1.
1
Understanding & Solving Fatigue
- an Ayurvedic Perspective
by Vinod Sharma, Qualified Ayurvedic Consultant
(of AyurYoga International Ltd. Hong Kong)
19 November 2016

2.
2
Meaning of Ayurveda :
 Ayur = Life
 Veda = Science
 Ayurveda = Science of Life
 Science that is thousands of years old
„Health is the dynamic balance between
all physical, mental and spiritual aspects of human beings“
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective

3.
3
Science of Ayurveda is based on
5 universal elements (panchamahabhutas) :
Space/Ether
Air
Fire
Water
Earth
Ayurveda combines these 5 elements (in various proportions) into 3 basic
groups, known as „tri-doshas“. These are called Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective

4.
4
VATA =
Space
+
Air
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective

5.
5
PITTA =
Air
+
Fire
+
Water
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective

6.
6
KAPHA
=
Earth
+
CH
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
Water

7.
7
Qualities of Vata dosha
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
VATA
• It is the force which directs nerve impulses,
circulation, respiration and elimination.
• The qualities of Vata are those associated
with air, i.e. dryness and coldness, lightness,
mobility, subtlety, roughness, agitated and
irregular .
• It governs all bodily movements.

8.
8
Qualities of Pitta dosha
Pitta
• Biologicial fire which digests & “cooks” food in the
stomach.
• Responsible for all the metabolic and chemical
transformations in the body.
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
• Responsible for digestion of food, eyesight, body
temperature, intellect and skin coloration.
• It is primarily hot, intense and light, like fire.

9.
9
Qualities of Kapha dosha
Kapha
• Holds things together, provides
cohesiveness.
• It is responsible for growth, support &
lubrication.
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
• Makes up the bulk of the body tissues.
• Kapha has the qualities of mucous - it is
heavy, dense, sticky, cold and moist.

10.
10
3 Doshas
 These 3 basic doshas
(humours or elements) define a
person‘s
individual constitution, on a
physical as well as
psychological level.
PittaVata Kapha
Individual Constitution
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
 Each person is a
combination of all 3 doshas, but
one is predominant/strongest,
and that determines one‘s
constitution

11.
11
Basic Constitution  Basic constitution
(prakruti) is obtained at
the time of conception &
remains unchanged for
life.
PittaVata Kapha
Individual Constitution
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
 Imbalance (Vikruti)
refers to a condition when
the doshas go out of
sync, resulting in various
health issues.

12.
12
Most health issues
caused by imbalances
within the system can
be resolved through
the right diet and
lifestyle, without
depending on
medication.
PittaVata Kapha
Individual Constitution
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective

13.
13
 Unique part of Ayurvedic diagnosis
 3 fingers - Index, middle & ring fingers – are used
to read the proportion of Vata, Pitta & Kapha in an
individual.
 Also shows which part of the body/system is
being affected by which dosha & in what way.
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
PULSE READING AS A TOOL
 Right pulse gives information about the physiology of a person.
 Left pulse provides an insight into the psychological aspect – mental, emotional &
spiritual – of an individual.

14.
14
3 sub pillars that sustain health
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
1. Diet/Food
• Diet is the primary factor that can maintain good
health and equilibrium in any individual.
• Understanding the qualities of the various types of
foods, and eating only that which is suitable for one’s
constitution will promote & maintain optimum health,
assist in dealing with fatigue & help one feel more
energetic.
" When diet & lifestyle is wrong medicine is of no use.
When diet & lifestyle is right medicine is of no need. "
Ancient Ayurvedic Proverb

15.
15
3 sub pillars that sustain health
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
2. Sleep (Nidra)
 Good quality sleep is necessary
to derive energy & nutrients from the
food consumed.
 It also facilitates digestion &
assimilation of food.
 When the body is relaxed during
sleep, all the internal organs are
repaired/recharged.
 This will go a long way in
reducing tiredness & recharging
one’s entire system.

16.
16
3 sub pillars that sustain health
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
3. Brahmacharya – Regulated sex life
• Brahmacharya is celibacy through control of all the senses.
• One cannot have good health without observing celibacy. The seminal energy is
the vital life force. The secret of health lies in preservation of this vital force.
• The practice of celibacy invigorates the mind and nerves. It helps to conserve
physical and mental energy.
• It augments memory, will power, and brain clarity. It bestows strength, vigour,
and vitality.

