Refresh your Mind, Body and Spirit with a Custom Seasonal Cleanse

The ancient practice of Ayurveda is becoming increasingly popular in the West to restore balance and harmony to one’s life. If you are considering an Ayurvedic cleanse this spring, then you know that it is important to take into consideration your constitution and current state of balance, strength, age, environment, and season. While there are many different ways to go about the process, figuring out what option is best for you can be overwhelming. Thankfully, there are now customized cleanses available that make the process easier!

What Does Periodic Cleansing Entail?

Periodic cleansing is an important part of an Ayurvedic lifestyle and involves removing toxins from the body through both internal and external methods. It may include using herbs or dietary changes to remove toxins from the digestive system or nourish the organs; it may also involve detoxification therapies such as sauna, massage therapy with oil or steam baths primarily used as a part of Panchakarma (the Ayurvedic science of detoxification and rejuvenation). Additionally, periodic cleansing can also involve practices like yoga and meditation which help reduce stress and promote relaxation.

The specific approach should always take into consideration one’s constitution (or dosha), the current state of balance (or vikruti), strength (or ojas), age (or vaya), as well as environmental influences and seasonal changes. With all these components in mind, periodic cleansing can be tailored to best suit your individual needs.

Why is a Custom Cleanse Important?

Customized cleanses provide a variety of benefits including increased energy levels, improved digestion and elimination systems, balanced hormones, improved mental clarity and focus, improved skin health, weight loss if desired, and better sleep patterns. All of these benefits come from having an individualized program designed for you that takes into account your unique body type and individual needs.

The first step before starting any cleanse is always consulting with a qualified health care provider or Ayurvedic practitioner who can help determine what type of cleanse is right for you based on your constitution and current state of balance as well as environmental and seasonal influences. It is also important to assess whether or not this specific cleanse will be safe for you based on any pre-existing conditions or medications that you might be taking. Additionally, it’s important to consider your lifestyle when choosing a cleanse; if time constraints are present then it may be wise to look at shorter programs or ones with less intensity or depth.

Our Offerings

Formulated for 21 days, our custom cleanse offers internal herbal supplements designed to support digestion while eliminating toxins from the body naturally; external cleansing products that help with skin rejuvenation; access to our online library that includes daily yoga videos specifically designed for each dosha; guided meditation recordings for calming the mind; meal plans incorporating traditional Ayurvedic recipes to nourish the body; lifestyle advice on how to make permanent changes for ongoing health benefits; and additional support documents for a fully integrated at-home cleanse experience.

At its core, periodic cleansing is about balance – physically as well as mentally – through tailoring treatments that are unique and appropriate for each individual person’s needs. Our 21-day custom cleanse offers you a comprehensive package so you can experience an effective ayurvedic cleanse in the comfort of your own home. Take this opportunity to start your journey towards maintaining good health today!

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease.

Ayurveda, Textiles, and Clothing: A Harmony of Health and Fashion

Health and well-being have been foundational beliefs in the ancient practice of Ayurveda since its initiation thousands of years ago. It has continued to evolve into a promising source of nutrition and lifestyle philosophy that many are using today to promote physical, mental, and spiritual balance.

Although this holistic practice is often thought of as having traditionally targeted food intake guidelines or herbal remedies to heal ailments, it also gives guidance on how we can use clothing and textiles to support our health goals too. Having worked in the fashion industry for a stint of time in my youth, I find the textiles aspect of Ayurveda truly captivating and fascinating. This article explores the intricacies between fashion and healthful living by examining how the individual details contained in fabric production drive healthier clothing choices which will ultimately ensure one's well-being from dress top to bottom!

Ayurvedic Concepts in Textiles and Clothing

Ayurveda recognizes the importance of natural materials, as they allow the body to breathe and help maintain the delicate balance of the doshas. In this context, traditional Indian textiles, such as cotton, silk, and wool, hold great significance. These materials possess inherent qualities that correspond to the Ayurvedic doshas, providing warmth, coolness, or neutrality depending on the wearer's needs.

Ayurvastra: The Ancient Tradition of Ayurvedic Textiles

Ayurvastra, a branch of Ayurveda that combines textiles and herbal medicine, is a testament to the deep connection between Ayurveda and clothing. This ancient tradition involves the infusion of natural fabrics with medicinal herbs, plants, and minerals, creating garments that possess health-promoting properties. These Ayurvedic textiles can provide therapeutic benefits, such as improved circulation, detoxification, and stress reduction, to the wearer through contact with the skin.

Reviving Ayurvedic Textiles and Clothing in Modern Fashion

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in Ayurvedic textiles and clothing, driven by growing awareness of the benefits of natural materials and sustainable practices. Fashion designers and textile manufacturers are increasingly exploring the use of Ayurvedic principles in their creations, blending traditional wisdom with modern technology and aesthetics.

Some contemporary designers are incorporating Ayurvedic herbs and plant-based dyes into their garments, offering an alternative to synthetic, chemical-laden fabrics. These eco-friendly, health-conscious choices not only align with Ayurvedic values but also address the environmental and ethical concerns surrounding the conventional fashion industry.

In addition, Ayurveda-inspired clothing lines are emerging, featuring garments designed to promote balance and harmony for each dosha type. These collections offer a variety of clothing options, including colors, cuts, and materials, that are specifically tailored to support the wearer's unique constitution, enhancing their comfort and well-being.

