The Three Pillars of Ayurvedic Healing: A Simple Framework for a Balanced Life
- Veena Haasl-Blilie
- Dec 1, 2024
- 12 min read
Updated: Jul 2
Establish your path to well-being with Ayurveda’s three foundational principles: food as medicine, targeted herbal remedies, and supportive lifestyle practices.
Explore more on the Saumya Blog, selected top Ayurveda blog and websites.
When we understand our unique pathway to a balanced life, we thrive. This concept is a central part of Ayurveda’s holistic approach to health and healing. But with 5,000 years of ancient wisdom to wrap your head around, getting started can be intimidating.
At Saumya Ayurveda, we break our personalized treatment plans into three simple, powerful categories:
🥗 Food as Medicine
🌿 Ayurvedic Herbs
🧘🏽♀️ Lifestyle Practices
Everything Veena prescribes—every meal plan, herbalized oil, or breathwork technique—is rooted in one of these core pillars. We call this simple but transformative framework the Healing Trifecta.
Read on to discover what that means, and how it can help you heal.
Understanding Your Unique Constitution: Why Personalization Matters in Ayurveda
According to Ayurveda, everything and everyone is composed of the five elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth. These elements combine to form three basic energies, or doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each of us is born with a unique balance of these doshas—our constitution, or prakruti.
This balance influences everything from digestion and sleep to mood and energy. And when life knocks us out of balance—through stress, poor diet, lack of sleep, or even seasonal changes—we begin to feel unwell. Ayurveda calls this vikruti—a departure from our natural state.
True healing begins by returning to your true nature. In Ayurveda, that means establishing svastha—a state of optimal mental and physical health—by maintaining balance among the doshas. Because each person has a distinct doshic makeup, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. This is why so many generalized health plans fall short: they aren't designed for you.
Still, while Ayurveda is deeply personalized, three universal tools form the foundation of healing:
Food that supports digestion and balance
Herbs that treat the root cause, not just the symptoms
Daily practices that restore clarity, energy, and calm
At Saumya Ayurveda, we call this framework the Healing Trifecta. It’s how we personalize your care, gently and effectively.
“I was struggling with mental and physical symptoms my doctor had no answer for. With Veena’s guidance on herbs and diet changes, I made small victories along the way, and become better with each appointment. Now, almost 6 months later, I am a completely different person.”
—Maria Fumagalli, San Diego, California
What is Saumya Ayurveda's Healing Trifecta?
At Saumya Ayurveda, we use the “Healing Trifecta” to organize all of Ayurvedic healing into three powerful pillars: Food as Medicine, Herbs, and Lifestyle Practices. Within each pillar are countless time-tested tools, refined over 5,000 years of practice.
What makes this framework so effective is it flexibility and it's specificity. Each tool is selected based on your unique constitution, symptoms, goals, life stage, and season. There is no one-size-fits-all plan—only a personalized path to your most vibrant, thriving life.
Food as Medicine: In Ayurveda, food is medicine. Your personalized plan is tailored to your unique needs to support digestion, reduce toxins, and balance your doshas.
Ayurvedic Herbs: Targeted herbal support brings the body, mind, and spirit back into alignment, rather than simply masking symptoms.
Lifestyle Practices: Daily routines and rituals calm the nervous system, regulate energy, and deepen your connection to Self.
Our demanding lives are the source of much of our physical, mental, and spiritual turbulence. When it comes to regaining balance, they’re also one of our biggest hurdles.
It’s a tricky cycle: life is stressful, and it’s making us sick – but we’re too busy to do anything about it!
The Healing Trifecta cuts through the overwhelm and gives you a clear path back to health, grounded in your reality. And with Veena's guidance, you don't have to walk it alone.
"Veena is a treasure of wisdom, support, and encouragement. I have made such progress since working with Veena. Her advice is transformational. In every single conversation and email, I learned such valuable information and gained tools that are helping me be my best and healthiest self. I am so grateful I discovered Veena and took the leap to work with her."
- Jenny Hubbard, New Jersey, USA
Pillar One: Food as Medicine
While Western healthcare has begun to embrace the healing power of diet, Ayurveda has long understood that food is medicine. What (and how and when) we eat can have a profound impact on our bodies, spirits, and minds. Ayurveda offers a holistic approach to diet that honors the unique needs of every individual.
