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Ayurveda & Oils: Oil is Love – A Q&A with Dr. Lindsey Scarlata Woodruff

Q- Why are oils such a big part of Ayurveda?

Yes, oils play a very significant role in the legacy of Ayurveda. They are revered for their capacity to restore and replenish the body and are viewed as chief ingredients throughout many applications within Ayurveda. To better understand why they are placed in such high regard, it might help to understand the Sanskrit word for oil, which is Sneha. Sneha means oil, or that which has an unctuous quality, but it also means love. I love to just sit with the beauty in that understanding.
What does that mean? It means that the sacred use of oils on the body or within the body helps to cultivate love. Regular use of oils in daily massage or in therapies helps us to rediscover and experience pure love at the deepest cellular level. Perhaps this is the true root of self-care.

Q- Ok, but why do our bodies need oil?

As we age, our bodies, tissues, and cells all begin to lose moisture. This is a part of nature that we acknowledge and respect. Aging is simply another way of referring to change. That change is happening every day, all day. There are many things in life that can change or decrease the moisture and lubrication within our cells and tissues. Stress and intense emotions, dry and processed foods, cold and dry climate, air conditioning, pharmaceuticals, alcohol and caffeine, fast-paced living, and lack of sleep—all of these work to dry and deplete the body.
When we lose the lubrication in our body, we can begin to see inflammation, impaired nervous system and cognitive function, malabsorption, constipation, ulcers and acidity, repeated infections, joint pain, insomnia, anxiety, and accelerated aging of the skin. Embracing qualities or substances that soothe, slow, lubricate, and nourish our cells and tissues will naturally help restore our body to its balanced state and slow the rate of change or aging. Oils are one such substance.
Perhaps the perfect substance. They penetrate all seven layers of the skin, nourishing the blood, lymph, tissue systems, even cellular membranes. This means that oil can play a role in reducing inflammation and dryness at the deepest levels of the body, restoring cellular communication, cognitive functioning, and improving immunity.

Q- What are some specific ways that oils can be used to help the body?

The practice of using oils as therapy is known as snehana. You will find oils play an integral role in deeper detoxification practices like Pancha Karma, where they are integrated into most aspects of treatment through the hands of experienced practitioners who use them to help guide toxins out of the body. But they are valued equally as part of daily rituals to purify and balance the body. I recommend most of these to patients who are looking to really embrace preventative medicine and promote vitality in their mind and body. All of these you can safely do at home.

Nutrition: Using Ghee or high-quality organic olive oils daily for cooking will help oleate and restore the delicate lining of the digestive tract. It can help balance elimination, promote detoxification, and nourish the skin from within.

Daily Abhyanga: Self-massage using warm sesame, almond, or coconut oil will do wonders for the body. When performed regularly, this will revitalize and nourish the skin, improve circulation, promote detoxification, break up stagnation in lymph, improve sleep, reduce stress and stagnant emotions, and promote digestion.

Oil Pulling: Using sesame or coconut oil as an oral swish helps to pull toxins from the teeth and gums, restore bone density, lubricate the oral cavity, and control bacteria.

Hair Oiling: Apart from gorgeous silky hair, massaging warm oil through your hair follicles and scalp improves circulation, drains lymphatic fluid, nourishes and strengthens hair at its roots, grounds the mind, and improves sleep.

Nasya: The practice of lubricating the delicate channels of the nostrils helps to cleanse the sinus cavity and clear congestion, but it can also help to significantly improve focus and mental cognition. (The nose is the doorway to the brain.)

Ear Oiling: The practice of putting a few drops of warm sesame oil in the ear canal is a beautiful way to balance Vata in the mind, ears, and jaw. Lubricating the ear canal can help prevent ear infections, improve immunity, relieve headaches, and reduce tinnitus, vertigo, and jaw pain.

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Seasonal Cleanse 101 – A Q&A with Dr. Lindsey Scarlata Woodruff

Q- Cleanses are a popular topic of late, what is the Ayurvedic perspective on cleansing?

Cleansing plays an essential role in the system of Ayurveda. It’s helpful to think of cleansing as way of purifying the channels of the body. Our body is magnificent system of hundreds of channels, some visible and some not, and those channels will become clogged, or blocked or weakened throughout our life. This can come from the effects of poor nutrition, lack of movement, unprocessed emotions, chemicals or environmental toxins. When this happens, the flow of prana (vital life energy) throughout the body becomes affected. We may also see systems and organs of the body become strained, their functioning impaired. The idea of cleansing, or purifying our channels is a way of restoring balance to the body, clearing the pathways for prana to flow, so that we may be reacquainted with vitality.

Q- Is there an ideal time to cleanse?

