Ayurveda Perspective: The Underlying causes of Weight Gain

Being overweight or obese is characterized by having an excess amount of body fat that is not considered normal or healthy for an individual’s height. It can increase the risk of developing many health problems such as heart diseases, diabetes, and hypertension.

The BMI (Body Mass Index) is a great tool used to assess the body composition and measure weight in comparison to height. Accordingly, you can know if you are overweight or not.

A BMI of 25 is the threshold for obesity. When an individual has a BMI above 25, that person is considered overweight or obese. 

Visit our "Library Center" section below to find all the information on the possible causes of overweight that might be managed by Ayurvedic Medicine.

Learn everything about weight loss and find all the natural solutions to reduce weight naturally, including various diet programs, alternative medicine, vitamins, supplements, herbal medicine, and home remedies.

Why Ayurveda helps Reduce Weight

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How Ayurveda works for Weight Loss

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Ayurveda for Weight Loss: Treatment Protocol

Ayurvedic treatment for weight loss is specifically tailored to each individual’s case and looks at the dominant dosha in their constitution as well as their symptoms.

However, Ayurvedic treatment for weight loss generally involves the following aspects:

A. Purvakarma Treatments:

Purvakarma is the Sanskrit word for “foremost action.” It comprises herbal and oil treatments that loosen the accumulated toxins in the body. Ayurvedic medicine believes these toxins cause weight gain.

Accordingly, purvakarma practices direct the toxins to specific waste and elimination centers in the body. They help prepare people for Panchakarma (detoxification therapies). 

Purvakarma consist of three treatments:

1- Pachana (digestion therapy): a practice where herbal treatments are administered to the patient. These herbal formulations help the body digest and eliminate toxins that affect digestion and cause weight gain.

2- Snehana (oleation therapy): a practice where oils, ghee (purified butter), or oils mixed with herbs are consumed internally or applied externally to loosen toxins that cause weight gain throughout the body. It also helps lead the toxins to the body’s elimination centers, where they are later expelled via panchakarma therapies.

3- Swedana (sudation therapy): a practice that involves thermal treatment to help release toxins that block the body’s channels through the skin. Swedana helps with weight loss because it allows the doshas to flow smoothly throughout the body, which burns fats, improves digestion, and prevents the buildup of toxins.

It typically occurs after oleation therapy as the oils help the body absorb the steam. It can target the whole body (bashpa swedana) or a specific part of the body (nadi swedana).

During swedana, the patient sits in a wooden box or room filled with herbal steam to help the patient eliminate the toxins in his or her body by sweating. Ayurvedic practitioners recommend having a warm shower after swedana therapy.

B- Panchakarma treatments:

Panchakarma, which is Sanskrit for “five treatments,” is a five-step detox program in Ayurveda. These treatments help detoxify the body and restore balance to the vata, pitta, and kapha doshas.

The five treatments are:

1. Vamana (medicated emesis)

2. Virechana (medicated purgation)

3. Vasti (medicated enema)

4. Nasya (nasal medication)

5. Raktamokshan (bloodletting)

An Ayurvedic practitioner would manage obesity using the following Panchakarma treatments: 

1- Vamana (medicated emesis): a practice where patients undergo forced vomiting to eliminate toxins and remove the body’s excess kapha dosha, which is aggravated when a person is overweight. Vamana helps clear the microchannels that carry fat in the body and helps the body eliminate excess fat.

2- Virechana (medicated purgation): a practice where patients are given herbal treatments to induce diarrhea. Virechana helps eliminate the excess kapha and pitta doshas in the body. It helps cleanse the liver, which eliminates toxins. It also helps the body burn fat.

3- Vasti/Basti (medicated enema): vasti is a practice where patients are given oils or liquids that help cleanse their gut. Basti is a practice where patients are given an herbal enema to cleanse the gut.

Basti and vasti help the body get rid of toxins that may cause weight gain. Ayurvedic practitioners prefer using herbal enemas to oil enemas if a person is overweight.

