Looking for the best Ayurveda books? We gathered our favorites in this article.
Whether you like deep scientific research, prefer simple explanations, or just want healthy recipes there’s a book for you in this guide.
Ayurveda is a fascinating world that is often dubbed the “science of life”. It is a holistic health system that uses natural resources not only to heal illness but also to preserve health.
It involves herbal medicines and recipes but goes beyond that as well with ideas for the daily routine, different body and energy types, self-care routines, massages, and more.
It doesn’t matter if you are looking for an introduction to Ayurveda or are already a practitioner, we’re sure you’ll find the exact thing you need in these ayurveda books.
Without further ado, let’s get right into it.
1. Ayurveda: The Science of Self-Healing – Dr Vasant Lad
This is one of the Ayurveda books you’ll likely come back to a lot. Dr. Vasant Lad wrote the book and created it as a fundamental read for everyone who is curious about Ayurveda.
The book covers both the basics and introduces the readers to more advanced knowledge. It will take you through the history of the science, the philosophy behind it, and basic concepts.
Then, the writer also includes Ayurvedic diagnostic methods, as well as examples of the herbs and spices used for medicines.
In this awesome comprehensive guide, you’ll also learn about the three doshas, Vata, Kapha, and Pitta which will help you approach your own health and the health of your loved ones or patients. For example, you will learn how long a person should fast depending on their constitution.
The author is one of the best-known Ayurvedic writers, who has been practicing and teaching Ayurveda for over 15 years. He shared a lot of examples and practical tips to help you start navigating this intricate world without feeling overwhelmed.
2. The Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook – Kate O’Donnell
There are tons of (great) Ayurveda recipe books out there. Why did we choose this one?
Well, we found it very helpful for those who are used to making Western recipes – which is most of us – and want to slowly get into Ayurvedic cooking. Basically, it’s a great start that won’t confuse you which can often lead to disappointment and giving up.
Eating healthier is often the only thing we need to get our bodies back on track, and that’s true whether you’re a yogi or not.
The book also prioritizes seasonal eating, so you can adapt your food based on what’s growing at a certain time of the year.
3. Ayurveda (Idiot’s Guide) – Sahara Rose Ketabi
This book is named funny, but it can offer serious help. It was written by Sahara Rose Ketabi, a popular ayurvedic practitioner, holistic health coach, nutritionist, yogi, and author.
As the name implies, this is one of the best ayurveda books written for absolute beginners. It will guide you through all the basic practices and ideas of Ayurveda.
Then, the book affirms that most people don’t have the time needed to follow all the traditional practices of Ayurveda, so she stresses the importance of simplicity which is more sustainable. The practices she describes and proposes are easy to implement in our everyday lives.
Deepak Chopra, the “guru of holistic health” has approved this book and recommends it to beginners who want to get into Ayurveda.
With the help of the book, you’ll discover your dosha, and how it impacts everything from your physiology and metabolism to your personality and dreams. You will also learn about the seasonal impact on the body, as well as how your body changes throughout the day.
4. Ayurveda and the Mind – David Frawley
Along with Vasant Lad who wrote the first book on our list, David Frawley is the most renowned Ayurveda teacher and practitioner in the West.
His book “Ayurveda and the Mind” is one of the best Ayurveda books if you are interested in the psychological aspect of the system.
He explores the mind from the Ayurvedic perspective, talking about the physical, mental, and emotional aspects.
The book also includes tests for finding your constitution and is a great guide for those interested in Ayurvedic psychology. You will learn how diet, yoga, and other techniques can help the mind on the subconscious level.
Note that the book already expects the readers to have knowledge of Ayurveda and is not for absolute beginners. It uses terms that are not common to those who don’t study the topic, so it may be better to start with a beginner-friendly guide first.
5. Ayurvedic Healing: A Comprehensive Guide – David Frawley
This book was also written by David Frawley, a teacher of the Vedas, Yoga, and Ayurveda. It was first released in 1989 but it stood the test of time and is still one of the best Ayurveda books.
He wrote multiple books and received Padma Bhushan one of the most renowned Indian civilian awards for his books on old Indian medicine.