If our bodies are functioning well, we are naturally cleansing all of the time. But for most of us living in this modern world, our bodies could benefit from a gentle (or sometimes deep) cleanse. Intrinsic to Ayurveda is our connection to the rhythms of the earth, circadian, lunar and seasonal. From an Ayurvedic perspective, we should pattern our day to follow the movement of the sun and moon, and our life to adapt with the seasons. The end of one season and the beginning of the next signifies a powerful transition of energies, and also makes for an ideal time for cleansing. Each season is dominated by certain elements; Late Fall- Early Winter is dominated by Vata (air & space), Late Winter- Spring is dominated by Kapha (earth & water) and Summer to Early Fall is dominated by Pitta (fire & water). As we move through the season we accumulate more of the energies of that particular season. For example, at the end of the summer our bodies have accumulated excess heat (or Pitta energies) and we may begin to see the effects in our digestion, mood or skin. As the season transitions, this is an ideal time to cleanse and remove the excess heat so that we do not carry that over into the next season and create a deeper imbalance.

Q- How do we prepare for a cleanse?

1. Start thinking about your food plans at least a week in advance. In Ayurveda, a mono-diet featuring kitchari is usually the staple meal for cleansing, but it may not be your choice. If it’s kitchari you will want to make sure you have your spices and ingredients ready in advance. If not kitchari, then you will want to think about simple, clean, warm freshly cooked foods that you can make with ease for the days of your cleanse. Freshly prepared simple vegetable soups,
fresh vegetables steamed or sauteed in ghee with some basmati rice, or simple cooked fruits can be options if kitchari is not possible. The goal with nutrition is not to starve yourself, but to eat freshly prepared, warm, easy to digest meals that nourish your body and allow it to not expend large amounts of energy in processing and breaking down heavy foods. You want to give your body a rest, so that it can focus its energy on digesting and removing toxins.

2. You will want to think about your schedule to decide how many days you want to cleanse. Are you able to set aside 2-5 days where you can create a simple routine for waking, eating meals and sleeping? If there is a way to minimize excess work or travel or stress for those few days, your body will respond even better to the cleansing.

3. In addition to simplifying your meals, looking at what beverages you intake is also necessary. Minimize (or remove if possible) any caffeine, alcohol or sugary drinks and instead aim to drink plenty of water, focusing on warm or room temperature water throughout your cleanse. You can also incorporate teas that will help support your body’s ability to digest and remove toxins. CCF tea, or cumin, coriander and fennel tea is great to drink in between meals and throughout the cleanse. Soothing or calming nighttime teas like chamomile or lavender are perfect to promote a sound restful sleep.

Q- Is there anything we should avoid or limit during a cleanse?

Since we want to look at this as a gentle pause, or a time of slowing down and releasing, it is important to really approach a cleanse from a mindful perspective. What I mean is that we should consider more than just the food we put in. We can take this as an opportunity to cleanse our mind, our environment, our routine, our entertainment, and our emotions. For the days of the cleanse, it could be beneficial to reduce time on your cell phone, pay attention to what you watch or listen to for entertainment, the conversations you have with family and friends, and the first things you do in the morning when you awake and what you do just before bed. For example, if you tend to reach for your phone in the morning, maybe swap that habit for gentle yoga, a walk, or some mindful breathing. If you tend to reach for your phone or TV before bed, maybe swap that habit for an oil massage, an evening walk, reading, journaling, or even a short meditation. I love to guide my patients in taking this time to cleanse the mind along with the body; they are intrinsically related.

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Exploring the foundations of Ayurveda: A Q&A session with in-house Ayurvedic expert Dr. Lindsey Scarlata Woodruff

Q- What would you like people to understand about Ayurveda?

Health is more than just freedom from disease or symptom management. Ayurveda teaches us that health emerges when we harmonize our body, mind, senses, and soul. This differs from Western or Allopathic medicine, as Ayurveda takes a root-cause approach to healing rather than focusing on symptomatic suppression. It considers the role of the mind and body in the manifestation of disease and their integral part in re-establishing health. Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old healing system, predates Traditional Chinese Medicine. Its resurgence reflects people’s search for deeper health insights. Ayurveda translates to “the science of life” in Sanskrit, focusing on the five elements, their role in our constitutions, and how they influence the root cause of disease. My hope is that people shift from outsourcing their health to cultivating it from within.

Q- What role do doshas play in creating health?

Doshas are biological energies—combinations of elements—that manifest in our bodies and throughout life on Earth. There are three doshas: Vata (Ether and Air), Pitta (Fire and Water), and Kapha (Earth and Water). Each dosha governs specific functions within the body. All three are present in every individual, but in varying amounts, creating a unique constitution called Prakruti. Understanding your Prakruti is essential to maintaining health. As we move through life, doshas fluctuate, creating imbalances from our original constitution. Factors like environment, seasons, nutrition, stress, and emotions can impact doshas. Practitioners assess these imbalances to help restore balance with your Prakruti.

