The rise in Ayurveda’s visibility has made healthful living more mainstream, but how accessible is it?

Like conventional medicine, traditional healing is ineffective without reasonable access- meaning affordability, availability, and awareness.

THE $CIENCE

The following stories illustrate real experiences from DOSHA App & System clients.

Availability

An herbalist with a medical degree once prescribed coconut water to address persistent Vata-related dehydration. She emphasized the importance of fresh coconut water daily to counteract the damage caused by a previous regimen. Eager to comply, the client stocked up on Zico coconut water- only to discover the prescription required whole coconuts, cracked open each day for fresh extraction.

Fresh coconut water is easier to find today as the wellness industry grows. Modernizing traditional methodology and treatments benefits the user and practitioner. (Image: AKJAM Publishing)

This expectation was unrealistic, even absurd. Few people have the time or setting to manually source fresh coconut water every morning. This gap between Ayurvedic recommendations and real-world practicality is where accessibility falters. Thankfully, advancements in food science have proven that packaged coconut water retains hydration and nutrient integrity. Affordable one-liter bottles from brands like Trader Joe’s allow traditional wisdom to adapt to modern lifestyles.

Awareness

A client experiencing rapid hair loss underwent extensive medical testing, only to be prescribed Rogaine- an expensive, chemical-heavy treatment with potential side effects. Uncertain, she turned instead to amla pills already in her possession, noticing gradual improvement after months of use. However, she still had concerns: Could the herb interact with other medications? Was she taking the correct dosage? Her primary care physician had never heard of amla, let alone understood its effects.

This is where wellness culture collides with misinformation. Social media fuels health trends, but a TikTok-endorsed remedy does not equate to informed care. Celebrity endorsements mean little when a single herb can react differently in millions of bodies. Like conventional medicine, Ayurveda requires precision- an understanding of dosage, formulation, and compatibility. Even modern medical professionals struggle to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and clinical science.

For this client, the key difference was subtle yet critical: She adjusted the dosage and switched to an amla formulation incorporating both fruit and stem rather than fruit alone. Traditional treatments demand expertise- but more importantly, they require integration into broader medical knowledge.

Affordability

This is the most significant barrier. Holistic healing is alluring, yet financial constraints often place it out of reach. Integrative doctors, wellness coaches, functional medicine treatments, and beauty regimens all come at a high cost.

Yet Ayurveda, at its core, embraces simplicity. It promotes balance- cultivating wellness through daily rituals rather than fleeting fixes. Meditation, breathwork, and self-massage require no financial commitment. Herbal treatments should be preventive or a last resort, not the first step.

Ayurvedic living does not need to cost a lot to be effective. Simple daily rituals and knowing one’s dosha are luxury wellness. (Image: Taken by AKJAM Publishing. Art by Fernand Léger *Three Women* at MoMA NYC)

Even herbal regimens can be financially taxing. Stress is among the leading causes of health issues, from cardiovascular disease to inflammatory bowel syndrome. Ironically, most alternative health-seekers must continue working under stressful conditions to afford treatment. Consider the simplest supplements addressing stress: Banyan Botanicals’ Stress Ease costs $54 for a minimal treatment span, while Himalaya’s Stress Care- priced at $120- requires double the daily intake, making a single (most affordable) bottle last only 15 days. Costs escalate rapidly, just as they do with pharmaceuticals. Usual herbal regimens require multiple supplements that can run upwards of $500 monthly- that’s the average annual supplements expenditure per NIH data. Even seeing a functional medicine or Ayurveda doctor can cost up to $6,000 annually- before factoring in lab tests to determine if supplements are necessary or appropriate.

Health should not be a luxury. The modern wellness industry has positioned itself as aspirational, leaving genuine healing tangled in branding, exclusivity, and exaggerated promises. Ayurveda, with its depth and history, deserves better.

Free Ride

Crucially, Ayurveda is not limited to herbal remedies. A true Ayurvedic lifestyle is rooted in mind-body alignment, embracing practices that cost nothing: abhyanga massage, yoga, and breathwork. Guided wellness experiences may feel indulgent, but self-care can be simplified. Meditation doesn’t require an app subscription. Yoga poses don’t demand a boutique studio. Simple breathwork can be done at home- quietly, without an instructor.

BOTTOM LINE

Understanding one’s doshic constitution is the first step. Wellness should be attainable, not aspirational. Ayurveda, in its essence, belongs to everyone. It is not a luxury. It is a way of life.

AKScientist Research’s Dosha App & System empowers users to actively pursue preventative care through two fundamental daily activities- getting dressed and eating. The Magazine delivers that empowerment through articles in Dosha Dressing and Scientific Tidbits, for example.

Because wellness should never be out of reach.