6][7][8]

1. Fenugreek is good for new mothers and is also a proven pre-diabetic herb.
2. Dill seeds are used as aromatics and an annual herb of Apiaceae family. The Ayurvedic uses of dill seeds are carminative, stomachic, and diuretic.
3. Ginger can treat a number of ailments including degenerative disorders (arthritis and rheumatism), digestive health (indigestion, constipation and ulcer), cardiovascular disorders (atherosclerosis and hypertension), vomiting, diabetes mellitus, and cancer. 
4. Ginger has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties too.
5. Clove has potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

Also, learn how to pacify kapha dosha

Vata Tea

Signs and symptoms of Vata Imbalance include anxiety, panic, fear, and restlessness, as well as spasms, dry or chapped skin, constipation, gas, bloating, etc. to name a few. Below is a simple recipe for Vata tea:

Ingredients:

1/4 teaspoon ginger (fresh grated)

1/4 teaspoon cardamom (ground)

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ajwain seeds

1 cup boiling water

Method:

1. Mix the ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and ajwain seeds together.
2. Boil the water and then add it to the herb and spice mixture.
3. Steep the tea, covered, for five minutes.
4. Strain and discard the herbs and spices and serve warm.

Benefits of Vata Tea ^{[7][9][10][11]}

1. Vata Tea has ginger and ginger can treat a number of ailments including degenerative disorders (arthritis and rheumatism), digestive health (indigestion, constipation and ulcer), cardiovascular disorders (atherosclerosis and hypertension), vomiting, diabetes mellitus, and cancer. 
2. Ginger has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties too.
3. Cardamom possesses various pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities.
4. Ajwain is an important remedial agent for flatulence, atonic dyspepsia, diarrhea, abdominal tumors, abdominal pains, piles, and bronchial problems, lack of appetite, galactogogue, asthma and amenorrhoea.
5. Cinnamon lowers cholesterol, inflammation, blood sugar, and fights cancer. It is an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and has been shown to have effects on neurological conditions including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Also, learn how to balance vata dosha

FAQs

The Takeaway

The health benefits of drinking ayurvedic tea are immense and range from aiding weight loss, curing indigestion, brightening the skin, detoxifying the body, boosting immunity, and enhancing the quality of life. Since our bodies often have more than one Dosha, you can drink teas with multiple Ayurvedic ingredients. Aside from balancing the Doshas, these Ayurvedic herbs offer other health benefits as well.

References

1. A Comprehensive Review of Cumin is a Natural Remedy for Health and Wellness
2. (PDF) Coriander
3. (PDF) Fennel and fennel seed
4. Review article Beneficial medicinal effects and material applications of rose.
5. Fenugreek | NCCIH
6. Anethum graveolens: An Indian traditional medicinal herb and spice – PMC
7. Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ginger in Health and Physical Activity: Review of Current Evidence
8. Clove (Syzygium aromaticum): a precious spice – PMC
9. Benefits of Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton) and Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) Extracts for Their Applications as Natural Anti-Inflammatory Adjuvants – PMC
10. Trachyspermum ammi – PMC
11. Cinnamon: A Multifaceted Medicinal Plant – PMC