Prana*, Plants & Purpose: How Ayurveda Heals Across East and West

A Science Rooted in Consciousness 

Ayurveda, the science of life is not merely a medical system; it is a way of life, a science of  consciousness (Chetana Shastra), born of the Vedas and shaped by millennia of observation,  intuition, and communion with nature.  

It offers a universal framework for understanding plants - not just Indian herbs, but all botanical  medicines across cultures, it is not geographically bound. Ayurveda sees the human being as a  sacred meeting place of body, mind, soul, and the elements. At the heart of this living tradition is —  the deep understanding that plants are not just pharmacological substances but conscious entities  with pranic intelligence that purify, uplift, and elevate consciousness.  

These plants do not merely fix problems; they awaken deeper awareness. 

According to Vedic tradition, many plants were first seen and received by the ancient seers (rishis)  in states of deep meditation. In the hands of a true vaidya (ayurvedic doctor ), herbs become  instruments of balance, spiritual growth, and energetic transformation. A sacred relational and not a  prescription, this is not just science — it is vidya (illumined knowledge), a pathway to inner clarity.  It is the foundational lens of the Panchamahabhutas (5 elements), Guṇas (qualities), Rasa–Vipāka– Vīrya–Prabhāva, (explained later) and Doshas that gives us a timeless diagnostic tool. 

Plants as Conscious Allies 

Drawing from the teachings of Dr. David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri) and Dr. Vasant Lad,  we begin to see herbs not just in terms of their biochemical effects but as sattvic* allies that can  elevate the soul. In Ayurveda, herbs are prana-carriers — they bring the intelligence of the sun,  moon, and earth into our bodies. 

Every herb has: 

• A Rasa (Taste) – This is not just a flavour but a doorway into the elemental composition of  the plant and its initial effect on the doshas. 

• A Virya (Energy) – Whether heating (ushna) or cooling (shita), it governs the metabolic  transformation and digestion. 

• A Vipaka (Post-digestive effect) – The long-term impact on tissues and ojas. 

• A Prabhava (Unique property) – The subtle, often inexplicable action that transcends the  above. 

These fourfold qualities point to a yogic relationship — where the plant does not "treat a symptom"  but enters into a dialogue with the body’s prakriti (constitution), vikriti (imbalance), and even the  manomaya kosha (mental-emotional layer). 

Herbs such as Tulsi, Brahmi, Ashwagandha, and Shatavari carry not only physical benefits but  emotional and spiritual intelligence. Tulsi (said to be a divine gift of lord Vishnu) , for instance, is  not just adaptogenic; she is sattva-svaroopini — the embodiment of purity. Brahmi, related to Devi  Saraswati (goddess of wisdom) sharpens buddhi (intellect) and expands awareness, bringing one  closer to meditative clarity.

Ayurveda for the East and the West: A Universal Medicine 

In the West, Ayurveda is often understood as a "natural wellness system," but its true offering is far  more profound. It offers a model of health that includes dharma (right action), karma (cause and  effect), and samskara (mental impressions). It integrates diet, herbs, lifestyle, emotional hygiene,  breath, and spiritual practice into one seamless whole. 

In Eastern countries where spirituality and ritual are more woven into daily life, Ayurveda  complements traditional ways of healing and offers tools for balancing fast-paced urban life with  inner harmony. 

In the West, where reductionism often dominates health paradigms, Ayurveda invites a paradigm  shift — to view the body not as a machine, but as a temple; the mind not as a by-product of the  brain, but as a field of consciousness; and herbs not as chemicals, but as devas (divine intelligences)  with whom we co-create healing. 

To classify a Western herb using Ayurveda we asses: Rasa (taste), Virya (potency), Vipaka (post digestive effect) , Gunas (Qualities), Prabhava (unique Effect) , once we map these we can  determine how the herb interacts with the doshas, tissues (dhatus) and channels (srotas).  

