THE SHAPE OF NATURE

It’s been snowing today. From my window I see a tree that at the moment has a stark form. Against the sky its structure has an intricate beauty. Our brains like those shapes more than they do straight lines. A few weeks from now the same tree will start to show green, and its trunk fill out again from its currently withered state.

Humans change too, across time. Our body shape changes across the year and over many years, from crawling baby to athletic teen, doughy adult to spritely nonagenarian. But the medical systems we deal with don’t always acknowledge the fine detail of those transformations on an individual, comparing us instead to an imaginary norm.

One of the beauties of a medicinal approach rooted in herbalism, like Ayurveda, is the ability to find just the right tonic at the right time for a specific person with a particular dosha. Knowing your dosha type, something you can explore here, allows a preparation that’s perfect for you but not be the one required by someone presenting similarly but not the same. Straight line thinking doesn’t always help.

It’s not just Ayurveda that understands things in this way. Early Greek and Middle Eastern medicine spoke of the Triphala, translatable as ‘three fruits’ and with close affinities to doshas. Again, the notion of balance and discovering what’s true for the individual are what counts. Using gentle herbs over time, to restore equilibrium upset by seasonal changes, personal trauma, has a wisdom to it that is very different to the stronger militant effect of pharmaceuticals. Yes, we all know people who’ve survived cancer thanks to the brilliance of modern medicine. And some of the data those cures are based on comes from a long-term study started 70 years ago in America when nuclear weapons were tested in areas that were remote, but not so remote that nearby communities wouldn’t be affected.

That scorched earth approach shows scant respect for people or planet and their rhythms and patterns. Consider instead some timeless remedies that Ayurveda has noted and worked with for centuries. Ashwagandha, a herb which helps reduce stress thanks to its ability to reduce levels of cortisol. Amla, the benefits of which include reducing the inflammatory effect of arthritis. Cumin, known to have beneficial effects on digestive enzymes.

Whether your needs are specifically health-oriented, to enhance your skincare regime, or simply to make your ‘me time’ even more of a loving indulgence, the Tri-Dosha shop has products that will delight you, and those you love. Invest now and enjoy the rewards across the year.

Until next time … Namaste

Founder Tri-Dosha