17.
17
Why is the right diet so important
Food we consume is
transformed into 7 tissues
(sapta dhatus) which
sustain our body structure
& help us maintain good
health.
When the 7 tissues are
formed properly and are of
good quality, tiredness &
fatigue will be greatly
minimised.
。
Lux
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
Plasma (Rasa)
Blood (Rakta)
Muscles (Mamsa)
Fat (Medha)
Bones (Asthi)
Bone Marrow (Majja)
Reproductive Tissue
(Shukra)

18.
18
MALAS (Waste Matter)
The human body eliminates waste matter in 3 primary ways :
1. Urine
2. Stool/faeces
3. Sweat
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective

19.
19
AMA
1. When waste matter is not eliminated properly &
regularly and remain in the body, this causes formation
of toxins, called “ama” in Ayurveda.
2. Ama blocks the flow of the body's inner intelligence,
and can cause calcium deposits in the joints, plaque in
the arteries, cysts and tumors.
3. A coated tongue, bad breath, dullness of the
senses, depression, and unclear thinking can indicate
the presence of ama.
4. Ayurveda considers ama to be the major cause of
illness, especially in causing one to feel tired &
lethargic.
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective

20.
20
AMA
5. Usually, ama is created internally due to low
digestive fire, poor food combinations, inadequate
elimination of wastes, or disturbed doshas.
6. A subtle ama is produced if our mental processes
are impaired or if we harbour unresolved emotions.
7. Determination of the level of ama accumulation
and its reversal are important first steps in an
Ayurvedic healing system.
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective

21.
21
OJAS
1. Ojas literally means vitality or body strength.
2. When you are producing ojas, it means all your
organs have integrated vitality and you are
receiving the nourishment your mind and body
need.
3. Illness/fatigue arises from the low production or
depletion of ojas.
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective

22.
22
OJAS
4. Ojas is responsible for the immunity in the body
and the strength of our healing response.
5. Excessive exercise, excessive fasting, loss of
blood, anxiety, fear, grief, injuries & excessive
sexual activity reduces ojas in both sexes.
6. Diminished ojas reduces the body’s immunity.
It also makes you fearful, emaciated, causes
disorders of the sense organs, and impairs mental
abilities.
7. Strengthening ojas is vital in tackling fatigue &
tiredness.
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective

23.
23
 Ayurveda states that wrong diet & unhealthy lifestyle is the
main cause of most health issues.
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
CAUSE & MANAGEMENT OF FATIGUE
 Maintenance of health is dependent on the food we eat, the climate, the
environment, as well as our thought patterns and emotions.
 Diet and lifestyle are the most important things in maintaining a healthy life in
body, mind and spirit.
 In order to remain in a balanced state of health, one must know one’s own
unique constitution, what Doshas are out of balance, and the most suitable
lifestyle/daily routine to follow.
 This knowledge will assist the individual to restore and maintain their own
balance.

24.
24
 From the perspective of Ayurveda, imbalance of one or all 3
doshas can cause fatigue.
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
CAUSE & MANAGEMENT OF FATIGUE
 Imbalance of Vata mostly causes fatigue at mental & psychological level due to its
negative effect on the nervous system.
 Imbalance of Pitta & Kapha mostly causes fatigue at the physical level.

25.
25
Physical symptoms :
 Body ache, muscle pain, aching or sore muscles
 Hand-to-eye coordination may become impaired
 Headache
 Loss of appetite
 Poor/diminished immune system function
 Slow responses to stimuli
 Vision problems, such as blurriness
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
SYMPTOMS OF FATIGUE

26.
26
Mental symptoms:
 Apathy, lack of motivation/interest
 Difficulty in concentrating
 Dizziness
 Chronic (long-term) tiredness
 Impaired judgment
 Irritability
 Short-term memory impairment
 Sleepiness, drowsiness
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
SYMPTOMS OF FATIGUE

27.
27
Extreme fatigue that cannot be explained by any underlying
medical condition
Symptoms:
 Fatigue, loss of memory/concentration
 Sore throat
 Muscle pain
 Moving type of pain, with or without redness
 Headache, not feeling fresh/rested after sleep
 Extreme exhaustion lasting longer than 24 hours after
physical or mental exercise
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

28.
28
 High blood glucose makes the blood more
viscous and heavy  slowing down blood
circulation  resulting in deficient oxygen
supply
 Low sugars levels  low energy 
fatigue
 Uncontrolled diabetes  weaker blood
vessels  poor blood supply  fatigue
 Malfunctioning of glands, eg. adrenal
gland.
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
FATIGUE CAUSED BY A HEALTH ISSUE

29.
29
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
AYURVEDIC SOLUTIONS
Lifestyle changes to fight fatigue :
 Eat, sleep and wake up at the same time
everyday.
 Eat and drink only when hungry and thirsty - this
helps to avoid creation of Ama.
 Ama is a product of altered digestion and
metabolism & it impairs body systems, resulting in
tiredness.

30.
30
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
AYURVEDIC SOLUTIONS
Lifestyle changes to fight fatigue :
 Set your bedroom's temperature at a comfortable level – neither too cold nor too hot.
 Maintain a gap of at least 1 hour between dinner and bed time.
 As bedtime approaches, slow down physically and mentally - consider some light
reading, soothing music, meditation, prayer, etc.

