Jason Fried

37signals

Started & runs 37signals

Co-founder & CEO

Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF)

Fellow

Inc. Magazine

I write a monthly column for Inc. Magazine called "Getting Real". You can read my columns here: http://www.inc.com/author/jason-fried

Columnist

Founder & CEO at 37signals (makers of Basecamp and HEY). Non-serial entrepreneur, serial author (Getting Real, REWORK, REMOTE, It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work). Email me at jason@hey.com.

Lots of people ask how much our twice-a-year, week long, full-company meetups cost to run. Or better phrased, how much we spend on them.

So here are the costs for our last 8 meetups going back to spring of 2022, in different cities around the world.

Hope it's helpful. Here for any questions you might have.

Puneet Aggarwal 🤔⛳ 🚀

Founder

Portfolio Priming By Puneet

Having a Khichadi Portfolio ? 
Have all kinds of stocks, and don't remember why you bought them in the first place ? 
Is your portfolio underperforming the main index ? 
Confused on what to buy or how to rebalance.

Puneet's Portfolio Priming is a specialized equity portfolio optimization service that transforms cluttered, underperforming investment portfolios into streamlined, high-potential compositions. We combine technical and fundamental analysis to enhance portfolio strength and resilience, drawing inspiration from the proven methodologies of market masters Mark Minervini and William O'Neil.

I understand that many investors accumulate stocks over time, often leading to oversized, unbalanced portfolios that become challenging to monitor and manage effectively. Our service provides clarity, direction, and a systematic approach to portfolio optimization.

Portfolio Primer

That Ayurveda Guy

Drawing from 25 years of successful entrepreneurship in the global Ayurvedic market, I help D2C founders transform traditional Ayurvedic wisdom into successful modern products. As your consultant, I bring hands-on expertise in every aspect of building and scaling Ayurvedic product businesses.
My comprehensive consulting approach covers:

1. Formulation development rooted in classical Ayurvedic texts
2. International regulatory compliance guidance
3. D2C marketing and distribution strategies

Having built my own successful Ayurvedic product line from the ground up since 2000, I understand the challenges and opportunities in bringing authentic Ayurvedic formulations to modern markets. My experience spans the entire journey - from sourcing raw materials to achieving market success through D2C channels.

Work with me to:
🍀 Design market-ready Ayurvedic formulations
🍀 Navigate regulatory requirements confidently
🍀 Optimize your manufacturing processes
🍀 Scale your operations efficiently
🍀 Access my vetted network of suppliers and partners

Independent Consultant

The Ayurvedic Daily

A daily newsletter that takes just 60 seconds to read.
Why ? Because I saw overwhelmed professionals trying to decode Ayurveda between Zoom calls and deadlines. The response? Unexpected and beautiful.

What I learned:

💡 Ancient wisdom doesn't need long explanations
💡 Modern lives need bite-sized solutions
💡 People want science with their spirituality
💡Stories work better than lectures

My approach is simple:
Take one Ayurvedic concept
Strip away the Sanskrit complexity
Add a dash of modern context
Wrap it in a 60-second story

Chief Author

Nirogam.com

Director and Co-Founder, at the Wellness Company selling phytochemicals, food ingredients, herbal extracts, essential oils, Spa supplies, Food and Dietary supplements, Nutraceuticals, and Ayurvedic products.

HoneymoonSwami.com

Consulting and advisory firm for couples and newly weds planning their honeymoons. In its existence, Honeymoonswami designed and Crafted 700+ itineraries including Iceland and Antarctica.

HerbsCanCure.com (now known as Nirogam.com)

Chief Herbalist and Marketer
Promoter of Time-tested Health Supplements

Owner

I am the founder of Nirogam, a wellness company that sells Ayurvedic products, food ingredients, herbal extracts, essential oils, and more. I have been an online marketer of Ayurveda and supplements since 2000, and have exported to various geographies, including the USA and UK. I am passionate about designing, packaging, and formulating Ayurvedic dietary supplements that address various health issues, such as diabetes, hypertension, prostate, PCOD, and immunity.

I am also an active equity derivatives trader with 16 years of experience in using technical price charts. I advise some clients on their portfolio and teach beginners how to pick winning stocks without charts or fundamentals using volume surges. I have a background in business and commerce, and have completed courses in direct to consumer marketing, organizational leadership, and entrepreneurship. I am always looking for opportunities to learn, grow, and collaborate with others who share my vision of promoting holistic health and wellness. You can reach me at puneet@nirogam.com

Puneet Aggarwal

The most important Ayurvedic law no one ever told you

“Why do my symptoms always get worse in winter?”

Arjun asked me this last December.

His cracked heels had cracked even more.

His joints were creaking louder.

His anxiety was up.

He was blaming the cold.

But I told him something deeper.

There’s a law of Ayurveda that explains it all.

A timeless rule that governs your health every single day.

"Vṛddhiḥ samānaiḥ sarveṣāṁ viparītaiḥ viparyayaḥ"

Translation:
Similar qualities increase the dosha.
Opposite qualities decrease it.

Let that sink in.

Dry increases dry.
Cold increases cold.
Heavy increases heaviness.

And their opposites?

Reduce.

If your system is already dry (hello Vata),
And you expose yourself to cold wind,
You just increased the dryness.

That’s why your lips cracked.
That’s why your sleep got disturbed.
That’s why your digestion got irregular.