First off… your Food as Medicine program is not a diet
In the West, we tend to think of “diets” in restrictive terms. Cut calories. Banish butter. Quit the carbs. Unfortunately, this mentality starves us both nutritionally and of a healthy relationship with food. We don’t need more deprivation; we need more of what truly nourishes us.
At Saumya Ayurveda, our Food as Medicine programs are designed to balance, heal, nourish, and satiate. Rather than cutting out the “bad,” we focus on the food you should include. With clear and manageable suggestions tailored to your unique needs, it’s easy to weave new habits into your busy life (especially once you start feeling the benefits!).
At Saumya Ayurveda, your food plan is tailored to your constitution, imbalances, life stage, and geography. Your personalized plan might include:
Eating with the seasons—like emphasizing warm, spiced dishes in winter or fresh, cooling foods in summer
Choosing foods that balance your dosha—for example, reducing spicy, oily foods and increasing cooling greens and sweet fruits to calm Pitta, or starting your day with stewed apples and warm tea to support sluggish Vata digestion
Setting meal times that align with your body's natural rhythms—such as making lunch your main meal when digestion is strongest
Practicing mindful eating—like sitting down to eat without distractions and pausing before meals for a calming breath or moment of gratitude\
These recommendations are rooted in your dosha—the unique balance of energy that shapes how your body responds to different tastes, textures, and temperatures. In Ayurveda, we use the energetic qualities of food to either calm or invigorate your system based on what you need most.
“Veena was able to help me regain my energy in just a few months and I’m feeling like my “young” self again!
I love the food plan she designed for me, and all the supporting practices (daily routines, breathing techniques, herbs, and spice mixes) are so enjoyable to incorporate into my day." - Molly Rossini, Minnesota
Food as Medicine and the Doshas
In Ayurveda, the energetic properties of food (such as hot, moist, or oily) increase like energies in our bodies. We restore balance by eating foods with qualities opposite to the current imbalance. For instance:
Pitta: Focus on sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes. Favor cooling foods like cucumbers, melons, leafy greens, milk, and ghee.
Vata: Favor warm, moist, and grounding foods. Think soups, stews, healthy fats, and spiced milk.
Kapha: Choose light, dry, and warm foods with pungent, bitter, and astringent tastes. Cooked greens, beans, and warming spices work well.
This process is both practical and empowering. It’s not about rules—it’s a joyful education in how to listen to your body and respond with care. You begin to eat intuitively, guided by what your body truly needs.
Want to learn more about Ayurvedic nutrition?
Read our full blog on Ayurvedic Food as Medicine for deeper insights for each dosha, and how to begin applying these principles to your life.
You can also explore the Saumya Kitchen (named Top Ayurveda Food Blog by Feedspot) for healing recipes straight from Veena's kitchen.
Pillar Two: Ayurvedic Herbs
Once your food foundation is in place, we introduce herbs—targeted, plant-based support that treats imbalance at its source. These aren’t generic supplements; they are carefully selected plant allies, used to restore harmony across your physical, mental, and emotional systems.
Your herbal protocol is always:
Personalized to your doshic picture and symptoms
Adjusted for your life stage, location, and season
Focused on restoring balance—not just managing symptoms
Your personalized protocol might include:
Digestive herbs like ginger, fennel, and cumin
Nervous system support like Brahmi or Ashwagandha
Hormonal balancing herbs like Shatavari or Vidari
Detoxifying support for the liver, lungs, or skin
Topical oils or nasya oil to support sinuses and the mind
A Gentle Path to Healing
At Saumya Ayurveda, we take a “less is more” approach to herbs. Rather than overwhelming you with an apothecary of expensive supplements, we start with a gentle dose of the plants you need most. Then, we’ll circle back regularly to make any necessary adjustments.
“A year ago, after some lab tests, I was told I had an "abnormal" liver. I thought of my mother, who had died young from liver disease. Veena's Ayurveda recommendations, which included herbs and healthy foods, turned things around in less than six months.
My liver was retested, and each lab result was in the "normal" range. This testifies to my long standing mantra: ‘In Veena I Trust."– Don, Golden Valley, Minnesota
Common Ayurvedic Herbs and Why They Matter
Ayurvedic herbs have been used for thousands of years—not in isolation, but as part of a comprehensive strategy that aligns the entire being. These herbs work holistically, often as synergistic blends (called polyherbal formulations) that help to relieve symptoms by targeting the root imbalance behind them.
