A Little Bit of Ayurveda: An Introduction to Ayurvedic Medicine

by Deacon Carpenter

This entry in the popular Little Bit of series introduces the ancient healing practice of Ayurveda.
 
Known as the “grandparent” of modern medicine and the sister philosophy of yoga, Ayurveda lets patients take control of their own health by focusing on prevention, not medical intervention. Practitioners become active participants in their own wellness by managing stress, consuming healing foods, and understanding which remedies work for their particular body/mind types. A Little Bit of Ayurveda explores the history, philosophy, and practical application of this ancient and relevant it looks at Ayurveda’s influence on both Eastern and Western medicines; outlines the “five element theory” and the doshas; reveals how disease manifests itself; and offers simple rituals to keep you balanced, from seasonal eating and deep belly breathing to dry brushing and tongue scraping. A quiz at the end helps you complete an Ayurvedic self-evaluation . . . and starts you on the path to wellness!

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality

118 pages, Hardcover

First published October 22, 2019

Reviews

[Spiral Breeze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little over view, a shame my autoimmune has messed me up so bad, I’m everything all at once and have no clue what to actually avoid or do.

[Samiam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Introduction! I’m an Ayurvedic Practitioner and found this to be a nice overview and starting place for the fundamental concepts. Wonderful review and very accessible. 🙌

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boiling down the wisdom and tradition of millennia into an approachable, useful text for the curious novice is no easy task, but Deacon Carpenter is more than up for it. Relayed in the same no-nonsense and clear style he has if you’re lucky enough to see him in person for an Ayurvedic consultation, this book is an accessible introduction for anyone seeking balance who has wondered about the benefits of incorporating Ayurveda in their lives. Deacon’s knowledge comes from experience, and this really translates into the book – you’re not getting your information from some remote wise man on a hill, but from someone who has had the courage to effect profound change in his own life and health through the application of Ayurvedic principles over decades. Whether you use the book as a springboard to deeper research and experience or use the common-sense introduction presented here to make manageable changes to your lifestyle today, "A Little Bit of Ayurveda" is a vital stepping-stone on your journey toward wellness.

P.S. like all the books in the "A Little Bit" series, this is beautifully bound and not just full of good info but a wonderful aesthetic object, to boot.

[Lee Rush · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece and guidebook to living in balance. Carpenter’s gentle but firm tone guides the reader along a path that is quite specific for the individual. The author provides conscious, deliberate choices for the reader, while maintaining that this guidance is not “all of nothing”. It is a refreshing respite from other Ayurvedic guides that make the journey far more rigid and militant. Carpenter acknowledges that this is a lifetime lifestyle; one with ups and downs and constant course corrections. But a lifestyle that, if embraced, can transform your relationship to yourself and teach you how to be cognizant of the subtle communications being received all the time from your body. It is a gem of a book that should be read, and referred to, and dog-eared from furious reading.

[B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating intro into a way of life used by many including big names like Deepak Chopra. This way if life is essentially the Indian version of Hippocrates philosophy “let food by thy medicine and medicine be thy food” or something like that 😂.

I will say that it’s pretty interesting that I took a short quiz in this book and was put into a category called “kapha”. The typical Kapha person description fits me to a T, with just a few minor differences. I will give this a try and see if it changes me in any way. Hopefully it will!

[Celine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book and time looking into Ayurveda so I do not have much to compare it with yet I felt it was a great introduction. It covers elements and doshas/energies in enough detail to help me grasp the context, how it applies to my lifestyle and how I could make modifications. In the last third it has a quiz to help you find your doshas and then lots of suggestions on how to balance them from what foods to eat/moderate/avoid to habits to sleep schedules and more. Looking forward to referring back to this in the coming years

[Alec John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some useful information here, but it seemed to be too surface-level for me to really understand some of what the author was trying to say (especially in regards to the doshas). Overall, it was a decent look into Ayurvedic medicine and I look forward to finding other books on the subject.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great baseline/starting point. This was a gift, but I’ve been practicing for 20+yrs so none of this was new but it’s great for beginners or even as a refresher! A little rigid on the schedule suggestions and not perfect but I’d still recommend.

[Liz Stack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and structured well! This was a great introduction book for someone that knew very little about Ayurveda. I now feel confident reading more in-depth books on the subject because I got a nice foundation from this one!

[Gianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of a 4.5. Comprehensive coverage of the basics of Ayurveda and how you can best incorporate it into your life

[Rachelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick read into learning more about ayurveda. I appreciated to plans at the end for good morning and evening habits, especially around eating and sleeping.

[Julia Dolinish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting and simply broken down. Want to do further digging into this subject along with more regular yoga practice

[Rachel Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series!

[Brittany Vargas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for beginners to learn the basics!

[Shannon Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book definitely provided some useful insights, but I didn’t love that the suggested diets used “allowed to” and “should” language. I prefer a more gentle approach.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! It gave me a clear, easy-to-understand overview of Ayurvedic practices and really helped me identify my dosha. I’ve already started making small changes to better balance myself, and it’s been such a helpful guide. I truly enjoyed reading it!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read that gives a great introduction to Ayurveda (specifically from a healing/medicinal perspective). A good choice if you're curious and looking for an accessible way to start learning ways to be more intentional about your wellness.