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Question: What Ayurvedic remedy would you recommend for endometriosis and infertility?

Answer: With chronic conditions such as these, we have to look beyond temporary symptomatic remedies towards more sophisticated long-term ones that target the cause as best as possible. In this context, you are limited without consulting an Ayurvedic practitioner who can determine the cause and treat you according to this. This can be attempted remotely (I offer a remote consultation service) but is less effective. However, you can make progress yourself by studying Ayurveda at least enough to determine your prakriti, your birth constitution, which you can then use to choose appropriate diet and lifestyle regimes (this can be achieved via a remote consultation with good results).

If you follow a diet and lifestyle that works with your constitution, then you could consider taking the Pukka herbs formula ‘Shatavari Plus’. Start with 1 capsule 3 x day then increase to 2 capsules three times a day. After 3 months, review. This would help with both conditions. If there is ama (systemic toxins evidenced by tongue coating first thing in morning, tiredness, heaviness, stool that sinks, fatique) then you should follow a lighter version of your constitution diet for a while, until the ama goes. Triphala powder or capsules, 1-5 grams per day can be taken also at the end of the day, though there are other more long term ways of taking this formula, start with this one. It is mildly laxative and helps to heal and regulate the bowel. This can be done for 1-3 months then reviewed. If there is a lot of ama, take the triphala powder for one month before starting the shatavari.

To specifically target the endometriosis follow a Kapha diet with emphasis on not aggravating pitta dosha. This is a very common disorder for Kapha/Pitta women or pure Kapha types. Use a reducing Kapha diet with 10% raw foods. If you are a vata type (skinny, dry and cold) then just follow a light vata-balancing diet. Hot spices, sour foods and fermented foods should also be avoided (pitta aggravating). Pancha Karma is useful. Astringent foods and herbs are useful such as all green vegetables, raw vegetable drinks and raspberry leaf tea. Hormone system should be treated (see Ayurvedic Healing for Women, by Atreya, Samuel Weiser, Inc.) – the shatavari formula works well in this respect.

Question: Something I have had for many years is Candida. Chronic bloating and yeast infection. I became ill with ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’ in 2001 and the more I read, the more I think Candida is at the root of my problems. I have a basic understanding of Ayurveda and would like to know what it recommends for clearing it. In addition, I often experience a bad ‘toxic’ like taste in my mouth and my tongue during this time looks yellow. Can you tell me your thoughts on this in relation to the above.

Answer: Ayurveda considers Candida to be an Ama condition. This means that your digestive function, Agni, is upset, which in turn creates an excess amount of metabolic wastes that hang around in the gut. Candida love this and have a feast. In addition to the presence of Ama, and the imbalanced Agni, there is often a degree of lowered immunity, which is related to the Ayurvedic concept of Ojas. Thus, the general treatment is to reduce Ama (which includes reducing Candida), balance the Agni, and increase Ojas. This has to be done according to Prakriti, your Ayurvedic constitution, which is depicted in terms of the Doshas (Vata, Pitta & Kapha). In your case, the ‘toxic’ taste in you mouth plus the yellow tongue coating is significant, as it indicates that you have Ama that is related to excess Pitta Dosha. Thus, without further information, I would suggest you follow an Ama-reducing regimes adjusted for Pitta Dosha. As well as following the Anti-Candida diet (see my recent article), you would want to avoid sour, salty and pungent tasting foods, while emphasizing bitter, astringent and bland tasting foods. The perfect meal would be some whole cooked basmati rice or barley, some steamed vegetables, anointed with some mild spices like cumin, fennel, coriander and turmeric, and a teaspoon or ghee. Salads would normally be good for Pitta-types, and should be included despite the general advice against raw foods for Candida reducing programs. Lightly steamed is a good compromise. See this article for more details.

Question: What is an excellent ayurvedic remedy to clear up acne and keep the face shining beautifully?

Answer: “There is no pus formation without Pitta” says an ancient Ayurvedic proverb. Acne indicates ‘toxic blood’, where aggravated Pitta Dosha (which is hot and humid) mixes with Ama (toxins) and vitiates the Rakta Dhatu (blood tissue) manifesting as pus filled eruptions on the skin, as well as other inflammatory skin conditions. Since this is Pitta season (hot and humid summer time), it is no wonder you are looking for a remedy.

The best place to start is to follow a Pitta balancing program. Take steps to reduce stress, ‘cool’ off, and let go of your desire to realise goals and achieve results. Go easy on yourself. Make sure not to over-work or over-exercise. Pitta is driven and can be fanatical at times, so check in with your inherent ‘fire’ element to make sure it isn’t burning out of control. Find constructive ways to let off steam and express your emotions regularly in a calm, honest way.

Follow a light Pitta pacifying diet. Favour bland, bitter and astringent tastes, and reduce sour salty and hot spicy tastes. You should eliminate fatty foods, refined foods, fried and fermented foods, and bad food combinations like milk and fish. Foods that are helpful are cranberries, carrots, cilantro, parsley, cashews, and coconut. Organic Ghee (see www.practical-ayurveda.net for recipe) is very important and can be taken with the following digestive formula to reduce Pitta Dosha and treat the skin: Cumin, Coriander, Fennel, Turmeric (equal parts organic powders). ½ tsp taken during meals (2-3 x per day) in a small glass of warm water along with 1 tsp of Ghee. This remedy is balanced for Pitta types.

In addition to this, I would suggest taking a classic Ayurvedic formula Triphala pronounced ‘trip-are-lar’. It can be taken 1-2 grams per day at bedtime in a little glass of warm water. Pure Pitta types can get a laxative effect at 2 grams, so they should limit it to ½-1 gram. Vata and Kapha can use more. Pukka Herbs (www.pukkaherbs.com +44 (0) 845 658 5858) sell it in organic powder capsules. Triphala is almost a panacea in Ayurveda. While it’s main function is to clean and rejuvenate the colon, it is also fantastic cleanser and tonic for the skin. Take it for 3 months and see what the effect is.

Topical applications that can be useful. Try rubbing some melon onto the skin at bedtime, or wash the face with some mild soap then apply a paste made of almond powder and water for up to half an hour each day.

I hope this advice is effective. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti. Om Peace Peace Peace.

Question: Avez-vous déjà rencontré des cas, en tant que Praticien, où le traitement du dosha en excès s'avère plutôt inefficace, ceci pour une constitution mixte, et où l'on obtient plus de succès en augmentant le dosha le plus faible ?

Answer: To answer your question requires an explanation that I usually give to my students in training. In brief, the idea that we treat an excess dosha or doshas (i.e. high V or VP) by increasing the ‘deficient’ one may seem logical but is in fact incorrect. You never actually want to increase he deficient dosha. You do however wish to reduce the excess dosha and it’s respective excessive gunas/elements. The treatment for this is (in general terms) to ‘supply’ the person with gunas/elements of opposite nature to that of the excess dosha is reduced/pacified. Of course, once we are concerned with a more complex pathology, involving dosha/mala/ama/dhatu/strotas, there are some exceptions or nuances. However, the rule is that we treat the doshas with the gunas (cold/hot etc.), NOT the doshas.

Please send your questions to Alex Duncan at