31.
31
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
AYURVEDIC SOLUTIONS
Lifestyle changes to fight fatigue :
 Eating and drinking habits.
 Avoid excessively spicy foods, fried foods, junk foods, aerated/fizzy
drinks, alcohol, smoking, etc.
 Avoid caffeine .
 Avoid high-fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, sugary foods,
candy, sweets, etc.
 Avoid processed foods with preservatives.

32.
32
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
ROLE OF SPICES :
Simple Home Remedies :
 Major cause for tiredness as per Ayurveda is Ama – a product of impaired digestion
and metabolism.
 Lack of good/strong digestion  lack of nutrition supply to all systems  tiredness.
 Use spices like ginger, black pepper, long pepper, cinnamon, cardamom.
 Spices  improve digestion, metabolism  maximum utilization of nutrients at
cellular level.
 If the spices are too hot, fry them in ghee/coconut oil to pacify the heaty effect which
can prevent aggravation of Pitta.

33.
33
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
ROLE OF SPICES :
Simple Home Remedies :
 Soak 2 almonds & 2 black pepper corns in hot water overnight.
 Next morning, peel of the skin of the almonds & chew them well, together with the
black pepper corns, before breakfast.
 Almonds are a natural brain tonic (and also good for eyesight), while black pepper
helps to digest the almonds & also enhance oxygen supply /circulation to the brain.
 This can promote calm & rational thinking, and help prevent one from becoming
overly fatigued.

34.
34
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
ROLE OF SPICES :
Simple Home Remedies :
 Include light sweets, lots of fruits and vegetables.
 Use honey, jaggery or stevia as an alternative to white sugar.
 Raisins, dates, pomegranate, sugarcane juice.
 Use coconut, olives, avocado, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts,
walnuts, almond & seeds like pumpkin, chia and flax.

35.
35
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
ROLE OF SPICES :
 Soak 1 walnut with 1 pod cardamom seeds & ½ inch cinnamon stick in normal water,
overnight.
 Eat all together the next morning before breakfast.
 Walnuts (which are shaped like the human brain) are an excellent memory booster &
help induce good sleep, which is vital for relaxing the nervous system & helping one to
handle stressful situations in a calm and objective manner.
 Cinnamon helps maintain body temperature & promotes deep and uninterrupted
sleep, which nourishes the mind, body & nervous system.
 Cardamom assists in eliminating toxins from the body, which will make us feel
healthier, allowing the mind & emotions to become more balanced & positive.

36.
36
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
YOGIC SOLUTIONS
Vajrasana (Thunderbolt Pose)
Badhakonasana (Butterfly Pose)
Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
Shalabhasana (Locust Pose)
Shavasana (Corpse Pose)

37.
37
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
AYURVEDIC SELF MASSAGE
TECHNIQUES
Herbal Oils:
 Ashwagandha (Winter Cherry/Withania
Somnifera) oil
 Pure cold pressed sesame seed oil
 Pure almond oil
 Pure mustard seed oil

38.
38
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
HERBS USEFUL IN TREATING
FATIGUE
 Ashwagandha – Indian ginseng – Withania
somnifera.
 Bala - Country mallow (root) - Sida cordifolia.
 Shilajit – Mineral pitch, Asphaltum punjabinum .
 Amalaki (Indian gooseberry fruit - Emblica
officinalis Gaertn).
 Guduchi - Giloy - Tinospora cordifolia .
 Trikatu – Ginger, black pepper, long pepper

39.
39
 Ayurvedic healing is an integral part of the overall process to
bring a person back into balance on all levels.
 Every individual has over 7 million energy channels running
through the body.
 Additionally, every individual has 7 main energy centres,
called chakras, within one’s system.
 For achieving & maintaining optimum health, energy has to
flow smoothly & consistently within/through these channels &
chakras, especially the 3rd
chakra (navel centre).
 Ayurvedic Healing helps to remove blockages from the
channels and ensures the smooth flow of energy.
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective
AYURVEDIC HEALING

40.
40
The ancient Ayurvedic text Sushrita Samhita
states, "He whose doshas are in balance,
whose appetite is good, whose malas are in
right proportion, whose body, mind, and
senses remain full of bliss, is called a healthy
person.”
By following these simple, time-tested
Ayurvedic principles in our daily life, we can
enhance our health, increase our happiness,
and uplift our spirits.
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective

41.
41
THANK YOU.
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective

42.
42
CONTACT DETAILS :
Mr. Vinod Sharma
AyurYoga International Ltd.
Tel : (852) 27711405 / 91206419
Email : sharma@ayuryoga-intl.com
Website : www.ayuryoga-intl.com
Understanding & Solving Fatigue – an Ayurvedic Perspective