The Future of Ayurveda, Textiles, and Clothing

The integration of Ayurvedic principles into textiles and clothing offers an opportunity to redefine the fashion industry, shifting the focus from fleeting trends to a more holistic, sustainable approach. By embracing the wisdom of Ayurveda, designers and manufacturers can create garments that are not only visually appealing but also health-promoting and environmentally friendly.

To realize the full potential of Ayurveda in textiles and clothing, further research and collaboration between fashion professionals, Ayurvedic practitioners, and textile scientists are needed. This interdisciplinary effort can lead to innovative solutions that address the challenges of modern fashion while preserving the rich heritage of Ayurveda and traditional textile craftsmanship.

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease.

Ayurvedic Hibiscus Cooler

The hibiscus flower has many health benefits. It’s used in Ayurveda to improve appetite; dissolve phlegm; and help relieve colds, heart and nerve diseases, upper respiratory tract pain and swelling (inflammation), fluid retention, stomach irritation, and circulatory disorders. Hibiscus is also useful as a gentle laxative and diuretic.

As a resident of Mexico, I find that hibiscus tea—or agua de jamaica, as it’s called there—is served almost everywhere—in homes, in restaurants, and on the street. One explanation for its popularity is that people in very hot climates often lose their appetite, and this tangy, cooling, drink is just the thing to bring it back. As a diuretic, hibiscus tea also helps relieve the fluid retention that often occurs with heat exhaustion. Another likely reason for this drink’s ubiquity in tropical and subtropical regions is its antimicrobial properties, which protect against the bacteria and worms that thrive these zones.

Try our spicy twist on this traditional Ayurvedic beverage!  

Ingredients:
2 quarts water
3 tbsp dried hibiscus flowers
2 tsp dried tulsi leaf
1 tsp licorice root
3 large slices fresh ginger root
¼-inch cinnamon stick
1 tsp cardamom seed
1 tsp golden raisins
1–2 tsp coconut sugar or raw honey

Directions:
Place licorice, cinnamon, ginger, and raisins in 2 cups of water, and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add all the other ingredients except the honey, and simmer for 30 minutes. Pour liquid out through a strainer into a 2-quart vessel. Now add the rest of the water. Drink at room temperature or slightly cooled.

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease.

Dinacharya, Daily Self Care

Dinacharyais the Ayurvedic daily ritual of self-care. According to Ayurveda, routine plays a significant role in health. A healthy life can best be maintained by creating a daily regimen tailored to a person’s constitution. Governing  all daily actions, such as the time you wake up in the morning, the time you eat, the  time you begin daily body purification, and the time you go to sleep, is the essence of dinacharya.

Ayurvedic dinacharya has been practiced for thousands of years and has many benefits. It cleanses the body and prevents the buildup of toxins, it helps to keep the senses and mind clear, and it’s very nourishing. Repeating a routine every morning sets the rhythm of your day and gives you a feeling of stability and steadiness. It promotes a healthy organization of the energy channels and the seating of prana (life force) in the body, creating calmness in mind, limiting stress, and minimizing decision fatigue.

The new science of circadian medicine suggests that our genes have lost their ability to perceive and harmonize with the natural circadian cycles of nature. In our modern high-tech world, following the dictates of our body’s circadian clock is becoming more and more of a challenge, and some people are starting to have symptoms of a “nature deficit disorder.” While modern scientists are only now beginning to recognize the relationship between our overall health and the cycles of nature, Ayurveda has emphasized the primacy of this connection for millennia. Current research on this connection may revolutionize modern medicine as we know it, and Ayurvedic practices can be a foundation for this research to build on.

Ayurveda aims to reconnect our bodies to these natural circadian rhythms through the practice of dinacharya. At first, the challenge of establishing a daily self-care routine may seem overwhelming, but you can take things gradually and ease your way into it.

Starting the day right is the most important aspect of dinacharya. According to Ayurvedic teachings, you will have the best health if you wake up before sunrise and excrete waste shortly after. The early morning hours are the body’s natural purification time. Various dinacharya practices that are performed first thing in the morning—including tongue scraping, oil pulling, nasya(herb-infused nose oil) applications, and drinking a glass of warm water with a fresh-squeezed lemon or lime—support this time-sensitive purification process.

Next, to provide a sense of alertness and freshness, you should rub your body with oils and take a bath or shower. Then put on comfortable clothes, exercise, and practice yoga for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Light exercise is necessary each day to keep the digestive system at peak functioning by creating internal heat. Choose the form of exercise that’s best for your constitution, and avoid overexercising. Afterward, rest comfortably on your back with arms and legs outstretched, and breathe from the lower abdomen to calm the central nervous system.

Daily self-enhancing practices are considered crucial in Ayurveda. They don’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. Taking a break as short as 10–20 minutes to refresh your mind and spirit with activities like meditation, pranayama(regulation of the breath), yoga, journaling, or prayer provides immense health benefits. The more time you allow for these types of practices, the greater the rewards.

Eat regular meals daily! Irregular meals and excessive snacking can weaken the digestive fire. The natural course of the day sets the rhythm of our digestive system. Having scheduled eating times is essential, with lunch being the largest meal of the day and occurring between noon and 2 p.m. When the sun is at its highest, our digestive system is also at its peak, so naturally, this is when the largest meal should be eaten; it’s also the best time to eat raw foods and animal proteins. If possible, have dinner before sunset, as the digestive system slows down as the sun goes down. Breakfast should be eaten before 9 a.m. and should consist of something simple and easy to digest. Remember to favor warm, cooked, light meals that are appropriate for the seasons and the doshas you want to balance.

