Journal | Jivita Ayurveda

The essence of Ayurveda

I am an Ayurvedic practitioner. This means that for work I help people to find balance in their lives through diet, lifestyle, herbs, relaxing treatments and detoxing. For me, the principles for finding balance are clear and simple. However, the main challenge I find in this profession is that I have to fight against prejudices…

Small intermittent fasting

There is a growing interest in the world of science on the gut function, considering the latest discoveries of the importance of our diet and lifestyle on health. Microbiology, with the study of gut biology and how bacteria, viruses and even so called parasites interact to create good digestion and better health is one of…

Detoxing is not a myth

Last year an article came out in The Guardian heavily criticising the detox craze and the detox market in general. It was good reading since the market has indeed gone bonkers selling everything under the sky as good for detoxing. Consumers are faced with a dilemma on what products to choose and which detox program to go…

Super soup

Today, when I’m writing this, my sister, Saara, left London to go back to Finland. She’s training to be a massage therapist like me and we were exchanging some techniques she’s been learning and what I am using in my treatments. Pretty exciting to talk to someone who knows every bloody origin and insertion of…

Empiricism in Ayurveda

I was engaged once in an interesting conversation on herbs and their medicinal properties with someone who had just retired after a long career in a well-known pharmaceutical company. Although quite skeptical of alternative healing methods he was still curious to hear what ayurveda had to offer. One of the things he asked me was…

Ayurveda for addiction: The serotonin factor

Ayurveda has recognised the deep connection that exists between the brain and the gut for thousands of years. But what is the connection? The answer lies in serotonin, the “feel good” hormone. In Ayurveda addiction is called madatya and the three different body types (vata, pitta and kapha) are all susceptible. Each body type is…

Sprouts : Spring food “par excellence”

Is there anything that takes my fancy more than sprouts in spring? No, there isn’t, or maybe, but I cannot figure it out now. I am so excited about the first sprouting year after year. It brings such joy and delight to see life expressing itself so vitally. The transformation that goes on in these…

Healthy food is good… but it can also be your undoing

I just ate a slice of wonderful Finnish cabbage pie I baked modifying my mum’s recipe ever so slightly towards my Italian culinary preferences. A bit of parmesan won’t hurt any dish. Or maybe a fish dish… oh no, I do put it there as well sometimes!! Flexibility is one of the requirements of good…