C- Additional treatments:

Ayurveda practitioners may recommend additional treatments to manage obesity and promote weight loss. These treatments can be a part of Purvakarma and include:

1- Abhyanga (massage therapy): is a practice where oils, ghee, or oils infused with herbs are massaged vigorously into the body to loosen the toxins in the body.

Abhyanga also helps nourish the tissues, burns fat, restores balance to imbalanced doshas, and relieves stress. It is also part of dinacharya (daily routine).

2- Udvartana (powder massage therapy): is a practice where herbal powders like or oils infused with herbs are vigorously massaged into the body. It differs from abhyanga because the herbs are massaged into the body in the opposite direction of hair growth. The massage lasts for 30-45 minutes.

Udvartana helps restore balance to the imbalanced kapha and vata doshas. It also boosts blood and lymph circulation throughout the body and promotes weight loss. It also helps get rid of cellulite.

D- Rasayana (Rejuvenation treatments):

In Ayurveda, rasayana, which is Sanskrit for “path of essence,” consists of practices that help rejuvenate and nourish the mind and body. Rasayana practices include consuming herbal treatments or decoctions and maintaining a healthy and balanced diet. It also incorporates exercise, yoga, and a regular self-care routine (dinacharya) to maintain balance in all aspects of life.

The rasayana practices that help treat obesity are explained in more detail below:

1- Dietary Modifications:

The Ayurvedic diet aims to balance all three life energies or doshas in the mind and body. Patients should maintain a diet that restores balance to the kapha dosha (energy of structure and lubrication) or other dominant doshas to treat or prevent obesity.

Ayurvedic practitioners advise people to eat healthy, light, and nourishing foods that will stimulate their agni (digestive fire) to promote weight loss. They should avoid eating sour and pungent foods because these foods slow down digestion.

Practitioners instruct people to eat slowly and chew their food properly to avoid weight gain. They also encourage patients to practice mindfulness while eating to develop a healthy relationship with food.

An Ayurvedic diet also prescribes eating specific foods as part of Purvakarma (preparatory treatments) before Panchakarma (detoxification therapies). It helps loosen the accumulated toxins in different areas in the body that cause weight gain.

Patients should maintain the Ayurvedic diet even after they complete Purvakarma and Panchakarma therapies.

2- Herbal Treatments:

Ayurveda prescribes herbs or herbal treatments to treat obesity or help with weight loss. The treatments are specifically tailored to the person’s symptoms. Practitioners prescribe different herbs depending on the person’s symptoms.

Some of these herbs include:

- Triphala: an herbal treatment consisting of three different fruits, amalaki, bibhitaki, and haritaki. They help cleanse the gut and eliminate toxins from the body, which helps promote weight loss.

- Trikatu: an herbal preparation consisting of long pepper (pippali), ginger, and black pepper. It stimulates agni and helps the body burn fat and eliminate toxins.

- Guggul (Indian myrrh): an herb that helps with weight loss because it helps burn fat. It is also an appetite suppressant.

- Pippali (Long pepper): an herb that stimulates agni to improve digestion. It also helps the body burn fat.

- Jira (Cumin): an herb that helps stimulate pitta and detoxifies the liver. This helps the body eliminate toxins that can cause weight gain. Jira also reduces hunger pangs or cravings.

3- Dinacharya (Routine):

Dinacharya or establishing a routine is one aspect of Rasayana that helps treat obesity and restores balance to the body and the mind.

It includes:

1- Adjusting dietary habits: People should eat foods at regular times. They should also eat healthy foods that help restore balance to the imbalanced kapha dosha and stimulate agni (digestive fire).

2- Regulating sleeping habits: People need to adjust their sleeping habits and begin sleeping at regular times every night. Sleeping well improves metabolism and regulates appetite.

3- Exercising regularly: People should engage in physical activity every day to stabilize all the doshas. Exercise also strengthens the muscles and maintains the physique. 