It is best to go to bed by 10 p.m. Keep this regular bedtime as it lets the body know that it is time to wind down and recuperate. To promote healthy sleep, drink a glass of warm cow’s milk or almond milk with cardamom or nutmeg shortly before bed. You can enjoy this while listening to relaxing music. Stay away from stimulating conversations, music, and television for at least one hour before sleep. This suggested regimen follows the flow of energy within the body and its relation to the external environment. Continuous awareness of this natural energy flow is the key to getting the most from your daily routine.

Check out our video 10 things to do before 10 a.m. for dinacharya tips!

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease.

8 Ayurvedic Uses for Honey

The uses of honey in health care trace back many centuries. In Vedic times, honey was seen as a gift—its remarkable healing properties were valued more than its taste. Now that honey is being re-examined by modern researchers, it’s increasingly recognized for the medicinal and nutritional properties that made it a staple of Ayurvedic practices for thousands of years. Discover the gifts of honey through these 8 Ayurvedic uses.

1. The skin is the largest organ of the body and benefits greatly from the application of honey. Ayurvedic texts have described how honey promotes healing of wounds and sores and acts as an antiseptic, a pain reliever, and a cooling balm that speeds recovery from burns.  

2. Honey helps build tissues and generate energy and heat, three properties that make it  good for aging bodies. One or two teaspoons of honey in a cup of warm water is a refreshing and strengthening drink. Take daily.

3. Because honey contains iron, manganese, and copper, it is excellent for building hemoglobin. In cases of anemia, Ayurvedic practitioners suggest using honey to maintain the right balance of hemoglobin in red blood corpuscles.

4. Honey is easily digested and assimilated, making it one of the best sweet foods for reducing stress on the digestive organs. It’s also useful for maintaining the health of the stomach. Ayurvedic experts find honey not only supports proper digestion, but also helps ward off stomach diseases and symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and heartburn by preventing the overproduction of hydrochloric acid. Honey also promotes clearing the digestive canal of putrefied fecal matter and undigested foods.

5. As an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, honey helps maintain healthy teeth and gums.  According to Ayurveda, a daily application of honey cleanses the teeth, makes them sparkle, and helps prevent tartar, decay, and premature tooth loss. Gargling with honey and water is very useful in protecting against gingivitis (i.e., inflammation of the gums caused by bacterial infection).

6. Insomnia affects many of us in our modern age. Honey has been used for centuries for the treatment of this common affliction. Its hypnotic qualities help bring on sound sleep. Two teaspoons can be taken with a cup of warm water or with warm almond milk before bed. Adding a dash of cardamom and cinnamon makes this soothing beverage more delicious. It’s an excellent remedy for sleepless babies and children.

7. Honey’s natural tendency to clear the channels of the body makes it very useful in helping the body eliminate imbalances in the respiratory pathways. As a demulcent or soothing agent, it reduces the discomfort of inflamed mucous membranes in the upper respiratory tract, coating them with a protective film that helps relieve coughing and irritation. You can ingest a spoonful of honey or gargle with mixture of honey and water for this purpose.

8. Honey can be easily added to all your meals to supply the body with extra energy. Ayurvedic texts recommend honey for arteriosclerosis and weak hearts. It can be taken before bed in a glass of water with lemon juice to provide the heart with energy throughout the night and to alleviate cardiac pain and heart palpitations.

These Ayurvedic recommendations come with several caveats. The Ayurvedic sage Charaka wrote over 500 years ago that “nothing is so troublesome as amacaused by the improper intake of honey.” In Ayurvedic medicine, ama, or undigested matter in the body, is considered to be the root cause of most ill health. Many incompatible food combinations produce this toxic material, but heated honey is one of the most complicated forms to cleanse. Heating honey destroys the enzymes that support the digestive process.

Precautions when using honey:

• Honey should never be heated to above 40°C (104°F).

• Honey should not be mixed with hot foods.

• Honey should not be consumed when you are working in a hot environment. 

• Honey should never be combined with ghee  in equal parts or mixed with rainwater; hot, spicy foods; fermented beverages (e.g., whiskey, rum, brandy); or mustard.

• Honey includes nectar of various flowers some of which may be poisonous.

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. 

Spice things up with Ayurvedic herbs for Valentines day!

There are many Ayurvedic herbs and spices known for their rejuvenating and aphrodisiac effects, which can kick things up a notch for Valentine’s day. In addition to proprietary blends, there are many Ayurvedic recipes for spicing up your love life that use ingredients that are easy to find and taste delicious. Nutmeg, clove, cardamom, and ginger are found in most pantries and, when mixed together as a “chai,” serve as an easy and enjoyable way to enhance libido.  

Nutmeg is known in Ayurveda as “women’s Viagra.” This almost overpowering aromatic spice warms the body, pacifies vataand kapha, and increases pitta, and stimulates circulation. These effects can also be achieved with ginger. Clove ignites attraction and boosts libido. It has been used as an aphrodisiac in India and other parts of Asia for many centuries. Cardamom is a tridoshic spice that balances the three fundamental energies and promotes healthy blood flow. Its super-sweet taste enhances energy and vigor.