Some examples include:
Triphala: A gentle detoxifying blend that promotes regular elimination and gut health
Ashwagandha: A stress-relieving adaptogen that also boosts energy and immune resilience
Shatavari: A tonic for the female reproductive system, often used for hormonal balance
Brahmi: A brain-boosting, cooling herb that soothes the nervous system
Turmeric: A warming, anti-inflammatory root that supports digestion and detoxification
Unfortunately, the rise of wellness marketing has led to confusion. Many people are told there’s a single herb that can solve all their problems, only to be disappointed– or feel even worse.
Ayurveda teaches that the right herb for one person can be the wrong herb for another. That’s why we consider not just your symptoms, but your constitution, current state, environment, and season when choosing the herbs that will truly support you.
We also look beyond the chemical profile of the plant to its energetics—its taste, temperature (heating or cooling), post-digestive effect, and special qualities (called prabhav). This allows us to create formulas that work in harmony with your unique system.
If you've tried herbs on your own without results—or with unwanted effects—consider working with a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner to determine the appropriate protocol. The herbal world is powerful, but only when used with care, context, and wisdom.
Want to learn more about Ayurvedic herbs?
Explore our full blog on Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies to dive deeper into how Ayurvedic herbs work, which ones may be appropriate for self-care, and when to consult a practitioner.
Pillar Three: Lifestyle Practices
The final pillar of the Healing Trifecta is all about your daily rhythm—small, consistent habits that align your body, mind, and spirit.
While the phrase "lifestyle practices" can make us a little anxious, it doesn’t mean waking up at four a.m. every day for an hour of silent meditation (though if that works for you, great!). Rather, these 5000-year old lifestyle tools help us tap into the meditative flow of life.
These time-tested tools help you:
Breathe better
Sleep more deeply
Feel calmer, clearer, and more energized
Regain and maintain doshic balance
Your personalized plan might include:
Breathwork tailored to your dosha
Morning and evening routines that support digestion, rest, and renewal
Simple, gentle movement to stimulate circulation and build vitality
Practices that soothe the nervous system and reconnect you to your center
Core Ayurvedic practices that benefit nearly everyone include:
Diaphragmatic breathwork: Calms the nervous system and supports prana (your vital life force)
Meditation: Clears the mind and cultivates inner stillness
Yoga-asana: Gentle postures to balance energy and support circulation
Abhyanga (oil massage): A grounding, nourishing ritual
Nasya: Herbal oil application in the nose to clear and calm the mind
Dinacharya: Daily routines that align your body with natural rhythms
Ayurvedic lifestyle practices aren’t about overhauling your morning and evening routines or restricting “bad” habits. They’re about relaxing into a way of living that doesn’t feel like work. As a meditation teacher and monk, Veena weaves these practices into every treatment plan with warmth, precision, and care.
“The energies present ebb and flow throughout the day and night. What happens 'out there' influences our inner experience; this is part of the unity of all things.
Through dinacharya, we create a supportive daily rhythm that brings our natural energies into harmony with the world around us, so we can step into the flow!”
- Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
Want to go deeper?
Explore our full blog on Ayurvedic Lifestyle Practices to learn how small changes—anchored in timeless wisdom—can bring lasting transformation.
Three Healing Pillars. One Personalized Path.
Every Saumya Ayurveda treatment plan is built around the three core pillars of healing—food, herbs, and lifestyle. Though the tools are universal, the way they’re applied is uniquely yours. Your doshic picture, health history, goals, environment, and preferences all shape your care.
But here’s what never changes:
You’ll be seen and supported as a whole person.
Your care will be deeply personalized.
And it will always come back to this: food, herbs, and lifestyle.
Ready to Feel Better?
The Healing Trifecta is more than a framework—it’s an intuitive path to real balance. Clarity that lasts. A life that feels aligned with who you truly are. If you're ready to stop chasing symptoms and begin a deeper, more sustainable healing process, we're here to guide you.
Learn more about our FREE 15-minute Ayurveda consultation. Let’s talk about your health concerns, your goals—and how Ayurveda can help you unlock true vitality.