But apply warm sesame oil?

Boom.
Dryness gets balanced.
Vata comes back to center.

This law is everywhere in Ayurveda.

Feeling sluggish? You need lightness.

Feeling hot? You need cooling.

Feeling heavy? You need movement.

It’s not about the herb.
It’s not about the brand.
It’s about matching or countering qualities.

Today’s simple action:

Pick one symptom you're feeling.

Trace its quality — is it hot, cold, dry, heavy, mobile?

Now do something with the opposite quality.

See what happens.

Ayurveda is simple.

But it’s not easy to remember when marketing gets in the way.

This one line?

It can replace half your supplements.

Until then,
Puneet aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. One client used to switch 5 products every season. Now he just tracks qualities. “I finally get why warm soup works better for me than detox smoothies,” he said. “It’s not a trend. It’s a law.”

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

Puneet Aggarwal (That Ayurveda Guy)

The Ayurvedic Undoctor | Solving chronic health struggles through advice where medicine stops | Founder – Nirogam.com & ThatAyurvedaGuy.com | 25+ yrs building D2C Ayurvedic brands

"Poison in Ayurvedic drugs" makes a great headline. 

But it's lazy journalism.

I saw Mahesh Jayaraman's post about heavy metals in Ayurveda.

The same old story.

Modern labs find mercury, lead, arsenic in Ayurvedic formulas.

Journalists scream danger.

People panic.

And nobody asks the right question:

Why would a 5000-year-old science deliberately use metals?

Because they're not stupid.

They're sophisticated.

In Ayurveda, metals undergo Shodhana and Marana.

Shodhana = purification
Marana = calcination into nano-particles

Mercury isn't raw mercury after 21 cycles of heating with herbs.

Lead isn't industrial lead after trituration with 108 herbs.

Arsenic isn't poison after proper Bhasma preparation.

They become bio-compatible.

Chelated.

Bound to organic molecules.

Your body recognizes them differently.

"Shuddha rasāyana dravyāṇi amṛta-tulya bhavanti" ~ Rasa Ratna Samucchaya
Translation: Properly purified metallic preparations become nectar-like

Modern testing can't distinguish between:

Raw mercury vs Hingula (cinnabar after Shodhana)
Industrial lead vs Naga Bhasma (lead after 100 purification cycles)
Toxic arsenic vs Hartala (orpiment after proper processing)

It's like testing bread for raw flour.

Or wine for rotten grapes.

The chemistry changes.

The molecular structure transforms.

But our reductionist lens sees only elements.

Not compounds.

Not chelation.

Not particle size.

Not bioavailability.

Yes, there's a real problem:

Unregulated manufacturers.

Basement operations skipping Shodhana to save costs.

Fake Bhasmas with raw metals.

Products that never saw proper Ayurvedic pharmaceutical processes.

These criminals damage our reputation.

But don't confuse their fraud with our science.

Classical Rasa Shastra texts detail:

Exact purification steps
Number of heating cycles
Specific herbs for chelation
Tests to confirm proper preparation
Dosage based on body weight and constitution

This isn't primitive.

It's pharmaceutical precision before modern chemistry existed.

Want to condemn something?

Condemn the fake manufacturers.

Condemn lazy testing that ignores molecular forms.

Condemn articles that create fear without understanding.

Not the science that's healed millions for millennia.

Until then,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

⚠️ Disclaimer: I'm not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you're unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

What if your Happy Hours healed you instead?

A few weeks ago in Dubai,
I got a surprise call in my hotel room.

“Sir, the Director of Rooms invites you to the lounge for Happy Hours.”

I went.
Out of curiosity.
Not thirst.

Same stuff.
Shortbreads and wines.
Hummus and crackers.
Cheeses, grapes, nuts, cold cuts.

It looked indulgent.
But not intelligent.

I sat there, staring at my hummus,
And this thought hit me hard:

What would Ayurvedic Happy Hours look like?

Would they still be from 5 to 7 PM?
Would they still involve wine and cheese?
Would they still make your liver scream?

Here’s how I imagine it:

Ayurvedic Happy Hours = 90 minutes of grounding and replenishing.

The vibe is calm.
The lights are warm.
The menu is restorative.

Because Ayurveda doesn’t wait till you break.
It celebrates you before you collapse.

So here’s the spread:

— Warm cumin-coriander-fennel tea (lots of it)
— Stewed dates with cardamom ghee
— Pomegranate-beetroot shots
— Roasted makhana tossed in rock salt and ghee
— Herbal churan pops for gentle digestion
— Ashwagandha-cocoa milk for nervous system repair
— Fresh fig or banana leaf wraps with mung sprouts and lime
— Saffron-infused water to calm the mind
— Sweet fennel-aniseed bites to balance after-meal Pitta

No cold.
No sugar crash.
No confusion.

Just foods that respect your Agni,
Protect your Ojas,
And reboot your Vata after a long day.

Because 5–7 PM is when Vata rises.​
When anxiety sneaks in.
When your nerves fray.
When your willpower dips.
When you reach for stimulants… or screens.

Instead, reach for balance.
​Happy Hour should leave you happy.​
Not bloated.
Not dizzy.
Not dehydrated.

"Saṃvṛddhir bhavati medhyā saumyāḥ sthirāḥ sukhapradāḥ" ~ Ayurvedic nutrition texts
​Translation: True nourishment brings clarity, calmness, stability, and joy.