The two best known Ayurvedic herbs for revitalizing the body and optimizing sexual health are ashwaganda and shatavari. A member of the nightshade family, the ashwagandha plant regulates stress hormones such as cortisol according to the body’s needs, keeping users alert and energized during the day and allowing them to relax and fall asleep at night. In Ayurveda, this adaptogenic herb is believed to be particularly effective at boosting the sexual energy of men. Shatavari, a species of asparagus (Asparagus racemosus), serves as an equivalent tonic for sustaining women’s sexual vigor and the health of their reproductive organs throughout their life.

These two herbs combined with the suggested Ayurvedic spices offer a natural approach to maximizing vitality, energy, and vigor for both sexes. Enjoy this aromatic and delicious recipe to prime your libido for a romantic occasion. Or use it regularly to maintain overall health and vibrancy in everyday life.

Mix & Store

1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon clove
2 teaspoons of cardamom
2 teaspoons of ginger
1 tablespoon ashwaganda
1 tablespoon shatavari

Use ½ teaspoon boiled for 5 minutes in 1 cup of milk. Use the milk of your choice— fresh cow’s milk or almond or coconut.

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease.  

The First Step of Health: Forgiveness

“When you look deeply you begin to understand, the moment when you understand, compassion is born in your heart. And then it is possible for you to forgive.” – Thich Nat Han

The ancient sage Charaka was the founder of what may be the world’s oldest continually practiced medical system—Ayurveda. For over 5,000 years, this holistic approach to health has been practiced by millions in India and around the globe. Now this ancient wisdom is gaining traction in the West, as a result of the popularity of its sister science, yoga.

Ayurveda, yoga, and tantra constitute a sacred trinity of systems developed by ancient rishis (seers) to foster progress toward liberation: Ayurveda purifies the body; tantra, the mind; and yoga, the spirit. Practiced together, these three systems help an individual achieve an ideal integrated balance of physical health, mental focus, and spiritual enlightenment.

In our hectic modern time, we find it hard to do the things necessary to reach the harmony that Ayurvedic sages have taught us to seek. Although we know what it is we need to do, we often find excuses for harmful behaviors and procrastinate when it comes it to acting in ways that would lead us toward better health. Many of us get bogged down by the demands of modern life and fall into negative thought patterns. The National Science Foundation estimates that as much as 80 percent of our thoughts are negative. Every day, we struggle with self-criticism, thus impeding the development of health and overall well-being.

So what do we do to change this? Many who aspire to an Ayurvedic lifestyle start by setting unrealistic self-improvement goals, resolving to practice yoga five days a week, eat only healthy home-cooked Ayurvedic food, and meditate and do tantric breathing exercises for an hour every day. These ambitious good intentions are bound to prove overwhelming! I would like to suggest that you first take the step of finding forgiveness for yourself and those who have had a negative impact on your life. So how do we do this? It’s simple—we do it with love. More love, more compassion, from ourselves, for ourselves, and toward others. Start by making friends with yourself. Be willing to truly know who you are, what you’re doing or not doing, and why. And then team up with yourself to do whatever is necessary to bring yourself back into love, and the health and balance you seek will follow quite easily.

Once you commit to re-establishing self-love, focus on the necessary attributes for self-change. This Ayurvedic or yogic concept is known as tapas. Tapasis Sanskrit for “inner fire.” Tapas refers to austerity, determination, and the willingness to do whatever is necessary to bring yourself back into balance and health. In order to be successful in this we must identify and acknowledge our crimes against wisdom or our contributions to our own ill health. Then, instead of beating yourself up about it, realize your inner empowerment. Accept the reality that you’ve helped cause your illness or imbalances. Only then can the power of tapasfinally stop causing your illness. This realization can now bring you back onto the path of Dharma(the right way of living) and renewed health.

Thanks to this self-love and self-realization, you’ll now have the force behind you to do something about your health. Draw on your inner resources, your courage and resolve, your patience and perseverance. Reach out for support from your family and friends, Ayurvedic books, therapists, practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine, the internet—get all the information and assistance you can. Be willing to let go of the past to move forward into a future of wellness. Change your diet, change your job, change your life. Reach down inside yourself and find the tapasto heal yourself. In the end no one else can heal you; they can only assist you—you are the one who needs to do the work to heal yourself. You’ve got this!

Contact us to schedule an online Ayurvedic Wellness Session here.

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. 

Healing Music for Your Ayurvedic Type

Each of us has a unique connection to music. Most of us experience the effects of music on our mind and body daily. It’s a joy to think that we are all inherently musicians who can connect with the rhythms of life and spirit, if only we can find the music that most resonates with us. Ayurveda teaches that choosing music according to our type can deepen our ability to achieve a balanced state of health and wellness. Your Ayurvedic type depends on which dosha primarily governs your physiological and psychological functions. Identifying the dosha that determines your mind-body type is the first step toward finding the right music for you to play, compose, or simply enjoy. Once you’ve done this, you can follow these guidelines to select the kind of music that is most likely to nurture your total well-being.

Music for a Vata Type: In general, it's best for a vata person or someone who is experiencing a vata imbalance to listen to or play instruments with soft, low, and mellow tones, including string instruments such as the guitar, mandolin, bass, and cello and wind instruments, such as chimes and the didgeridoo. Learning to play Himalayan singing bowels and the harmonium can also be very healing and meditative for a vata type.