This book is a great addition to your library if you are looking for a practical guide to Ayurveda. It covers 80 diseases and conditions, from less serious like colds, to terminal illnesses like cancer.
He then talks about potential ayurvedic treatments. Although you can find this information online, the book offers a much more comprehensive approach and was written by a person who dedicated their life to researching Ayurveda, which means you can be sure the methods are authentic.
The great thing about this book is that Frawley adapted the knowledge so it is easy to read and understand for Western readers. Along with descriptions of diseases and solutions, it also talks about gunas, doshas, and koshas.
6. Prakriti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution – Dr. Robert Svoboda
Dr.Robert Svoboda, the writer of this book, was the first Western person to receive a degree in Ayurveda. This alone makes him stand out among all Ayurvedic authors on this list.
This work is considered a classic among Ayurveda books, and the latest revision and update included his most recent research and experience.
This book particularly deals with Prakriti, which is the constitution of a person. This is one of the most important things to learn if you want to be an Ayurveda practitioner because it determines the ideal diet, lifestyle, and healing method for a person.
In fact, Ayurveda goes so far as to say that an ideal food for one person, could kill another, based on their constitution. That’s why this knowledge is essential, and no other book on our list goes into so much detail about it.
7. Ayurveda Beginner’s Guide: Essential Ayurvedic Principles and Practices to Balance and Heal Naturally – Suddan Weis-Bohlen
Another great beginner’s guide, this book was written by a renowned Ayurveda consultant, meditation, and cooking teacher Suddan Weis-Bohlen.
This book is great for those who know almost nothing about Ayurveda and want a straightforward and easy-to-understand introduction to the system.
The book was approved by Dr. Vasant Lad who is one of the most prominent Ayurveda gurus and also the author of the first book on our list.
The book includes a 3-week Ayurveda plan for beginners, a list and explanations of many techniques, a dosha quiz, and in-depth descriptions of doshas.
The book is colorful and well-structured and we think it may be an awesome gift idea for a yogi friend. However, if you already understand the fundamentals of Ayurveda this book is probably not for you – unless you want to have a simple reminder of the basics.
8. The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies – Vasant Lad
The full name of this book is The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Based on the Timeless Wisdom of India’s 5,000-Year-Old Medical System.
Just like the first book on our list, it was written by the leading authority in Ayurveda in the modern day, Dr. Vasant Lad. In this book, he talks about basic Ayurvedic principles and then goes into actual healing treatments and remedies.
The remedies are based on the constitution of the patient or three doshas – vata, pitta, and kapha. They include herbal teas and oils, as well as yoga and meditation practices.
We like that it includes both physical and mental illnesses, such as colds, headaches, sore throats, vision issues, anxiety, and depression.
The author also goes into diet and how you can make changes to improve your health and well-being.
9. Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom: A Complete Prescription to Optimize Your Health, Prevent Disease, and Live with Vitality and Joy – Acharya Shunya
This book was written by Acharya Shunya, a spiritual teacher whose grandfather was Baba Ayodhya Nath, a guru and Ayurveda expert who taught her the knowledge of Ayurveda.
We love that she combines both Ayurvedic recipes and remedies with her personal stories.
She talks about how she studied with her grandfather and gives this book a storytelling edge which can make it more interesting for those who already know some basics of the system.
Still, the book is also beginner-friendly because it deals with the basic principles of Ayurveda, the body types, and eating recommendations. Furthermore, she also talks about Ayurvedic beauty routines and gives recipes for homemade cosmetics like scrubs and oils.
She also touches on the topics of spirituality, exercise, rituals for pleasure, and meditation and talks about how one can achieve a more joyful life.
10. Ayurveda and Marma Therapy – Dr. David Frawley
If you are especially interested in massage, this is one of the best Ayurveda books for you.
The book explains marma therapy, and talks about the 107 marma points on the body, talking about their location and features.
The book describes how and why to treat these marma points using massage, yoga, herbs, and essential oils.
You can use this book for both self-care and helping your loved ones. The points are used both for healing physical issues and for relaxing the mind and beautifying the body.
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