Today’s simple action:

Design your Ayurvedic Happy Hour.
Keep it light.
Keep it warm.
Keep it healing.

And no, it doesn’t need to be at a fancy hotel.

Your kitchen is the real wellness lounge.

Until then,
Puneet aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. One of my clients started “Ayurvedic Happy Hour” with her team - no caffeine, just herbal teas and calm food. “We closed more deals and had fewer meltdowns,” she told me.
​
“Turns out, peace sells.”

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

What do I do when I have no time? These 6 things. Always
“Do you even follow a routine on busy days?”

Someone asked me last week after a 14-hour workday.

The answer?

Yes.

But not a long one.

Just six non-negotiables.

These are my bare minimum practices.

They take less than 10 minutes total.

But they shift everything.

Here they are.

1. Breath Awareness​
Just 3 deep conscious breaths before I begin my day.
Because breath controls prana.
And prana controls everything.

2. Morning Pages​
Not journaling.
Just a one-page brain dump.
Out of my head and onto the paper.
So I don’t carry mental ama through the day.

3. Herbal Tea​
Even if I skip breakfast.
Even if I’m on a call.
One warm cup of agni-friendly tea.
Ginger-fennel. Cumin-coriander. Tulsi-lemongrass.
Liquid clarity.

4. Abhyanga​
A 2-minute warm oil self-massage.
Sometimes just the feet.
Sometimes just the ears and head.
But always — some lubrication to calm Vata.

5. Nasya​
A drop of Anu Taila in each nostril.
Instant clarity.
Sharpness.
Immunity boost in a sniff.

6. Hugs​
Yes. Hugs.
With my daughter.
With my wife.
With my Self, when I remember.
Oxytocin is underrated.
Touch is medicine.

"Na sarveṣu dinṣu pathyāni dṛśyante, pathyaṁ tu sarvadā snehaḥ" ~ Charaka
Translation: Not everything is always possible — but the one thing that’s always beneficial is self-love through oil and care.

These six are my emergency toolkit.

For airport mornings.
For webinar chaos.
For back-to-back meetings.
For days that start before the sun does.

They’re small.

But they preserve my ojas.

Today’s simple action:

Pick just one of these.
Do it tomorrow.
No matter how “busy” you are.

Then tell me your version.

Until then,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. One reader started doing just nasya and a 5-second foot oiling on crazy days. “I thought it was too little,” she said. “But it saved my energy like a secret superpower.”

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

You’re eating clean. But are you eating clear?

“I eat clean. Salads. Millets. No sugar. Still feel heavy.”

Meenal told me, genuinely puzzled.

And she’s not alone.

This is the new health trap.

Clean food ≠ clear digestion.

Because digestion isn’t just about ingredients.

It’s about intelligence.

Your agni doesn't care if your food is “healthy.”

It cares if your food is:

Cooked properly
Combined properly
Eaten at the right time
Matched to your prakriti
Aligned with your season
Free from confusion

What feels heavy is not always junk.

Sometimes it's:

A cold smoothie in winter
A millet bowl at 9 PM
A banana with peanut butter
A fruit bowl after lunch
Sprouts with curd
Raw salads at night
Overuse of besan, chana, or soya

These aren’t bad foods.

They’re badly timed, badly paired, or wrong for your state.

“Jīrṇam annam amṛtam — A-jīrṇam viṣam” ~ Ayurvedic digestion axiom
Translation: Well-digested food is nectar. Undigested food becomes poison.

So how do you know if your “clean food” is creating heaviness?

Look for:

Sleepiness after meals
Sticky stool
Flatulence
Unexplained mood dips
Coated tongue
Or a strange “mental fog” despite eating light

Want to clean up your clean eating?

Try this for 3 days:

Warm food
One grain per meal
No fruits with meals
Add ginger, ajwain, or cumin to every prep
Stop eating before you’re 100% full
Sip hot water every hour

You’ll see the difference.

Clean is good.

Clear is better.

Until then,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. A reader on a salad-millet detox switched to warm moong soup, ginger rice, and jeera water. “I lost 1 kg in 4 days. But more than that, I feel unburdened.” That’s clarity over calories.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

This Ayurvedic ritual is older than your moisturizer (And way more intelligent)

“Abhyangaṁ ācaret nityaṁ sa jarā-śrama-vātahṛt
Dṛṣṭi-prasāda-puṣṭyāyu-suṣvapna-tvag-dārḍhyakṛt”
~ Aṣṭāṅga Saṁgraha, Sūtrasthāna

Translation:
Abhyanga should be practiced daily.
It removes old age, fatigue, and Vata.
It improves vision, nourishes, increases lifespan, sleep, and strengthens the skin.

Let me say it straight.

There’s no Ayurvedic anti-aging cream.
Because we already had something better.
It’s called Abhyanga.

Warm oil.
Daily massage.
Gentle but intelligent strokes.
Not spa luxury.
But cellular therapy.

It’s a ritual that:

Calms the wind of Vata
Restores the juice of youth
Strengthens the glue of tissues
Deeply anchors your nerves
And returns the skin to its glow state

A 10-minute oil massage
Is better than 1000 ₹ serums
Or stress-filled CrossFit sessions

Today’s simple action:
Warm some sesame oil.
Massage your body gently before your shower.
Even 5 minutes is enough.
Let your skin drink it.
Let your nervous system exhale.