Music for Pitta Type: People with pitta-type constitutions should seek out soft, rhythmic music with a mid-range tone. Congenial instruments include the flute, clarinet, saxophone, and mouth organ. String instruments that are balancing for pitta types are the violin, dulcimer, and mandolin. All types of percussion that are gentle are also very soothing.

Music for Kapha Type: Kapha types should focus on energizing music with a solid bassline accompanied by higher tones. All types of drums, such as the Indian dholak and tabla and African conga and water drums, as well as bells, chimes, Incan panpipes, and the accordion, electric keyboard. and piano are all great instruments for a kapha person to learn to play.

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. 

Two easy Ayurvedic Tips for Improving Oral Health

There a number of Ayurvedic  practices that focus on oral health. Some of us think oral health requires nothing more than brushing our teeth, flossing, and having regular dental cleanings and checkups. But oral health deserves  much more attention than that. Medical and dental professionals stress how important oral health is to overall wellness because of its far-reaching impact on the deeper organs and tissues of the body. Many people find that when they introduce Ayurvedic oral health care to their daily routine, their general health improves. We suggest that you adopt two simple Ayurvedic oral hygiene practices and see how they work for you.

Tongue Cleansing

First, Ayurveda recommends using a tongue cleaner at the start of each day, upon waking and while your stomach is still empty. According to Ayurveda, the tongue is connected to our health and mirrors the state of vital organs including the stomach, small intestine, colon, liver, spleen, kidneys, heart, and lungs. Scraping away the impurities that collect on the tongue is said to directly affect each of these organs. Most people use a toothbrush to do this, but because the tongue is soft and spongy, a hard, rigid instrument such as a metal tongue scraper cleanses this tissue more efficiently than pliant bristles. 

By clearing away the coating of debris, microbes, and ama(i.e., toxic residue from undigested food) that builds up in the folds and grooves of the tongue, a scraper optimizes oral hygiene, which in turn helps protect the integrity of our teeth and other oral tissues. The removal of this buildup also helps maintain our general health by preventing oral bacteria from seeping into our bloodstream. This practice further enhances our overall well-being by stoking digestive fire, sharpening our sense of taste, and stimulating the internal organs.

 It’s very easy to use a tongue cleaner at the start of each day. Just hold the ends of the tongue cleaner in both hands, open your mouth, and extend your tongue. Place the curved edge of the cleaner at the rear of the tongue, as far back as you can, and then, pressing gently on the tongue, pull the cleaner to the front.

Oil Pulling

Another easy Ayurvedic practice is oil pulling. Oil pulling consists of swishing oil in the mouth for anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes. This is best done with organic sesame or coconut oil. All oils are lipid-based, as are the exterior cell membranes of the microorganisms that inhabit the mouth. When these microbes come in contact with the oil, their cell membranes adhere to the oil, which helps detach them from the teeth and gums. This practice removes harmful mouth bacteria that raise the risk of not only plaque, cavities, gum inflammation, and bad breath, but also blood vessel and heart damage.

Oil by nature is heavy and warm. These qualities soothe and nourish the tissues. The practice of swishing oil throughout the oral cavity and in between the teeth distributes these beneficial qualities to all the tissues of the mouth, boosting their strength and resilience 

In addition, the swishing action activates a wide array of muscles in and around the mouth. Some of these muscles are seldom engaged and typically get very little exercise. By working them for an extended period, swishing tones and strengthens these muscles, while increasing circulation to the entire mouth, thereby supporting both the nourishment and detoxification of the oral tissues. Healthy blood flow is particularly important for encouraging firm, healthy gums. 

To enjoy these health benefits, practice this simple routine every day: In the morning, on an empty stomach, swish a mouthful (about 1 tablespoon) of coconut or sesame oil or a combination of both for up to 20 minutes. Swish the oil side to side, all around the gums, teeth, and cheeks and also pull the oil in and out between the teeth. Once finished spit out the oil, and rinse with water.

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. 

How to Ensure a Healthy Transition with the Change of Season

Spring is almost here, but we are still experiencing the cold and dark conditions of the winter. Ayurveda defines rutu sandhi as the transition between two seasons, which generally consists of the final 15 days of one season and the first 15 days of the next. As we move from winter to spring, this “door” or pathway between seasons offers a great opportunity to switch out the old season’s clothes, lifestyle, and attitudes for a fresh new start. This seasonal juncture is an excellent time for a cleansing treatments like panchakarma. Chances are we have accumulated excess kapha in our system during the winter. This imbalance can be aggravated by the arrival of the spring, which like winter is a kapha-dominant season. Ayurveda recommends incorporating certain foods, practices, and herbs into our daily routine at this time of year to keep kapha in balance. 

Spring is the king of the seasons. During this time, Mother Earth awakens to bring new life after the dormant winter months. Spring is mild, moist, and full of color. It is a wonderful time for testing new skills, growing intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually and starting a new lifestyle. Spring is also a blooming season, when flowers shed their pollen and infuse the air with their glorious fragrance. While the transition to warmer weather and burgeoning plant life can be a delightful experience for some people, it can have a downside for kapha individuals (especially those with pollen-based allergies) and for any anyone else who’s accumulated excess kapha.For these individuals, the irritation of mucous membranes and the buildup of mucus associated with kapha can lead to an onslaught of colds, allergies, sinus infections, asthma attacks, and hay fever symptoms. Their discomfort often intensifies when the warming spring air liquifies the congestion, inducing runny noses and wet, phlegmy coughing.  