Q- How can someone get confirmation on their Prakruti?

The best way to confirm your Prakruti, or individual constitution, is by working with an Ayurvedic Practitioner. In your first consultation, the Practitioner assesses your mind and body type through discussion and evaluation to determine your Prakruti and Vikruti (current state of imbalance). The most reliable method for identifying Prakruti is through pulse diagnosis. Dosha quizzes, while popular, offer surface-level insights and may not be as accurate.

Q- What does Ayurveda have to offer in terms of skincare or skin health?

From an Ayurvedic perspective, the health of the skin reflects the overall well-being of the body. It offers insights into the major tissue systems, particularly the digestive, lymphatic, circulatory, and reproductive systems. When these systems function properly, the skin appears radiant, clear, and supple. However, when toxins accumulate, the skin shows signs like rashes, acne, eczema, and more as it tries to expel unwanted materials. Toxins can result from imbalanced nutrition, compromised environments, stress, and unprocessed emotions. Ayurveda views the body as an ecosystem, where imbalances in one area affect others. Thus, Ayurvedic skincare often begins with adjusting what we consume, think, and apply to our skin.

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The UMA Ayurveda Podcast – Ayurveda & The Mind; Practices for Cultivating Balance & Finding Peace

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Yogic Practices for Vata Season: A Q&A with Sharan Khanna

Q- During Vata season, we see an increase in the qualities of Vata dosha, such as cold, lightness, dryness, and mobility. How can the overall practice of yoga help maintain balance or prevent an excess of Vata as we change seasons?

Grounding asana practices increase agni in the body and can help balance excess Vata. The practice of yoga asana and pranayama generally generates heat in the body, which naturally helps in balancing Vata.

Q- Does your practice remain the same throughout the year, or do you make changes?

I definitely make changes. As an Ashtanga yoga practitioner, during Vata season, I hold my standing postures for longer. I focus on more hip-opening poses or stay longer in grounding postures. I cut down on dynamic or fast-paced vinyasas.

Q- Are there asanas that can ground the body?

Yes! All standing poses are grounding. Asanas that focus on the earth element (Apana energy in the pelvic region) and those that target the lower body are grounding. Sitting forward folds are excellent for grounding, as well as poses where the body is in greater contact with the earth.

Q- Are there asanas that promote warmth or help generate heat within the body?

Back bending poses invigorate and create heat, along with dynamic or fast-paced vinyasas and inversions.

Q- Is there an ideal time of day for asana practice during Vata season?

Asana practice should ideally be done during Kapha time according to the Ayurvedic clock, which is from 6–10 am or 6–10 pm.

Q- What role does pranayama play in balancing Vata?

All pranayama practices help regulate the nervous system, which impacts the mind. By elongating the breath, we can curb Vata imbalances like nervousness or anxiety.

Q- Are there forms of pranayama that can ground or pacify excess Vata in the body? How (and when) do you practice them?

Pranayama is practiced after asana. Kapalabhati, Nadi Shodhan, and Bhramari pranayama are great for Vata imbalances.

Q- What are your favorite practices for keeping Vata balanced?

I use seasonal oils during Vata season and practice abhyanga post-asana. I also enjoy walks in nature, meditation, warm foods, and lots of music.

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The UMA Ayurveda Podcast – Ayurvedic Nutritional Wisdom To Restore Balance, Detoxify Naturally, And Achieve A Deeper Sense Of Well-Being

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Dr. Lindsey Scarlata Woodruff | Doctor of Ayurveda

Dr. Lindsey Scarlata Woodruff believes in unlocking the innate wisdom and uniqueness of each individual, helping them to restore their health and vitality from within through the ancient science of Ayurveda. Her practice is grounded in the foundations of Ayurvedic principles, root-cause medicine and a profound understanding of natural rhythms. Lindsey shares her expertise in the areas of Ayurvedic Detoxification, Digestive Health, Female Reproductive Health, Pediatries, Ayurvedic Herbal Therapies and Pulse Diagnosis.

“When we reconnect with our original nature, we discover that health and vitality come from within.”

 

 

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Sharan Khanna | Expert Yogi

The practice of yoga gave Sharan the courage to follow her dreams. After spending almost 15 years climbing to the top of the corporate ladder, she quit at her peak to study, teach & share the practice of yoga. She is a certified multi disciplinary yoga teacher, as well as the founder of the holistic yoga center Thesharanyoga Shala  in South Delhi and at The Quorum Club in Gurgaon. 

“My daily practice became my tool to cope with all the challenges that came my way. Today, 10 years later I am proud to share this knowledge & watch others thrive on the magic of Yoga.”

 

 

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