This isn’t pampering.
It’s preemptive healing.

Until then,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. A client said: “After 7 days of abhyanga, I felt less anxious, slept deeper, and my knees stopped cracking.” Oil speaks the language of your cells. Just listen.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

One Common Shower Habit That’s Weakening Your Eyes and Hair

“I love hot showers. They relax me.”

Said Raj.

But then he added something curious —
“My hair’s thinning. And my eyes feel strained by evening.”

I asked him:
“Do you pour hot water over your head?”

He nodded.
“Always. Feels so good.”

And that’s where the problem starts.

Ayurveda is clear on this:

उष्णाम्बुनाऽधःकायस्य परिपेको बलावहः ।​
​तेनैव तूत्तमाङ्गस्य बलहत्केशचक्षुषाम् ।।१७।।

Uṣṇāmbunā'dhaḥ-kāyasya paripeko balāvahaḥ,​
​tenaiva tūttamāṅgasya bala-hat-keśa-cakṣuṣām.

Translation:
Pouring warm water over the lower body increases strength.
But the same hot water on the head weakens the hair and eyes.

Why?

Your head is sacred real estate.
The brain. The eyes. The sense organs.
They need coolness and calm.
Not heat and stimulation.

Hot water disturbs the delicate balance of Pitta in the upper body.
Result?
Hair fall
Itchy scalp
Dryness
Eye fatigue
Irritation

So what’s the fix?

Warm water below the neck.
Room temperature or cool water above.

Simple. Sensible. Sublime.

Today’s simple action:
Adjust your shower.
Break the habit.
Protect your power centers.

Until then,
Puneet aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. One of my clients made this switch for just a week. Her hair fall reduced. “I didn’t realize such a small change could matter so much,” she said. It does.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

Are you really protein deficient? Or is it the new Sugar ?

“I need more protein.”

Sahil said this while stirring a whey shake into his third egg-white omelette.

He was bloated, constipated, and felt heavier despite a cleaner diet.

I didn’t blame him.
Every reel, every coach, every friend is chanting the same mantra:
“More protein. Every meal. Every day.”

But Ayurveda sees through the trend.

And asks one simple question:

“Can your gut actually handle this much protein?”

See, protein is like fire.
It builds when your digestion is strong.
It burns you when your Agni is weak.

If your digestion is compromised —​
(you feel heavy, gassy, sluggish, bloated...)
...then all that protein becomes Ama — the sticky stuff that gums up your system.

And this is where people go wrong.

They blame “not enough protein”
Instead of addressing:

Weak digestion
Wrong timing
One-size-fits-all nutrition advice
Here’s what Ayurveda teaches:

"Don't just eat more. Eat what you can digest."

Because only digested food nourishes.
The rest turns to sludge.

Some bodies need more.
Some need less.
Some need none after 6PM.

It depends on your:

Dosha
Age
Activity level
Gut strength
Recovery status
So no — protein isn’t bad.
But it’s not a universal need.
It’s not a magic fix.

And it certainly can’t replace a strong digestive fire.

shloka:​
​"Yathā agnau samyak jātam pakwaṁ bhavati tadrasam"​
~ Charaka Samhita

Translation:​
Only that which is well-cooked (digested) in the fire becomes nourishing.

Today’s action:​
Don’t count grams.
Check your gut.

Notice how you feel after that protein meal.
Light? Clear? Energetic?
Or foggy, bloated, constipated?

Your body will tell you the truth.
Even when the trends don’t.

Until then,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. One colleague cut out her 9PM protein smoothie and her bloating vanished in three days. Digestion isn’t optional. It’s the gatekeeper to real health.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

The ancient eye therapy that might save your vision from screens 👁️ (Rasanjana)"My eyes burn after just two hours on my laptop."

Rohan mentioned this during our consultation.

He'd tried every modern eye drop.

None addressed the deeper issue.

Enter Rasanjana - Ayurveda's forgotten eye therapy.

Not just drops or rinses.

Not just temporary relief.

But profound visual nourishment.

The term comes from "Rasa" (extract) and "Anjana" (collyrium):

A concentrated herbal extract

Applied to the inner eyelids

Absorbed directly into ocular tissues

Bypassing digestive limitations

Modern eye care focuses on:

Surface moisture

Redness reduction

Temporary comfort

Symptom management

While Rasanjana addresses:

Deep tissue nourishment

Ocular blood vessel integrity

Visual processing pathways

Sensory neuron regeneration

"Rasāñjanaṃ nayanāmṛtam śreṣṭha dṛṣti prasādanam" ~ Sharangdhara Samhita

Translation: Rasanjana is like nectar for the eyes, supreme for clearing vision.

Ancient texts described three primary forms:

Daruharidra Rasanjana (from Berberis aristata)

For inflammatory eye conditions

Perfect for screen-induced irritation

Yasada Bhasma Rasanjana (zinc preparation)

For dry eye and corneal health

Ideal for air-conditioned environments

Madhu Sarpi Rasanjana (honey-ghee base)

For vata-type eye dryness

Excellent for aging eyes

The modern relevance is striking:

Digital eye strain affects 65% of professionals

Blue light disrupts natural ocular rhythms

Air-conditioned offices create chronic dryness

Screen fixation reduces blink rates by 60%

How traditional Rasanjana differs from eye drops:

It's not washed away by tears

It penetrates deeper tissue layers

It nourishes rather than just moistens

It stays active for hours, not minutes

Today's vision-preserving action:

Seek out traditional Rasanjana from qualified Ayurvedic pharmacies

Use properly diluted as directed by a practitioner

Apply before bed for overnight healing

Give your eyes complete screen breaks during treatment

Share your Rasanjana experience with me.