To alleviate excesskapha in the throat, you can gargle honey and hot water or a cup of hot water with 1 teaspoon of turmeric and 1 teaspoon of salt. Another helpful formula for this time of year is a combination of ginger, black pepper, and pippali (piper longum) known astrikatu. This spice blend not only clears mucus from the body but also increases digestive fire and helps eliminate toxins. Adopting a kapha-pacifying  diet during the pre-spring period can also lower the incidence of allergies, hay fever, and colds. 

Regimen for Spring

•  Adopt a diet dominated by bitter, pungent, and astringent foods. 

• Eat lightly, and consume easily digestible foods. Favor soups and cooked vegetables.

• Use small amounts of raw honey as a sweetener.

• Fast for one day a week, preferably on Monday or Thursday (for astrological reasons).

• Drink warming, cleansing herbal teas, such as ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, clove.

• Practice yoga, meditation and pranayama.

• Keep warm and dry.

• Rinse nasal passages with warm saltwater and herbs. By taking just a few seconds to do this, you can avoid days of misery from sick sinuses.

Things to Avoid

• Fatty and fried foods

• Excessive amounts of sweet, sour, and salty foods

• Large, heavy, breakfasts

• Between-meal snacks, except for dried fruit

• Cold or iced beverages

• Daytime naps

•  Exposure to dust, dirt, and pollen

• Cold drafts and air conditioning

Foods for the Season

• Legumes, split peas, red lentils, chickpeas, pinto beans, and fresh soybean products

• Amaranth, barely, buckwheat, corn, millet, oats, quinoa, 

• Radishes, spinach, artichoke, asparagus, beets, broccoli, carrots, lettuces, okra

• Apricots, berries, cherries, dark grapes, mangos, peaches, pears, pomegranates, and raisins

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. 

Why and How to Perform Daily Oil Massage on Yourself (Abhyanga)

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Ayurveda is a natural approach to holistic wellness that originated in India thousands of years ago. This traditional medical system uses herbs, nutrition, yoga, lifestyle regimens, and body treatments to achieve balanced health. An ancient Ayurvedic practice known as abhyanga (self-massage with warm oil) is an easy way to incorporate this intuitive health wisdom into your daily routine. The multitude of benefits it provides can enrich your journey to total well-being and help ensure its long-term success.

The Physical, Mental, and Emotional Rewards of Abhyanga

Abhyanga helps calm the nervous system, strengthen the joints and connective tissue, and stimulate the internal organs. One of the best things about this healing practice is its dependability as a consistent source of opportunities throughout the week to pay close, loving attention to our body. We all could benefit from more self-love, and self-massage is an excellent way to love ourselves while also reaping some serious health benefits.

By increasing the flow of blood and lymph throughout the body, daily self-massage delivers healing nutrients to our joints while relaxing the muscles surrounding them, thereby improving their integrity, flexibility, and range of motion. These benefits are particularly important for maintaining the functionality of joints that suffer a lot of wear and tear over time, such as those in our wrists, ankles, and hips. Self-massage further contributes to the repair of these tissues by increasing the number of circulating red blood cells that keep the tissues supplied with oxygen. 

In addition to benefiting our joints and muscles, the positive impact of massage on blood circulation supports lower blood pressure and more efficient heart function. By stimulating the flow of lymph, massage may help not only boost metabolism by efficiently clearing waste products from the body but also reduce the edema associated with pulmonary hypertension. The improved circulation of both blood and lymph further nurtures well-being by invigorating the brain and strengthening the immune system. 

By helping you overcome fatigue, abhyanga nourishes and soothes the nervous system and promotes undisturbed sleep, leading to increasing vigor and vitality in your everyday life Equally important, abhyanga helps you relax and offers the pampering that many of us enjoy after a hard week at work or during stressful situations. 

Ayurvedic oil massage loosens deep-seated toxins from joints and tissues and releases them into the excretory system for elimination. The removal of these accumulated toxins from the skin contributes to a healthier and clearer complexion. From an Ayurvedic perspective, the application of oil through massage equates to injecting “medicines” into the body. The massage promotes the absorption of beneficial compounds in the oil into the bloodstream, thereby supporting the body’s capacity to overcome illness.

Ideally, you should consult an Ayurvedic practitioner to determine the type of medicated oil that’s most appropriate for your constitution or imbalance. Otherwise, use only use raw sesame oil. Apply the warm oil all over your body for 15–30 minutes before taking a hot bath or shower to help the oil quickly penetrate the joints and deeper tissues.

Abhyanga Instructions

• Begin by running hot water over the bottle of oil or set the bottle in a bowl full of hot water, gently warming the oil.

• Pour about a tablespoon of the warm oil into your hand and apply to the scalp, vigorously working it into the tissue by moving your fingertips in small circles.

• Transfer some of the oil on your head to your face and ears, massaging with a lighter touch.

• Move to the neck, and with an open hand, massage both the front and the back of the neck, more rapidly, creating friction.

• Apply more oil, and use this same technique, vigorously massaging your arms with straight up-and-down motions.

• At the shoulders, elbows, and wrists, make circular motions and then resume massaging the whole arm with vertical strokes.

• Then move to your chest and stomach, applying more oil if needed, and use gentle circular motions. When massaging the breastbone use straight up-and-down strokes.

• After applying a bit more oil to your hands, gently reach around to the back and shoulder blades, and massage them without straining.