So, you have Vata imbalance if you suffer from dryness, anxiety & bloating, then you must make  use of warming & grounding herbs like ginger, chamomile, liquorice & skullcap. Similarly for  someone with a pitta imbalance which could cause inflammation, anger and acidity, using cooling  and calming herbs like peppermint, marshmallow root, calendula, burdock would be helpful. A  person with kapha imbalance experiencing congestion, lethargy and heaviness needs to use  stimulation and drying herbs like sage, thyme, rosemary & mustard seed.  

Ayurveda as Humanity’s Inheritance 

Ayurveda is a gift not just to India but to humanity. Its holistic vision offers a vital counterbalance  to the fragmentation and disconnection that mark much of the modern world. It is a samskrita  chikitsa — a refined medicine — that honours the interconnectedness of all life. 

Ayurveda teaches us that plants are not resources to be exploited but companions on the path of  self-realisation. They teach us to listen, to slow down, to return to the rhythm of nature and spirit. 

In a time where planetary and mental health crises loom large, Ayurveda offers a way forward that  is rooted in compassion, wisdom, and balance. It speaks not just to curing disease but to cultivating  svastha — a state of being rooted in the Self, here healing becomes a path of awakening, not just  symptom removal 

Healing as Union 

To practice Ayurveda is to remember that healing is not separate from spiritual life. The root of the  word "yoga" is yuj — to unite. The use of herbs is, therefore, the art of uniting our microcosmic  selves with the macrocosm of nature, to live in harmony with the mahabhutas , the gunas , the  rhythms of day and night, the breath, the pulse, and the deeper inner silence. 

Ayurveda teaches us that herbs are not only for the body — they carry consciousness (chaitanya). 

Many Western herbs are deeply sattvic in nature and can be used to support spiritual clarity: 

• Skullcap, Lemon balm, Chamomile — Calm the nervous system and promote mental  peace 

• Rose, Lavender — Open the heart, balance emotions, uplift mood 

• St. John’s Wort — Light-bearing for those in darkness 

• Holy Basil (now grown widely in the West) — Spiritually purifying 

Each person is a unique expression of the five elements. Each herb is, too. Ayurveda teaches us to  listen, to sense, and to serve life through plants — wherever they grow, it teaches the Dravya Guna  Vijnana — the science of the qualities and nature of substances.  

A true herbal yoga is when the inner nature of the herb (svabhava) aligns with the nature and  need of the individual (prakriti/vikriti). This alchemical process purifies the blood and thoughts,  clears blockages in nadis (energy channels) and awakens subtle perception and inner stability.  

Just as yoga asana clears the body to sit in meditation, herbs clear the body to hold higher states of  consciousness. This is precision, not generalisation. This is yoga, not suppression. 

As both East and West seek solutions to burnout, anxiety, chronic illness, and disconnection,  Ayurveda stands as a lighthouse — ancient, enduring, and radiantly alive. 

Let us bow to the plants, the vanaspatis*, and walk the path of living medicine — with reverence,  knowledge, and devotion. 

Namaste  

Simran  

* Some Sanskrit terms and their deep meanings:  

Vanaspati’s: “The Lord of the Forest,” a poetic and respectful way to refer to the plants, trees, and vegetation that sustain life. 

Mahabhutas : The Five Great Elements that make up all matter, energy, and consciousness in the universe.They are the primordial  principles behind both creation and healing. The five great elements as outlined by Ayurveda as Akasa (Ether/space) ; Vayu (Air/ Wind) ; Agni/Tejas (Fire) ; Apas/Jala (Water) ; Prithvi (Earth) 

Gunas: a quality, attribute, or energy that characterises matter or mind. The three guṇas — Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas — are the  psychospiritual forces that shape all of creation. 

Prana: Vital life force, vital breath, or energy of life. That which sustains and animates all living being 

Sattvic: That which is imbued with purity, clarity, and harmony — rooted in truth and light.” Food that is light and nourishing,  seasonal, plant-based and supports clarity and spiritual growth.