Let's preserve your vision in our digital age together.

Until then,

Puneet aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. An IT professional who suffered from chronic computer vision syndrome tried traditional Rasanjana therapy as a last resort. "After 15 years of eye drops that barely helped, this ancient approach gave me sustained relief I hadn't thought possible," he reported.


⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

The kind of speech that gives you acidity.

You eat sattvic.
You do abhyanga.
You even say “no” to dinner after 7 PM.

But you still feel acidic. Heavy. Tense in the chest.

Why?

Let’s rewind to this morning.

You were running late.
A colleague messed up a number.
You snapped. Said something sharp.
Didn’t mean it, but it came out anyway.

And now…
you’re chewing jeera saunf post-lunch,
still wondering why your gut’s out of whack.

The truth is simple.

You cannot speak poison and digest peace.

That’s not just philosophy. It’s Ayurveda 101.

Your words are digested too — through the same fire, your Agni.
The more toxic your speech, the more turbulent your inner systems.

In fact, Acharya Charaka was very specific about this.

📜 Shloka of the Day​
​हिंसास्तेय अन्यथाकामं पैशुन्यं परुष अनृते​
​सम्भिन्न आलापं व्यापाद अभिध्यां दृग्विपर्ययम्​
​पापं कर्मेति दशधा काया वाङ् मनसै: त्यजेत्​
​— Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana

Out of the 10 sins to be avoided,
​four are purely through speech:

Paishunya – Gossip, slander
Parusha vachana – Harsh, rude tone
Anruta vachana – Speaking lies
Sambhinna alapa – Creating division through talk
And you thought your problem was gluten.

Ayurveda teaches us:
Your tongue is not just a food pipe.
It’s a karma machine.
Every word creates either inflammation… or healing.

So today, ask yourself:

Is your digestion blocked…
or is it your speech that needs cleansing?

P.S.​
Tomorrow we look at the final 3 sins —
the invisible ones that live in your mind.
The ones nobody sees… but your body still pays the price for.

Until then —
​Eat light. Speak soft. Digest everything.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

Your poop is the dosha report card you never read 
“My diet is fine. But my poop’s all over the place.”

Karan told me with a nervous smile.

Most people don’t want to talk about it.

But Ayurveda does.

Because poop isn’t gross.

It’s data.

It tells you everything your body won’t say out loud.

Agni
Srotas
Vata
Pitta
Kapha

All leave a signature.

And your poop?

It writes the report.

Let’s decode.

Vata poop = dry
Hard
Scattered
Rabbit pellet-like
Irregular timing
Bloating or wind
May skip a day

Memory code:
​Very Pebbly = Vata

Pitta poop = soft
Frequent
Hot
Yellowish or slightly burning
Strong odor
Urgent
Feels incomplete

Memory code:
​Pasty and Passing = Pitta

Kapha poop = thick
Sticky
Heavy
Slow to pass
Mucusy
Dull color
Tends to feel lazy after

Memory code:
​Clingy and Cold = Kapha

Still unsure?

Check the tissue paper.

No residue = good digestion
Wipe like painting a wall = srotas crying

“Vibandha-ati-mala-mūtra-pravṛttiḥ doṣa-vikāra-nimittā” ~ Ashtanga Hridayam
Translation: Disturbed bowel movements arise from doshic imbalance

Your poop isn’t a nuisance.

It’s a daily diagnostic tool.

Start observing it.

Track it for 3 days.

Match it with your mood, your meals, your sleep.

Your dosha will stop hiding.

Until then,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. A reader messaged, “I changed nothing in my food. Just studied my poop for a week. Now I know when I’m off balance before symptoms start.” That’s mastery.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

The Forgotten Rule Before You Take Your Next Bite

“Can I eat now, or should I wait?”

That’s the real question nobody’s asking.

Not “What’s healthy?”
Not “Is this organic?”
Not “Is it millet-based?”

Because according to Ayurveda…
​When you eat is as important as what you eat.

Charaka Sutra lays it down clearly:​
​"Upayoga samsthā tu upayoga niyamaḥ sa jīrṇa lakṣaṇa apekṣaḥ"​
— Charaka Samhita

Translation:​
​The rules of eating depend on the signs of proper digestion of your previous meal.

Ayurveda doesn’t say:
“Eat three times daily.”
It says: “Eat only when the last meal is digested.”

But how do you know?

Watch for these six Jeerna Aahara Lakshanas — signs that digestion is complete:

Udgāra Shuddhi: Clean burps (no taste or smell of last meal)
Utsāha: Renewed energy, enthusiasm
Vega Utsarga: Proper bowel movements
Laghutā: A feeling of lightness in the body
Kṣudh: Natural hunger
Pipāsā: Natural thirst

If even two are missing?

​You wait.

You sip warm water.
You walk a bit.
You let the Agni rekindle.

But don’t pile food on half-burnt digestion.
That’s the recipe for Ama — toxins, bloating, fatigue, inflammation.

