Heart diseases are the leading causes of death at present among both men and women in the world due to the effect of the stress and anxiety. In addition, the recent COVID pandemic in combination with poor lifestyle habits such as excessive drinking, smoking, and eating unhealthy foods have put several people at risk for heart diseases.  Therefore, the heart is certainly an organ deserving of our attention and care. Fortunately, Ayurveda, the oldest health science in the world, offers several natural approaches for promoting heart health and can also help prevent and even reverse heart diseases. These holistic and integrated Ayurvedic approaches are relevant to all of us—whatever the current condition of our hearts.

How Ayurveda sees the heart?

According to Ayurveda, heart is important energetic hub in the body, where various physical and energetic pathways intersect. It is also a primary location of vata, pitta, kapha, and ojas, the essence of vitality and immunity that plays a crucial role in a number of internal bodily channels (srotamsi).

This means the condition of each of the Doshas can certainly affect our heart health, at the same time, whatever is going on in the heart can affect vata, pitta, and kapha existing throughout the body.

Our heart is closely connected to every cell and tissue throughout the body through three distinct channels. 1) Mano Vaha Srotas, the channel of the mind, which inhabits the entire body and is responsible for thinking, feeling, discernment, memory, and communication. 2) Prana Vaha Srotas, the respiratory channel, which is responsible for circulating Prana (the life-force energy) throughout the body connected to thinking, emotions, and communication with the higher self. 3) Rasa Vaha Srotas, the channel of the lymph and plasma, which is responsible for delivering refined nutrition and nourishment to every cell and tissue throughout the body.

Of the ten Nadis, these three are said to be the most important: 1) Ida Nadi, the lunar/feminine channel, which runs to the left of the spine and is associated with the left side of the body and with breathing through the left nostril. 2) Pingala Nadi, the solar/masculine channel, which runs to the right of the spine and is associated with the right side of the body and with breathing through the right nostril. 3) Sushumna Nadi, the channel that runs through the center of the spine and is associated with breathing through both nostrils simultaneously. These Nadis carry the flow of Prana, reinforcing the relationship between Prana, the subtle body and the heart. These ten great channels link the heart to all seven chakras.

What are the best Ayurvedic Approaches to Caring for the Heart?

There are numerous Ayurvedic treatments for heart diseases but your Ayurvedic practitioner will recommend the best therapy for you based on the type of heart disease you are diagnosed with and its severity. Here are some of the most common Ayurveda approaches to prevent and treat cardiac diseases.

1. Heart-support therapies:

The following therapies can help improve Agni (digestive fire), clear channels, influence the nervous system, reduce stress, clear the energy pathways in the body, promote the healthy flow of Prana and improve wellness in the body.

·      Panchakarma: Your diminished digestive fire (Agnimandya) is the root cause of all diseases. Panchakarma procedures help clear the body channels, improve Agni (digestive fire) and remove toxins in the body and can help improve cardiac health and overall well-being.

·      Pranayama: Pranayama restores vitality to the energy channels of the body, calms, and purifies the mind. A regular practice of pranayama can lower your heart rate and blood pressure.

·      Yoga: Yogic exercises help move Prana around the body, aid blood circulation, and serve as a good form of physical activity. 

·      Meditation and prayer: Routine prayer and meditation can help you cultivate mindfulness, stabilize your thought patterns, and improve your state of mind. These can reduce stress, improve your heart rate, and lower blood pressure. Meditation can also reduce your risk of stroke and diabetes.

2. Dietary intervention:

Healthy and mindful eating of whole foods, seasonal vegetables and fruits promote normal functioning of the heart and optimal well-being for your body, and strengthen your Agni (digestive fire). It is therefore best to maintain a regular eating schedule and eat in a calm, peaceful environment, free of emotional upset, intense conversation, television, or multi-tasking of any kind. 1) Those with kapha-predominant constitutions need a small quantity of fat in the diet to keep their system well-lubricated.

2) Those with vata-predominant constitutions tend to be very dry and usually need to eat generous amounts of high-quality oils and fats to keep their systems properly lubricated. 3) Pitta-predominant constitutions require moderate amounts of oil and fat.

3. Herbal remedies:

Ayurvedic medicines for the heart aim to cure health issues by targeting the root cause of the disease. For cardiac issues, Ayurvedic practitioners use a combination of modern medical science and natural herbs and ingredients to reverse the underlying causes of the condition. These herbs are often recommended for circulatory health, lowering cholesterol, and improving heart function include Amala, Haridra, Arjuna, Tulsi, Ashwagandha and Heart formula tablets. These herbs traditionally known to strengthen, rejuvenate, and tone the circulatory system and promote healthy heart function while helping to maintain healthy cholesterol levels run within the normal range and enhance one's sense of well-being. Especially, Arjuna is said to mend a “broken heart, when complemented with hawthorn berry and Guggulu that contribute to the heart health.

4.Balanced Doshas:

There are three primary Doshas: Kapha, Vata and Pitta. High Kapha in the body could result in increased cholesterol and heart blockages. Similarly, an excess of Vata could increase blood pressure. High Pitta can reduce the heart’s endurance. Following an Ayurvedic way of life and eating healthy foods can help balance the Doshas, thus protecting heart health.

Our body flourish with proper nutrition, appropriate exercise, and adequate sleep; it does even better when we commit to managing stress, cultivating healthy relationships, embracing joy and meaning, and living in alignment with our own authentic nature. Ayurveda is a holistic healthcare system that focuses on treating the heart and the body as a whole using a range of therapeutic strategies.