Deepen Your Ayurvedic Journey – Additional Free Resources
A quiet revolution begins with the breath. When the breath steadies, the mind softens, and the body remembers how to feel safe. This free eBook explores pranayama—the Ayurvedic science of breath—as a simple, powerful tool to cool Pitta, calm anxiety, and reconnect with your natural rhythm.
You’ll learn diaphragmatic breathing (the foundation of all breathwork), discover practices to soothe Vata and Pitta, and receive guided tools to help you build and sustain a nourishing daily practice.
"The breath is the connection between the mind and body, so by training the breath, we become calm, focused, and grounded, we slow down the aging process by decreasing stress. These practices are so simple and easy to have as part of our daily life. We actually feel and look younger!"
- Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
Your body is full of messages—if you know how to read them. This free guide introduces Ayurvedic self-observation through five key areas: tongue, nails, poop, eyes, and mucus (yes, really). Learn how to spot imbalances and start making choices that restore harmony from the inside out.
There is a saying, "The mind is more in the body, than the body is in the mind." The Saumya 3 step meditation process shifts us from fight-flight-freeze mode, to rest-restore-relax mode. Give it a try for forty days and observe the changes. The more grounded and relaxed we are, the smoother life flows.
When we re-learn to breath diaphragmatically, we move from the flight-fight-freeze mode, to rest, restore, relaxation mode from where we want and need to live.
3. Ayurveda Daily Routines:
"Choose a couple of practices from the routines that provide you with the greatest support. Perform them while applying our two-minute meditation technique and your mundane tasks, just transformed into a mellifluous meditation. This is meditation applied to daily life." - Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
“I started working with Veena at a time when I was at the end of my tether, juggling my professional and personal aspirations. She responded to my desperate call.
I was encouraged to pursue a steady approach to create lasting changes. Now when I see my patients, I see so many sufferings from similar symptoms related to diet and stress. I have routed several of my patients to Saumya Ayurveda. Veena is a blessing to have, such a rich resource.
I am eternally grateful to Veena for anchoring me to my present state of health and peacefulness and for helping me to embark on a path towards the balance we all are striving for.”
- Dr. Gauri Nagargoje, M.D., Oncology and Hematology
“Veena sees the possibilities that lay dormant in us and is so patient and kind in sharing her wisdom and tools to help birth those possibilities.
As Ayurveda is a living science, it takes conviction and discipline to change habits, to live a different reality. Veena makes navigating the changes smooth and meaningful, inspiring at every meeting, letting me know that, YES, changes are happening!" – Kyle Sangster, USA
“I have been so fortunate to have been introduced to Veena by a friend, and I absolutely want to share her information with you. Veena is so dedicated to one’s health that it feels amazing to have her on my side. She's truly a beautiful soul.
She is helping me navigate all my issues with perimenopause and I am so glad, as the herbs she has given me have not only boosted my immune system greatly, but have chilled my nervous system out, and I’m sleeping again.” – S.J., Saudi Arabia
Psst! Our clients say it best – so read and watch our client's stories.
Discover the Saumya Ayurveda Way
We all want to be heard, understood, and cared for as whole beings, not a set of isolated symptoms. True health is more than the absence of disease, which is why Western medicine so often leaves us feeling hopeless and unseen.
Deep down, you already know what you’re searching for: a new framework for living – one that brings your entire being back into balance. With Saumya Ayurveda, you’ll receive individualized guidance to create the physically, mentally, and spiritually vibrant life you crave.
Saumya Ayurveda provides concierge, top-notch, award-winning Ayurveda care. We strive to keep it simple, so you can focus on you! Our practice model is client focused not on retailing herbs.
Our effective multi-appointment consultation packages provide you with experienced Ayurveda care, enthusiastic guidance, and inspiring support.
Explore our personalized services and book your FREE discovery call today.
MEET VEENA: YOUR AYURVEDIC GUIDE
Veena is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and meditation teacher, and monk.
She is President Emeritus and teaching faculty of the Meditation Center.
Veena fell in love with the traditional medicine used in her family’s home, learning herbal remedies at her grandmother's knee.
An experienced Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Veena’s deep, intuitive knowledge of Ayurveda empowers her clients to reclaim their fullest, most vibrant lives –mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Veena individualizes treatment plans to each person, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, so it fits your life and becomes woven in your lifestyle, naturally.
Learn more about Veena's work and book your FREE discovery call today.