Modern gut health starts with ancient timing.

Eat only when hunger returns.
Not boredom.
Not screen time.
Not guilt.

Today’s simple Ayurvedic act:​
Pause. Feel.
Wait for all 6 signs.
Then eat like a king.

Because good food, eaten at the wrong time…
becomes poison in a healthy-looking plate.

Until next time,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. One of my mentors once said:
​"True hunger is the best chef."​
Ayurveda said it first.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

You don’t need a detox. You need to spot your Ama.
“I feel heavy even after a small meal.”

Ritika told me while touching her belly.
She wasn’t overeating.
She wasn’t eating junk.
She wasn’t even constipated.
But still… she felt stuck.

That’s when I said the word she had never heard.

Ama.

Undigested metabolic waste.
The silent blocker.

1. Sticky
2. Cold
3. Heavy
4. Slimy
5. Toxic

It’s not in your blood reports.

It doesn’t show on a CT scan.

But it shows in the body.

In symptoms we call “normal” but aren’t.

You feel:

Sluggish after eating
Coated tongue in the morning
Foul breath despite brushing
Brain fog before noon
Mucus in the throat
Gas that lingers
Joint stiffness without exertion
Skin breakouts from nowhere

All signs of Ama.

The worst part?

Ama spreads.

It sticks to dhatus
It clogs srotas
It confuses agni
It welcomes disease

“Āmaḥ śarīra-sthaḥ sarva-rogaṇāṁ mūla-kāraṇam” ~ Ayurveda’s disease logic
Translation: Ama in the body is the root cause of all diseases

What clears it?

Not a juice cleanse.

Not skipping dinner.

Not starving yourself.

But:

Warm food
Spiced food
Correct combinations
Proper hunger
And daily movement

Start with:

Dry ginger water on waking
Early light dinner
No cold milk or curd
Moong dal with ajwain and rock salt
Short walks after meals

Your body will start to exhale again.

Don’t chase detox.

Just remove the blockage.

Until then,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. A client with brain fog, bloating, and weird cravings followed this for 7 days. “My tongue is pink again,” she said. “My stomach isn’t second-guessing me anymore.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

Most diabetics are ignoring the one herb that actually clears the root.

"Bro I’m taking Jamun powder and Gudmar daily. Sugar still stuck."

Rohit told me like he was reporting a cricket score.

I asked:

“What made you pick those?”

He replied:

“Google baba. And a YouTube guy with 1.2 million subscribers.”

Of course.

We’re living in the age of herbal celebrity culture.

If herbs had a red carpet, Gudmar would be blowing kisses.

Jamun would be doing brand deals.

Vijaysar would be posing in a blood sugar chart outfit.

But the one herb working backstage?

Quietly. Deeply. Without PR?

👉 Daruharidra.

Never viral.

Never shiny.

But the real MVP when it comes to Madhumeha.

​And no, it’s not just bitter.

It’s a srotas scrubber.

A yakrit whisperer.

A rasa-meda realigner.

“Daruharidra tikta ushna raktapitta-kapha-paha |

Vranatridoshaghni krimighni meha-nāśinī ||” ~ BPN

Translation: Bitter and hot, it balances blood, pitta, and kapha; heals wounds, clears infections, and tackles urinary disorders like Madhumeha.

Sounds nice, but what does it actually do?

It:

— Dries out sticky kapha in the blood

— Unclogs the liver’s drainage pathways

— Calms that pitta-kapha heat stuck in the belly and skin

— Revives your rasa dhatu like unclogging a kitchen drain

​

Use it with Haridra and Amalaki as Nisha-Amalaki Yoga,

and combine it with a serious food-vihara reset,

and I’ve seen HbA1c drop from 8.6 to 6.2 in 8-10 weeks.

But here’s the kicker:

Daruharidra isn’t for everyone.

It’s not a herbal multi-tool.

It’s a diagnostic marker in disguise.

Use it when you see:

– Kleda (oozy stickiness, moist discharges, puffiness)

– Dushti in rakta and meda dhatus

– Vrana that just won’t heal properly

– Or when the yakrit (liver) feels like a traffic jam

Because Ayurveda doesn’t ask “What should I take for diabetes?”

It asks “Which dhatu went rogue—and how do we bring it home?”

Want to know if Daruharidra belongs in your story?

Write back. Let’s find out.

Until then,

Puneet

aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. Think of Daruharidra as the janitor with a PhD.

It may not look flashy.

But it knows exactly where the dirt is hiding.

And once it starts sweeping—your system remembers how to function again.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

Skipping dinner isn’t a hack. It’s a strategy.

“I’ve started skipping dinner. Everyone says it helps with weight loss.”

Tanuj told me proudly.

But he also said he woke up tired.

Felt cold feet at night.

And had weird cravings the next morning.

That’s the problem.

We copy-paste hacks.

But ignore the context.

Ayurveda doesn’t say “always eat dinner.”

It doesn’t say “always skip it.”

It says:

Eat when agni is awake.

And skip when agni is asleep.

That means:

If you had a heavy lunch
If you’re not hungry
If your body feels done
If your last meal was post 3 PM
If you’re sick or recovering
If your ama is high
If your tongue is coated
If your stool is sticky

Then yes — skip dinner.

