David Brousard, M.S., MTI
Director and Founder
David Broussard is the Director of The Ayurvedic Center for Holistic Health. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and holds a Masters Degree in Wellness Sciences. David attended The Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, NM., where he studied Ayurvedic Lifestyle Management. He is a certified as a Practitioner of Ayurvedic Lifestyle Management and Postural Integration Bodywork and Polarity Therapy. He has studied Creative lifestyles at The Option Institute and Fellowship in Sheffield, MA, and with Robert Fritz, consultant and author of The Path of Least Resistance. David believes that using a multidimensional approach is essential for restoring or maintaining wellness.

Please note that we have moved to a new location! Our new address is 10928 Casitas Drive, Austin, Texas 78717. Phone 512 388-4047. Appointments also can be made at our Houston Location.

What's New

Spring

Balancing Kapha and Pitta

Kapha and pitta doshas share dampness in nature. As spring approaches, pitta begins to rise and accumulated kapha begins to melt. We notice this mucous accumulation primarily as sinus congestion which is aggravated by emerging pollen and mold spores. Modern medicine calls these symptoms allergies and provides us with a plethora of symptomatic remedies which do not address the root of the problem. Consequently, overuse of many of these remedies can lead to the aggravation to mucous membranes and the development of nasal polyps.

Instead, let’s use Ayurveda to interpret our symptoms. If we take an Ayurvedic perspective, we want to balance kapha, but not aggravate pitta. First, we can follow dietary guidelines that balance, by eating cooling and drying foods and avoiding too much mucous building foods such as dairy products and oily foods( you can email us for a more detailed list). We can eat more vegetables which include more pungent and bitter tasting varieties such as asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower and leafy greens. Some balancing grains include barley, corn, millet and brown rice.

Observe some lifestyle modifications and take balancing herbs as well. For the mucous membranes we can remember our friend the neti(nasal) pot and use a warm saline solution each morning to clear our nasal passages. Ginger tea ( ginger mixed in warm water with honey and lemon) can help break up mucous accumulations in sinuses and lungs. Ayurvedic task specific herbal combinations such as Lung Formula by Banyan coupled with a formula to strengthen the immune system like Septilin by HPS or Immune Formula by Banyan can be a helpful complement. Trikatu and triphala are both traditional Ayurvedic formulas. Trikatu includes black pepper, ginger and pippali, all warming herbs. It can be taken to relieve acute kapha symtoms but will aggravate pitta in time. Triphala is a balanced formula which contains three fruits Amalaki, bibhitaki and haritaki. Triphala is widely used for its ability to keep toxic buildup to a minimum and can be taken on a regular basis. The synergistic effect promotes both detoxification and rejuvenation. Sitopaladi, which comes in powder form, is taken for soothing a sore throat.

We can see that the benefit of using Ayurveda to return to health is that provides us with a number of healthy ways to work to accomplish the same goal. This definitely increases our chances for success! Instead of suppressing symptoms, we acknowledge them as important information and use Ayurveda to see the direction we need to take to get back to health. The sages knew that health is the effect of balance as dis-ease is the effect of an imbalance. Our doshas never stay balanced, but corrections in the range of a healthy imbalance sustains our vitality and may keep us from developing more serious problems down the road.To learn more about using Ayurveda and balance to stay healthy, ypu can contact The Ayurvedic Center at 512 388-4047 to arrange a personal consultation.

Arjuna (terminala arjuna)

Arjuna is highly recommended in Ayurveda for cardiovascular support. The bark of the terminalia has shown to be effective in lowering blood pressure, increasing circulation and stabilizing heart rate. Arjuna is said to do its job by scavaging free radicals, which damage healthy tissues, including those of the heart. It is often combined with other Ayurvedic herbs in heart formulations such as guggul, a herb proven in lowering cholesterol, and brahmi and ashwagandha which help to counter the effects of stressful lifestyles on the heart.

In people suffering from congestive heart disease, studies show it has aided in the ability to walk comfortably without shortness of breath or fatigue. In other studies, patients with angina pectoris - chest pain that stems from inadequate blood flow to the arteries in the heart- took arjuna for three months. Those with stable anjina at the beginning of the study had 50% fewer bouts of anjina and were able to walk on the treadmill longer without having chest pains or having EKG signals that the heart was deprived of oxygen. There was also a drop in blood pressure blood pressure and a slight increase in the HDL to total cholesterol level, indicating an overall improvement in the cardiovascular profile. Arjuna is available from our Ayurvedic Store as a single herb or in formulas such a Abana by Himalaya or Heart Formula By Banyan.

Ayurveda can offer fresh perspectives for general healthcare based on a concept of balance according to established Ayurvedic principles. The first is step an assesment of individual constitution by an Ayurvedic practitioner. Ayurvedic Guidelines are given for balance, including dietary, herbal and lifestyle, to help restore and maintain wellness over time.