• Move to your legs and buttocks, and repeat the same rapid up-and-down strokes you used on your arms. Use small circular motions at the hips, buttocks, knees, and ankles.

• Then give your feet a thorough massage—it’s important not to rush through this part. Use an open hand to vigorously massage the soles and the top of your feet, moving your hand back and forth. Then use your fingertips to trace small circles all over the foot.

• Let the oil soak into your skin for at least 15 minutes, but no longer than 45 minutes. Rinse off in a warm bath or shower.

• Remember to focus on self-love throughout the massage, inviting your body to absorb nourishment and care.

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease.

Ayurvedic Bath, Sacred and Healing

Bathing has occupied a special place in the cultural landscapes of many civilizations throughout history. In ancient Greece, water itself was regarded as a gift of health from the gods. The ruins of lavish public baths in the farthest reaches of the Roman world testify to the importance of bathing in the health regimes and social life of the empire’s citizens. More than 150 years after the bathtub of Napoleon’s wife, Josephine, was crafted, it’s reputed to retain the scent of the musk oil–infused bathwater that soothed her mind and pampered her skin.

In India, bathing has always been accorded the status of a sacred, healing ritual. Ancient Ayurvedic texts speak of therapeutic baths with rose petals, honey, milk, and turmeric, preceded by a luxurious full-body massage with warm oils and followed by skin treatments with rich herbal pastes and fragrant floral waters. These Ayurvedic baths were designed to restore balance to the body, mind, and spirit.

Ayurveda views bathing as a form of holistic therapy. A daily bath, especially in the morning is an important part of an Ayurvedic daily routine. It adds a profoundly healing dimension to your day and your life. Ayurvedic medical texts report many benefits from the healing bath. The simple act of taking a bath provides a full complement of mind-body rewards without any effort on your part:

• Relaxes tense muscles 

• Opens clogged pores 

• Moisturizes tissues 

• Banishes bad moods 

• Calms the mind and balances the emotions 

• Removes sweat, dirt, and environmental toxins from the skin 

• Enhances physical energy levels and improves metal clarity

To transform an ordinary bath into a healing Ayurvedic self-care ritual follow these tips:

• Prepare your bath with traditional Ayurvedic herbs.*

• Do not bathe in a hurry, take your time.

• Practice deep breathing while soaking in your bath.

• Try to relax, so that both mind and body benefit.

• Use gentle natural gentle aromatherapy products, not harsh synthetic fragrances, which add to the toxic burden on your body.

• Make sure your bathwater is pure and clean.

• After you towel off, spritz your body with rose water and apply warm dosha-specific oils.

Herbal Bath Recipe

3 tablespoons of green gram powder
½ tablespoon of turmeric powder
¼ teaspoon of ginger powder
2 tablespoon of rose petals
1 tablespoon of raw organic honey
½ cup of almond milk or 1 tablespoon of almond oil
5–7 drops of rose, lavender, or geranium pure essential oil

As you’re drawing a warm bath, add ingredients to the water in the order listed. Swish your hand in the water to blend after each addition. Enjoy!  

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. 

Sex and Your Dosha

As a sexual being, each of us is unique. While our thoughts, emotions, desires, and opinions regarding sex are influenced by our upbringing, culture, and experiences, their distinctive nature is chiefly an expression of  our dosha. An understanding of our dosha and how it affects our sexuality can enhance the role that sex plays in our life and relationships. We should also know and understand our partners’ dosha, as this awareness will help us meet their needs, guide how we stimulate and seduce them, and help us remain patient and empathetic when our sexual encounters don’t live up to our expectations. 

While vata individuals can be creative, responsive, and sensual lovers, they often avoid sex because it can be very destabilizing for them. Yet despite their naturally low sex drive, sex is very important for vata types, but only as an expression of love. Initially, vatas are reluctant to commit to relationships and may come across as cold sexually, but once they meet a person who makes them feel safe and nurtured, they become exceptionally faithful, expressive, and satisfying sexual partners.

Vata types long for romance, beauty, and creative expression. Their partners would be wise to indulge these cravings, because doing so will help relieve the anxiety that inhibits these individuals’ desire for sex. Despite their love of novelty, vatas find comfort in traditional values and routines. They’re likely to find sex more fulfilling when encounters are planned and include old-fashioned courtship rituals and plenty of mental and physical foreplay. 

The vata woman is the type most apt to have difficulty conceiving. The doshic qualities that contribute to her fertility problems include her vulnerability to stress as well as physical tendencies like the dryness of her tissues, low body weight, and disturbed apana vata (the energy that governs outward and downward movement in the pelvic region, such as menstrual flow). These issues may also impair male fertility by interfering with the production and ejaculation of semen.

Traveling, overwork, an erratic schedule, or a worried mind can extinguish the sex drive of vata types. Their partner can help recharge their sexual appetite by appealing to their romantic side and helping them re-establish a calming routine with regular meals and plenty of time to slow down, rest, and nourish themselves. 

Pitta types are fiery, attention seeking, ambitious, and passionate by nature and tend to think of themselves as amazing lovers. However their unreliability and impatience may prove frustrating for their partners. Their tendency to view sex as a competition may prevent them from ever experiencing complete satisfaction. They gravitate toward spontaneous encounters and may seek to dominate their partners. To invigorate, elevate, and lend deeper meaning to their sexual relationships, pitta types should focus on channeling their super-intense energy through the heart, rather than their sex organs or intellect.