But if you’re Vata
If you’re depleted
If your sleep is broken
If you’ve had a stressful day
If your hands and feet get cold
If your bowels are irregular
If you feel anxious at night

Then skipping dinner may backfire.

You’ll wake up more tired
Your vata will spike
Your sleep will break
Your dreams will stir
Your cravings will scream

So what’s the middle path?

Early, light, warm dinner
By 6:30 or 7 PM
Soup, sautéed veg, moong dal
No grains if you want to go lighter
No raw food
No curd
No fruit
No cold water

Or just sip thin moong soup if hunger is soft

“Na bhuktam api rātrau vātyātapataptaṁ pathyam” ~ Ayurvedic meal logic
Translation: Food eaten at night should be light and suitable for the person and the season

Dinner isn’t the villain.

Overfeeding is.

Under-digesting is.

Mismatching your fire is.

Skip dinner when your gut says no

Feed yourself when your Vata says yes

That’s the Ayurvedic way

Until then,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. A reader started having just warm spiced veg broth instead of full dinner. “My sleep got deeper. And I wake up without alarm.” Skipping dinner didn’t fix her — aligning it did.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

We sell supplements. But you shouldn’t need them.

Don’t waste money fixing what you keep breaking daily.

Strange thing to say for someone running an Ayurvedic supplement company like Nirogam.com?

Let me explain.

The real pillars of health in Ayurveda are:
Ahara.
 Vihara.

 Only then – Oushadha.

Diet.
 Lifestyle.
 And only then — medicine.

But what have we made it today?

Pop a capsule.

 Skip the basics.

 Feel good for 2 weeks.

 Then spiral again.

That’s not Ayurveda.

 That’s desperation packaged in plastic.

Most people don’t need more ashwagandha.

 They need more discipline.

 More daal.

 More daylight.

They don’t need 5 supplements.

 They need 5 things off their plate.

 And 1 proper poop.

Supplements were never meant to be a lifestyle.

 They’re a crutch.

 A correction.

 A catalytic push when you’re far off-track.

We’ll gladly go out of business the day people master their ahara and vihara.

 But till then — we’ll keep formulating, not marketing.

 We won’t sell what your neighbour takes.

 We design only what your imbalance demands.

That’s why we don't sell gimmicky gummies, flavoured churnas, or sleep lattes.

 We sell corrections — for real chronic issues.

And if you're taking ashwagandha every day without knowing why —
 you’re not healing.

 You’re just guessing.

Ayurveda doesn’t guess.

 It diagnoses.

If your health stack doesn’t start with your kitchen — you’re not stacking health.

You’re stacking bills.

Until then,

 Puneet
 aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. Ayurveda doesn’t fail. Your inputs do.

2 years ago. Me and Raghav had a conversation, and we recorded this podcast talking about the same point. Do listen in - https://lnkd.in/gs5nEUFY


⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

Curd is not the enemy. But it might be your imbalance in disguise. 
“I eat curd every night. It helps me sleep.”

Amit told me like it was wisdom.

But his skin was breaking out.

His digestion felt off.

His mornings started with phlegm.

And his energy dipped post-lunch.

He didn’t connect it to curd.

Because curd has great PR.

Probiotic
Natural
Protein-rich
Cooling

But Ayurveda sees curd as a risky healer.

Curd is:

Amla Rasa — sour
Guru — heavy
Snigdha — moist
Ushna Virya — heating

That means:

It increases Kapha
It aggravates Pitta
It clogs Srotas
It disturbs Vata if taken wrong

Best taken:

In small quantity
With spices like pepper or hing
Only in the day
Only in winter or early spring
Never with fruits
Never with fish
Never at night

“Dadhi rūkṣaṁ guruṣṇaṁ ca grahi pitta-kaphāpaham” ~ Ashtanga Hridayam
Translation: Curd is rough, heavy, heating, and aggravates both Pitta and Kapha when used improperly

If you’re eating curd at dinner?

You’re inviting:

Heaviness
Bloating
Mucus
Skin eruptions
Foggy thoughts
Cravings

If you’re combining curd with fruit?

You’re making Ama laddoos in your gut 😁

So what to do?

Switch to buttermilk during the day
Dilute it 4x with water
Add roasted cumin and fresh coriander
Avoid if tongue is coated or digestion is slow

Curd isn’t evil.

But it’s not universal.

Use it like medicine.

Not like yogurt marketing told you.

Until then,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. A reader who swapped her nighttime curd with warm fennel-cardamom water said, “My skin cleared up in 5 days. And I no longer wake up heavy.” Some truths aren’t intuitive. They’re Ayurvedic.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

The secret pressure points that activate spiritual awakening
"I've been meditating for years, but something's missing."

Anjali confessed this during our retreat.

She'd mastered techniques and postures.

Yet the deeper doorways remained closed.

Enter Rishi Marmas - the sage's vital points.

Not found in standard textbooks.

Not taught in typical Ayurvedic courses.

Reserved for those seeking beyond physical health.

Standard marma science acknowledges 107 points:

Connected to physical health

Related to physiological functions

Accessible through external pressure

Used primarily for bodily healing

While Rishi Marmas represent a hidden octave:

Activate subtle energy centers

Connect to non-physical dimensions

Respond to intention as much as touch

Open doorways to expanded awareness

"Ṛṣi marma sandarśitaṃ divya vyoma anubhūtir jāyate" ~ Traditional saying

Translation: Through the points revealed by sages, divine space experience arises.