4- Practicing yoga: People should practice at least 10 minutes of yoga every day to relieve stress, which promotes weight loss.

5- Practicing breathing techniques: People should practice breathing techniques or pranayama every day. Pranayama helps balance the amount of fat in the body because it speeds up the metabolism and improves digestion. It also helps decrease stress levels, which prevents overeating.

6- Massaging yourself: People should massage themselves with oils or herbs every day to help the excess doshas move out of the body. Massages can also help the body burn fat and get rid of cellulite.

Ayurveda for Weight Loss: recommendations

- Eat at regular times: Skipping meals makes it harder to establish a routine to eat well. Eating at regular times improves digestion and prevents toxins from accumulating in the body, which leads to weight loss.

- Exercise regularly: Engage in physical activity for 30 minutes every day to restore balance to all the doshas. Exercise also builds muscle and helps you maintain your figure.

- Sleep well: Maintain a regular sleep schedule and get at least 7 hours of sleep. Sleeping well helps the body maintain its hormone levels, regulating appetite and decreasing the risk of obesity.

- Practice yoga: Practice at least 10 minutes of yoga and pranayama (breathing techniques) every day to relieve stress. Stress reduction prevents overeating or emotional eating. Yoga helps increase mindfulness around one’s body and can help people implement healthy lifestyle changes. Practicing pranayama also helps with weight loss because the techniques stimulate metabolism and detoxify the body.

- Meditate daily: Practice meditation for at least 20 minutes every day. Meditation helps relieve stress and increases emotional well-being. Mindfulness makes people more aware of their bodies. It helps them make healthier choices about the food they eat and the lifestyle they live.

- Practice mindfulness around food: Pause and feel gratitude or say a prayer before eating your meal. Try to eat in silence and minimize the distractions around you. Eat slowly. Focus on the texture and taste of the food and chew it slowly. Try to sit still after eating and visualize the food nourishing your body.

Foods to eat:

According to Ayurveda, all foods possess certain gunas (qualities). The gunas in the foods are transferred into energies that influence the balance of the doshas in the body.

People who are overweight should eat foods that possess light and bitter gunas (qualities) to stimulate the pitta dosha (energy of digestion and metabolism) and promote weight loss.

These foods include:

• Fruits: apples, oranges, lemons, pears, papayas, strawberries, cherries, plums, blueberries, raspberries, kiwis, pomegranates, and gooseberries

• Vegetables: spinach, kale, pumpkin, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, asparagus, tomatoes, eggplants, garlic, onions, bitter gourds, radishes, and beetroot.

• Meat: chicken and turkey 

• Dairy products: low-fat milk, cottage cheese, buttermilk 

• Legumes: all beans and lentils

• Grains: oats (uncooked), barley, millet, and sorghum

• Spices: cinnamon, pepper, mustard, mint, fenugreek, fennel, parsley, and coriander

Herbs to use:

Ayurveda recommends herbs and herbal preparations that promote weight loss by stimulating agni (digestive fire) and improving digestion, which help the body eliminate toxins and burn fat. These herbs include:

- Triphala: an herbal treatment consisting of three different fruits, amalaki, bibhitaki, and haritaki. They help cleanse the gut and eliminate toxins from the body, which helps promote weight loss.

- Trikatu: an herbal preparation consisting of long pepper (pippali), ginger, and black pepper. It stimulates agni and helps the body burn fat and eliminate toxins.

- Guggul (Indian myrrh): an herb that helps with weight loss because it helps burn fat. It is also an appetite suppressant.

- Pippali (Long pepper): an herb that stimulates agni to improve digestion. It also helps the body burn fat.

- Jira (Cumin): an herb that helps stimulate pitta and detoxifies the liver. This helps the body eliminate toxins that can cause weight gain. Jira also reduces hunger pangs or cravings.

Ayurveda for Weight Loss: Things to Avoid

- Avoid drinking coffee and tea: these drinks may contain a lot of sugar and caffeine. Sugar and caffeine disrupt the balance of the pitta dosha and affect digestion. They cause toxins to build up in the body, which leads to weight gain.

