5 Ayurvedic Daily Practices That Will Change Your Life

Ayurveda has been getting a lot of attention in Western society over the past few years. People swear by Ayurvedic practices, and it’s not surprising when you begin to dive into this amazing ancient Indian holistic medicinal practice.

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is known as one of the oldest healing sciences, originating over 5,000 years ago in India. Nothing is as comprehensive as Ayurvedic medicine. Unlike Western medicine, Eastern medicine typically is centered around a more holistic approach.

Ayurveda works from a preventative approach, with the focus on understanding your constitution, or doshas, in order to achieve balance and harmony for your body and health.

The gut is the center of everything, so digestion is the main focus with many Ayurvedic treatments. This is why diet and understanding how food and daily habits can impact your specific dosha is so crucial in Ayurvedic medicine. 

I fully went down the Ayurvedic rabbit hole when I was working for an Ayurvedic Spa in Los Angeles in 2015. I am still a firm believer and student of it. I definitely recommend that you visit a practitioner and it will change your life. 

 While Ayurveda is a comprehensive and complex science that you can spend decades learning about, there are a few simple, easy to learn tricks to implement in your daily routine.

These holistic Ayurvedic tips will help your digestive system, stimulate your lymphatic system, nourish your body, fight inflammation and improve your skin. These are my favorite daily practices: 

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1. Oil Pulling

Literally everyone should do this. This will do wonders for your gum health, not to mention whiten your teeth and freshen your breath.

Oil pulling helps pull out the toxins from your gums, mouth and tongue after a night of rest. It helps overall dental health, reduce inflammation, freshen your breath, whiten your teeth, and kill harmful bacteria. 

It’s easy to do. Simply put a spoonful of oil in your mouth, do not swallow, and swish around like mouthwash. Try to get up to 15-20 minutes, but if you can only handle 5-10 at first, that’s fine. Work your way up. Once you’re done, you spit it out, gargle with warm water and then brush your teeth. You need to do this first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything. 

You can use sesame oil or coconut oil. I prefer coconut oil, for the taste and the added teeth whitening benefit. Sesame oil, however, is superior. It’s further detoxifying and will definitely be more helpful to those with increased oral hygiene issues. 

2. CCF Tea

This is the digestive tea of all digestive teas. Ayurveda utilizes herbs and spices, but these three are like the holy trinity. CCF, or Coriander, Cumin and Fennel, is the staple fix for digestive ailments. You can add some rose buds and mint to add a nice flavor, as well as help soothe any excess internal heat (or pitta) and inflammation. Plus, mint is wonderful for digestion as well. 

You should drink this throughout the day, and as needed. I find it quite tasty, and it feels really nice and cooling, even in the hot summer days. I wouldn’t recommend drinking too close to bed though, as you’ll need to go to the bathroom.

You can make it by gently roasting equal parts coriander seeds and fennel seeds, with ½ the amount of cumin seeds. Only roast half of the ingredients, and stop when you can start to smell the aroma. Once you’ve turned off the heat, add the remainder of the ingredients as well as a few crushed rose buds, and some dried spearmint leaves. Store in an airtight container, and you’re done.

3. Dry Brushing + Self Oil Massage

Dry Brushing and self oil massage not only feels wonderful, but it has health benefits. Dry Brushing helps reduce cellulite, wakes you and your circulation up, as well as stimulating your lymphatic system. Self massage has similar benefits, with added stress reduction and moisture.

You should dry brush first thing in the morning, before getting in the shower or sweating. Start from the feet and work your way up. You should use up and down strokes on the limbs, and circular motions on your joints, hips and breasts. 

Then, massage yourself with coconut oil or a similar oil, from bottom to top and hop in the shower. Your skin will actually absorb the oil more deeply, and you won’t be as greasy afterward. 

4. Ghee in the Morning

Ah, ghee. I was so confused about what it was when I was first introduced, but it has become an obsession of mine. Ghee is clarified butter. That means that it is processed to become essentially an oil, no longer a refrigerated dairy product and with no milk solids in it. Most people who are lactose intolerant can handle pure ghee. 

If you are vegan however, you can swap it out for a morning teaspoon of coconut oil, but I do think the ghee is more powerful, especially for improving skin.

Ghee helps get rid of toxins, and really aids your digestive system. You will probably very shortly after have a bowel movement after taking. Ghee has so many benefits. It helps lower your cholesterol, improves and stabilizes blood sugar and helps you feel more satiated so you don’t over eat. I notice a huge difference in my skin when I’m regularly taking ghee, as well. I break out way less and have a nice glow. 

It’s easy to prepare. You simply take a teaspoon of melted ghee (or coconut oil) upon rising. After your tongue scraping, before oil pulling, and before your morning tea and water. About 20-30 minutes later, you can have something to drink and then eat. Ghee needs to be taken on an empty stomach so it can essentially flush you out. 

I would highly suggest Ancient Organics for Ghee, but there are many reputable brands, also available on Amazon.

5. Tongue Scraping 

This is the easiest thing on this list. When you wake up, use your handy dandy tongue scraper to scrape your tongue about 10 times. You’ll be shocked at the gunk that comes off. You’ll be even more shocked when you notice after regular use, guess what, there’s way less shit on your tongue every morning. 

You will also notice how nights when you eat meat or fish, or heavy junk food, you’re going to have a lot more stuff on your tongue. Toxins, or ama as it’s referred to in Ayurveda, is what you’re removing. Your body essentially dispels this when you rest, and you need to get rid of it when you wake up. Otherwise, you just swallow it right back down. 

While tongue scraping has a visible result, it also really helps improve your breath and the amount of bacteria in your mouth. 

My Favorite Tongue Scrapers are either real copper ones or those made by Dr. Tung’s. You can purchase them here or in most health food stores.

6. Triphala at Night

My other favorite digestive superpower is Triphala. A favorite medicinal herb in Ayurveda, Triphala is three superfruits combined. Triphala has a lot of health benefits.

Regular use will help regulate your digestive system and your bowel movements. It’s great for everyone, and particularly great for those with sluggish digestion and metabolisms. Not to mention, it’s very high in vitamin C, antioxidants and helps your blood sugar.

While it doesn’t take super amazing, you have two options of how to take it. You can take a capsule, easy peasy, or brew the herbs into a tea. Brewing a tea will always be more potent than taking a capsule, but it does take effort and the taste isn’t lovely. You should take it in whatever form about an hour before bed. 

I would highly recommend buying Triphala from Digest Tone or Banyan Botanicals.

Sample Morning Routine

1. Wake Up
2. Tongue Scrape
3. Take Ghee.
4. Oil Pull. Heat up your morning tea/lemon water so it’s ready for you.
5. Dry Brush and Self Oil Massage. If you get your sweat on in the morning like I do, you can do your self oil massage at night. Dry brushing should happen in the morning, and with dry skin. It’s stimulating, so it’s a great way to wake up.
6. Shower.
7. Rinse out oil.
8. Drink your tea + water, then prepare breakfast or get your sweat on.

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