The five primary Rishi Marmas:

Brahmarandhra (crown subtle point)

Located at the fontanelle depression

Gateway to universal consciousness

Activates pineal spiritual function

Hridaya Bindu (heart seed point)

Found in the cardiac notch

Center of compassionate awakening

Transforms emotional patterns

Nabhi Chakra (navel wheel point)

Two finger-widths below the navel

Source of pranic awakening

Kindles the spiritual digestive fire

Talu Marma (palate center point)

At the junction of hard and soft palate

Stimulates higher pituitary functions

Opens intuitive perception

Bhrumadhya (mid-brow point)

Between the eyebrows, slightly above

Activates the subtle third eye

Enhances discernment and insight

Today's consciousness-expanding action:

Sit in meditation posture with straight spine

Bring gentle awareness (not pressure) to one Rishi Marma

Maintain relaxed attention there for 5-7 minutes

Notice subtle shifts in your awareness field

Share your Rishi Marma experience with me.

Let's explore expanded consciousness together.

Until then,
Puneet aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. A long-time meditation teacher experienced a profound shift after learning about Rishi Marmas. "After 20 years of practice, I discovered these were the missing keys," she shared. "They're not about technique but about attention portals."


⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

The quiet detox nobody talks about.

Last week, a client told me something that stayed with me.

“I’ve fixed my food.
I’ve fixed my sleep.
I’ve fixed my routine.
But I still don’t feel clean — like there’s some noise inside me.”
I knew what she meant.
Because the body isn’t the only thing that holds toxins.

Sometimes it’s your speech — words you wish you hadn’t said.
Sometimes it’s your mind — thoughts you never resolved.
Sometimes it’s your actions — habits that don’t sit right with your soul anymore.

Ayurveda doesn’t just teach food rules.
It teaches kaya, vāk, manas — the hygiene of body, speech, and mind.
And it lists 10 behaviors — not just moral sins, but health disruptors.

Let me remind you.

📜 Shloka of the Series​
​हिंसास्तेय अन्यथाकामं पैशुन्यं परुष अनृते​
​सम्भिन्न आलापं व्यापाद अभिध्यां दृग्विपर्ययम्​
​पापं कर्मेति दशधा काया वाङ् मनसै: त्यजेत्​
​— Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana

These are the 10 karmic toxins Ayurveda asks us to cleanse:

Body:

Himsa – Violence
Steya – Stealing
Anyathakaama – Unlawful desire
Speech:​
4. Paishunya – Gossip
5. Parusha – Harshness
6. Anruta – Lies
7. Sambhinna alapa – Divisive talk

Mind:​
8. Vyapada – Malice
9. Abhidya – Jealousy
10. Drigviparyaya – Distrust of dharma/wisdom

Not just sins.
These are the things that raise your cortisol.
Aggravate your doshas.
Disrupt your Agni.
Lower your Ojas.

So here’s the Ayurvedic lens:
If you want true wellness,
​don’t just cleanse your colon. Cleanse your karma.

When you align body, speech, and mind —
you don’t just feel light.
You feel quiet.
That silence in your gut?
That’s clarity. That’s flow. That’s health.

P.S.​
If you loved this 4-part journey through Charaka's deepest insights,
write back and tell me what hit you the hardest.
The next series will take us even deeper.

Till then —
Stay light. Stay honest. Stay clean.

Your gut knows when you’re not.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

Your Body is a Tridoshic Time Machine (You just didn’t get the manual)

“Te vyāpinopi hṛṇabhyor adho-madhyordhva saṃśrayāḥ
Vāyoḥ rātri-bhukta-nāṃ te anta-madhya-ādi-gāḥ kramāt”
~ Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdayam, Sūtrasthāna

Translation:
The Doshas are everywhere.
But they love their zones.
Kapha likes the top.
Pitta owns the middle.
Vata rules the bottom.

That’s your body.
Now look at your day.

Morning belongs to Kapha.
Afternoon is Pitta’s peak.
Evening welcomes Vata.

Even your digestion follows this map.

First phase (post-meal): Kapha dominates — heaviness, satisfaction.
Second phase (mid-digestion): Pitta gets to work — transformation begins.
Final phase (absorption + elimination): Vata takes the lead — movement begins.

So what does this mean for you?

Eat light in the morning — Kapha is already heavy.
Lunch big — Pitta's fire is blazing.
Keep dinner light — Vata is delicate and winding down.

And stop wondering why your 4 PM salad isn’t digesting.
You’re eating against the tide.

Your body has a schedule.
Respect the rhythm.
Align with the flow.
Digest like a sage.

Today’s simple action:
Observe your energy dips and hunger peaks across the day.
Match them with this Tridosha timing map.
Shift one meal accordingly.
Track how your body responds.

Let’s make your day Dosha-aligned.

Until then,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. A client once asked me why her digestion crashes at dinner. She was eating heavy during Vata time. We shifted her meal to lunch. “I feel 10 years younger,” she said. Dosha timing isn’t theory. It’s the original scheduling software.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

taplio

The Battle

Jason Fried

Puneet Aggarwal

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreJason Fried's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScorePuneet Aggarwal's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Jason Fried

Puneet Aggarwal

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Jason Fried's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScorePuneet Aggarwal's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreJason Fried's LinkedIn Performance