Rebuilding Ojas in Winter: Ayurvedic Wisdom for Deep Nourishment

Winter in Ayurveda is a time of stillness, restoration, and depth. Just as the earth lies quiet beneath the surface, we too are invited to slow down and nourish our deeper layers.
This is the ideal season to rebuild Ojas — the vital essence that gives us radiant health, emotional resilience, and spiritual strength.

"Ojas is the inner sap that sustains life. In Winter, we are gifted the perfect conditions to replenish it."

 

What is Ojas, and Why Is Winter Ideal for Replenishing It?

 

The concept of Ojas is first and most clearly described in the Charaka Samhita, one of the foundational classical texts of Ayurveda.

In Charaka Samhita, Ojas is referred to as the essence of all seven dhatus (tissues) — the final, most refined product of perfect digestion and balanced metabolism. Charaka emphasizes that Ojas is essential for life, calling it "the source of strength, vitality, immunity, and consciousness."

 

 

• Strong immunity

• Glowing skin

• Deep vitality

• Joy and contentment

• Stable energy and calm mind

 

In Winter, the body's digestive fire (Agni) is naturally stronger, because the cold draws heat inwards, appetite increases, there is less physical depletion due to less sweating making it easier to absorb nourishment deeply. When we live in alignment with this seasonal rhythm, we can rebuild our Ojas for the year ahead.

 

Signs of Low Ojas in Winter:

• Frequent colds or low immunity

• Feeling fragile, unmotivated, or easily overwhelmed

• Dry skin, brittle nails, dull eyes

• Trouble sleeping or feeling emotionally flat

• Cravings for comfort, sweetness, warmth

 

Winter Ways to Build Ojas:

Eat Ojas-Building Foods:

• • Warm, soupy meals: kitchari, slow-cooked dals, root veggie stews

  • Ghee, almonds, dates, milk with saffron and nutmeg

  • Stewed apples with cinnamon in the morning

Sip Nourishing Tonics:

• • Warm milk (or almond/oat) with Ashwagandha, ghee, cardamom. Our Ashwagandha powder is perfect for this. 

  • Bone broth with warming spices (for non-vegetarian clients)

  • Herbal teas with Licorice, Shatavari, Guduchi, and Cinnamon

Daily Abhyanga (Oil Massage):
Use a warming oil such as (BioVeda’s Kapha Oil, Dhanvantri Oil, Karpooradi, Bala Ashwagandha or Maha Narayan) to ground the nervous system and restore your body’s reserves.

Prioritise Deep Rest and Gentle Rhythms:
Go to bed early, rise slowly, limit screen time, and embrace the darkness of winter as a time to turn inward.

Embrace Joy & Connection:
Ojas is built not only through food and herbs, but also through love, beauty, music, spiritual practices, and time in nature.

 

Winter Ojas Support:

This Winter we highly recommend the following:

• Kapha Oil

• Organic Ashwagandha Powder, Gudduci powder and Shatavari Powder 

• BioVeda Yogi Tea Blend

• Neti Pot & Anu Thailam (to protect prana and strengthen immunity)