Something I get asked about all the time is what are some good books on Ayurveda? Ayurveda is a complete system of healing that goes well beyond dosha tests and food lists. Ayurvedic concepts can seem overwhelming if you’re new to the subject but luckily there are many great books to guide you. Whether you’re new to Ayurveda, or are interested in diving a little deeper into your studies, it is difficult to know where to start. I picked a few of my favorite Ayurveda books that, in my opinion, are great for Ayurveda newbies. I must say it was very difficult for me to keep the list short. Happy reading!
Ayurveda – The Science of Self Healing by Dr Vasant Lad – The Science of Self-Healing is a great book to start with. It clearly explains the principles and practical applications of Ayurveda. It’s a quick read covering a broad range of topics including Ayurveda history, basic principles, diagnostic techniques, dosha specific diets, yoga and basic herbal remedies.
Perfect Health by Deepak Chopra – This book made the list because it’s a classic and another great book for newbies. Perfect Health was one of the first books written for Westerners on Ayurveda, and the first practical guide to Ayurveda that made the bestseller list. In addition to giving great general information on the principles of Ayurveda the book describes how current medical research is proving what Ayurveda has known for thousands of years: the mind and body are not separate entities but are deeply connected and that creating whole health depends on viewing yourself in a more holistic way.
Balance Your Hormones Balance Your Life by Dr. Claudia Welch – I recommend this book all the time and not just to my female clients that are struggling to balance their hormones. In the book, Dr. Claudia addresses how to deal with the modern day issues of overworked, stressed out and overwhelmed. She clearly explains hormones and how they relate to each other, how and why they become imbalanced, and how women can restore that balance. The book highlights simple diet tips, stress-management techniques, and natural sleep aids. Using the principles of Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life gives women a great foundation to understand their hormone imbalance and to take action to achieve hormone harmony.
Eat, Taste, Heal: An Ayurvedic Guidebook and Cookbook for Modern Living by Thomas Yarema, Daniel Rhoda and Johnny Brannigan – I often give this book as a gift. It’s beautiful! Not only does it have great recipes that can be tailored to each dosha, Eat, Taste, Heal provides excellent foundational information on the teachings of Ayurveda. This is more than a simple cookbook and gives a beginner a great place to explore the idea that food is medicine.
Looking for more? Try These
The Complete Book of Ayurveda Home Remedies by Dr. Vasant Lad – Once you have a foundation in the guiding principles of Ayurveda this a great reference book to have in your collection and provides Ayurvedic remedies for a number of common imbalances.
Prakriti by Dr. Robert Svoboda – When you are ready to dive a little deeper into Ayurveda check out Prakriti. This little book is fully loaded with Ayurvedic wisdom. What is Prakriti? It’s your individual constitution, often referred to as dosha (although they are not the same thing). The foundation of Ayurveda is based on understanding your Prakrit fully and then using that understanding to make diet and lifestyle choices that best support creating harmony in your mind, body and Spirit.
The Elemental Cleanse by Pamela Quinn – You know how much I love Ayurvedic cleansing. Pam’s book is a wonderful and much more than a simple cleansing routine. The program teaches you to align your diet, exercise and daily routine in order to achieve optimal health. At the end of the three weeks not only will your body get a much needed reset, you will have a great start to creating your Ayurvedic lifestyle.
Honorable Mentions
- Absolute Beauty by Pratima Raichur
- Food as Medicine by Todd Caldecott
- Ayurveda of Herbs by David Frawley and Dr. Vasant Lad
There are so many great books out there to explore. Please share your favorite in the comments!
Wishing you Vibrant Living
Kate