attars: ayurvedic aromatherapy
Herbs are one of our most powerful allies in addressing doshic imbalance, nourishment of tissues, and qualities of the mind. While we frequently use herbs internally in Āyurveda, there is also a rich opportunity to utilize plant medicine via aromatherapy.
One of our favorite Āyurvedic aromatherapy comes in the form of attars - a botanical distilled into a base of sandalwood oil. These botanicals might include roots, bark, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, or seeds, along with exudates like resin. Attars are used as daily doshic balancing, mood setting, and ritual in addition to being used to enhance the benefits of Āyurvedic treatments, such as marma or shirodhara, and at-home during abhyanga, asana practice.
Watch this short video to learn more about our attars.
Have questions about an attar? Send us an email at contact@karaaubin.com.
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Khus is very cooling to body and mind, making it an excellent companion for Pitta Dosha. Sometimes thought of as ‘the fragrance of the soil’, this attar is rich and earthy, and can be pacifying for Vata where coldness is not an issue.
Khus can be particularly useful for the Pitta pre-menstrual phase. Dr. Vasant Lad says that by applying Khus to the specific marma points “the aura is calmed and anger is cooled”. It is balancing to female hormones and is used as an aphrodisiac oil.
1 dram
The essential oil of Jatamamsi is supportive in soothing an exhausted nervous system. This nutritive tonic is useful to balance sympathetic activation and to cultivate grounded and restful sleep. It can also be used to enhance clarity of perception.
Balancing for all doshas. For topical use, add to base oil.
1 dram
An ancient and very traditional Indian formulation, Hina is a blend of more than 35 different spices, herbs, flowers oils, and wood oils in a base of sandalwood. Aromatic, earthy, floral, and sweet, Hina is like capturing India in a bottle. It is used therapeutically for its warming, grounding qualities.
Hina is said to have a mystical ability to open the heart chakra, and third eye, and to awaken Kundalini Shakti. This attar acts as a strengthening rejuvenative that works well for Vata and Kapha dosha.
1 dram