Triphala - the Ayurvedic Mother

Triphala is the most popular herbal formula in Ayurvedic Pharmacology. It contains harataki and bibhitaki which have a warming, astringent quality to support bowel health. In Ayurveda bowel health is seen not only as vital to proper elimination of toxins, but also as the key to assimilation of calcium and other minerals which support bone density.

Triphala also contains amalaki, a powerful blood purifier and one of the highest natural sources of vitamin C. Amalaki has a cooling energy to help control inflammatory responses in the system. It also supports the liver and aids in healthy vision. Triphala is often used daily as an eyewash to reduce redness and soreness due to eyestrain.

Regular use of triphala is said to promote normal appetite, increase red blood cells and both prevent the build up of and aid in the removeal of undesirable fat. It's cleansing and balancing nature keeps the system open and helps assimilate specific purpose herbs and formulas more readily. Its balanced nature supports continued use over time. Because of its detoxifying and rejuvenating properties it is also combined with gugglu to remove stubborn toxins from deep tissue levels. Triphala is available in powder, capsule or tablet form from our Ayurvedic Store.

Save more with our Lotus Herbal Line

Check out new Ayurvedic line of pharmaceutical grade single herbs well as traditional formulas such as triphala and hingastak available now in our Lotus Herbals Brand in 250 mg vegi-caps or in 2.5oz powder bottle packs. We have also added popular singles such as boswellia, bacopa, holy basil and more. Get discounts up to 15% on multiple purchases of task specific formulas by Banyan and Himalaya. Plus free freight on orders over $150. Best of all enjoy the ease of purchasing with our new secured shopping cart! Thanks for your continued support since 1996 and have a healthy and prosperous New Year!

Himalaya Herbals Personal Care Products

Himalaya Herbals now offers a selection of natural, effective and safe personal care products. They are carefully formulated from selected herbs in the Ayurvedic tradition and include dental cream, protein shampoo and conditioner, soothing body lotion and a neem face pack. See them on our order form in the "other products " section. Request a free sample of the protein shampoo, conditioner or body lotion with your next order!

Astro-Mapping

Your natal birthchart is projected onto a map of the USA, Europe or world to reveal the locations where specific energies prevail. Learn where to enhance your chances for sucess in a career of choice, relationships or creating vital health. In addition to the map, you will receive a personal report based on your invidivdual birthchart. See the order page in the Astrology section to get your Astro-Map and Report and start the year with some new awareness!

Book Review-The Yoga of Herbs, by Lad & Frawley

A book that explains the principles of Ayurveda and links the common herbs used in Ayurvedic, Chinese and Western systems of healing. It provides the essential properties found in taste - bitter, pungent, sweet, astringent and salty and their digestive and post-digestive impacts. It also provides guidelines for the management of individual constitutions, along with individual herbal preparation and therapeutic actions. A must for anyone wanting a greater understanding of using herbs to restore and maintain health. Available from our bookstore in the recently revised edition.

The Creating Corner

As A Man Thinketh

The aphorism "as a man thinketh in his heart so is he", embraces a key principle of Ayurveda. Our mind is the vehicle of our consciousness. The body is the servant of the mind. Our musculature will respond to the thought that "I must do this" by holding energy to accomplish this task. On the other hand, if we follow that thought with " I can do it or not", just notice the relaxation this thought of choice brings. By our thoughts we can also expand or contract our awareness of who we are. Our identity flows from our thoughts. When we think thoughts that limit our awarness of ourselves, such as "I am a person with this or that problem", we feel contracted, limited and vulnerable. On the other hand, when we think thoughts such as " I am that which supports all forms" which are expanding, we feel powerful, peaceful and content. We can practice meditation on a regular basis to reconnect to a direct experience of our essential nature.

The Path of Least Resistance

Our energies tend to flow down the path of least resistance, just as water follows the river bed. We call this "force of habit" and is based largely on fixed attitudes about our circumstances. It takes more energy not to follow an old energy path, but we create the option to make choices which are more appropriate to the circumstances of the moment. Before each action, a space for making a better choice exists within us.

Sustaining Your Creating Efforts

We all want to keep our energies moving toward creating what matters most to us. The rhythm of activity and rest we observe in nature provides a helpful clue. Our minds are like a gristmill, the more thoughts we feed them the more they grind. We can feel the tension build in the body. We can easily get carried away until the limitations of the body cause us to collapse and we feel overwhelmed with it all. We let go of what we want because we have no energy to continue. Keeping the mind in harness with grounding techniques is helpful to keep moving in a rhythmic fashion. I like to sit back and get in touch with the sensation of the weight of the body against a chair. Just feeling what sits here begins to slow the mental energies down. Then with each outbreath surrender more and more to the force of gravity until your feel action is choiceful once again. It's important to remember Ayurveda is a supporting modality. We need our health and vitality to sustain our energies in creating our wants!

Please Note: The above information is presented for reference purposes only, and has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice or meant to be used to diagnose or treat any disease. The product descriptons and information given, describe the traditional healing properties and uses of various herbs found in Ayurvedic Pharmacology.