- Avoid or limit alcohol consumption: alcoholic drinks are high in calories and may cause weight gain. Alcohol consumption also disrupts the balance of all the doshas in the body. It aggravates the pitta dosha and slows down digestion, which makes it harder to burn fat. It also causes the accumulation of ama (toxins) in the body, which leads to weight gain.

- Avoid soft drinks: soft drinks contain a lot of sugar and are high in calories. They also aggravate the pitta dosha, which can cause toxins to accumulate in the body, leading to weight gain.

- Avoid eating dairy with fruits, fish, or meat: combining dairy with fruits, dairy with fish, or dairy with meat impairs digestion. Eating a combination of these foods causes the accumulation of toxins in the body that may lead to weight gain.

- Stop smoking: smoking aggravates the doshas and causes the accumulation of toxins in the body, leading to weight gain.

Foods to avoid:

According to Ayurveda, all foods possess certain gunas (qualities). The gunas in the foods are transferred into energies that influence the balance of the doshas in the body.

People who are overweight should avoid eating foods that possess heavy, sour, salty, and sweet gunas (qualities). These gunas prevent the buildup of excess kapha dosha (energy of structure and lubrication) in the body that causes weight gain.

These foods include:

• Fruits: bananas, mangoes, lychee, and dates

• Vegetables: potatoes and sweet potatoes

• Grains: white rice, pasta, and refined grains

• Meat: red meat

• Dairy products: butter, cheese, full-fat milk, coconut milk, and yogurt

• Food combinations such as fish and dairy, fruit and dairy, and meat and dairy

• Spicy foods

• Sugary foods

• Salty foods

• Processed foods

• Dried or frozen beans or lentils

• Dried fruits

Ayurveda for weight loss: precautions

Ayurveda uses natural and herbal remedies to treat diseases. However, if you want to use Ayurvedic medicines, herbs, supplements to treat a particular condition, you should consider the following precautions:

- Consult your Ayurvedic practitioner before taking Ayurvedic products on your own. Let them know if you have diabetes or are taking medication that may affect your treatment plan. They should adjust it to avoid any harmful interactions with the medication you are taking.

- Some Ayurvedic products and practices are banned in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve or review Ayurvedic products. Some herbal compounds or preparations may contain lead, mercury, or arsenic in toxic amounts.

They can cause serious illnesses in children and may be life-threatening for pregnant or lactating women and their babies. Other compounds from untrustworthy manufacturers may contain steroids, which may cause further health issues. 

- Some Panchakarma treatments aren’t suitable for all patients who want to lose weight. Eligibility for panchakarma is determined by an Ayurvedic practitioner.

People who are anemic and pregnant women also aren’t allowed to undergo panchakarma treatments.

WARNING:

- Make sure to disclose to your primary care physician that you are seeing an Ayurvedic practitioner and are taking Ayurvedic formulations. This ensures you stay safe and avoid medication interactions that might cause serious side effects.

- If you are taking medication for diabetes, don’t stop taking them if you begin Ayurvedic treatment unless your doctor approves it.

- Some Ayurvedic practitioners may not be qualified to treat you. Make sure that your Ayurvedic practitioner is well-trained, certified, and has the relevant experience to meet your needs.

- Be careful when buying Ayurvedic herbs or formulas. Don’t buy Ayurvedic products unless they have a GMP (Good Manufacturing Product) stamp on them if you are buying them from India. Be extra careful when purchasing herbs online because online stores may be selling counterfeit products.

Ayurveda for Weight Loss: side effects

Since Ayurvedic treatments are derived from natural herbs and plants, most treatments do not cause adverse events. However, if you take some Ayurvedic preparations or herbs, you may experience the following side effects:

- Some Ayurvedic products contain toxic amounts of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, or mercury, and they might cause heavy metal poisoning.

- Some Ayurvedic herbal formulations might cause headaches, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, rashes, or allergic reactions.