Pittas typically indulge in sex more often than a vata person because their natural reserves of energy make it easier for them to regain their stamina after sexual relations. However, they should moderate their sexual activity in the summer to avoid accumulating excess heat in the body. Pitta men may suffer from impotency, due to excess heat burning up reproductive tissues or from upward, rather than downward, energy flow. To return to a balanced state after the sex act, pitta types should engage in cooling, calming, and compassionate actions. 

A kapha person is enduring, nurturing, hardworking, balanced, and determined. The steadfast and deeply sensual nature of kaphas can go a long way toward sustaining a happy marriage and healthy sexual relations. Their downside as partners is that they that may become overly attached, turning into needy, possessive “clingers” with an insatiable hunger for attention. Initially, it may take time to stimulate kaphas or spark their interest in sexual activity, as they’re naturally inclined to conserve their energy. Once they’re aroused, however, kaphas truly relish sex. These individuals really benefit from exercise and can be easily persuaded to regard sex as a highly pleasurable form of exercise that balances their heavy energy  and also satisfies their desire to be nurtured and loved. 

Kapha women are unlikely to suffer from reproductive tissues imbalances and will usually bear many children without complications. If they have any trouble conceiving, they need only to lose a little weight and lighten the body Their strong build and excellent physical and mental stamina enable them to give birth easily and recover quickly afterwards. While the abundance of earth in their elemental makeup supports these qualities, it can also foster tissue buildup that manifests as endometriosis or ovarian cysts. In men, this earth-predominant constitution may contribute to the development of an enlarged prostate. 

For the best possible sex life with your partner, show genuine consideration for their dosha (natural state). Understand that your sexual partner’s physical, mental, and emotional needs may differ from yours. Have patience and compassion in adapting to your partner’s desires, treat your partner with care as the two of you learn about each other’s doshic biorhythms, and then find the balance that works for you both. 

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease.

3 Ayurvedic Practices for Longevity

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Longevity is something most humans wish for. Its pursuit involves a constant battle. From the time of birth to the time of death, the body is engaged in a struggle with the aging process. Each day the body breaks down tissues and organs at a cellular level, causing damage and degeneration. Thus our efforts to achieve longevity and rejuvenation must focus on what’s happening in our body at the cellular level.

Each of the three doshas plays an essential role in our health and longevity. Together, they regulate all the functions of the billions of cells that constitute our body. For example, the vata dosha is closely related to pranic life energy and governs the nervous system and all of our body’s movements. Pitta governs digestion, nutrition, and transformation at a cellular level, and kapha maintains the longevity and the structure of the cells. 

To combat aging on a deeper level, it is also necessary to balance the subtle essence of each dosha. The subtle essence of vata is prana, the life force. This energy governs respiration and the physiological functions of the heart, including circulation of the blood and the oxygenation all the dhatus (bodily tissues) and vital organs. As the purest form of the dosha that drives the nervous system and stimulates the intellect, prana also controls all the motor and sensory functions, the natural intelligence of the body, and all the functions of mind, including memory, thoughts, and emotions. In addition, prana regulates the biological functions of the two other subtle essences, ojas and tejas. 

The subtle essence of kapha and the seven dhatus, ojas constitutes the vital energy that works with prana to sustain the life-giving functions of the body. It contains all five basic elements (i.e., earth, water, fire, air, and space) and all the vital substances of our bodily tissues. Balanced ojas is necessary for biological strength and immunity. Because ojas and kapha are inextricably linked, an imbalance in one leads to an imbalance in the other, fueling a vicious cycle of waxing kapha and waning ojas that undermines our health and vitality. Ojas is also responsible for our psychological strength. While balanced ojas promotes compassion, love, peace, and creativity, depleted ojas can give rise to negative states such as fear, nervous exhaustion, impaired sensory perception, loss of consciousness, and even death. 

As the purest essence of the pitta dosha and agni (digestive fire), tejas regulates cellular metabolism and drives the transformation of food, thoughts, sensations, and experiences into energy and nourishment for the body and mind. Balanced tejas is necessary for sustaining ojas. When tejas is aggravated, it burns away ojas, reducing immunity and overstimulating pranic activity.

To address the debilitating effects of imbalances in the three doshas and their subtle essences, Ayurvedic sages developed the rejuvenation method known as panchakarma. As a holistic approach to physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual renewal, panchakarma aims to provide a total solution to the systemic degeneration and dysfunction caused by the aging process.  

Ayurveda also offers simple techniques that you can that you can easily integrate into your lifestyle and use daily to support balanced prana, ojas, and tejas. The first step toward optimizing these energies is to avoid smoking, overexertion, cold drinks, most dairy products, and hydrophilic foods (e.g., salty snacks, tuna fish, cucumbers), excess sexual activity, fried foods, red meats, excess alcohol, and too much or too little or sleep. It’s best to eat a nutrient-rich plant-based diet, primarily cooked foods with the balance of sweet, sour, pungent, salty, astringent, and bitter tastes in each meal. Eating three to four small meals a day with lunch being your biggest meal and maintaining a light daily exercise regime are also recommended. 

One of the simplest ways to sustain ojas is to consume ghee, a product made from unsalted cultured butter that stimulates the appetite and the secretion of digestive juices, enkindles agni, and enhances the flavors of foods. It also strengthens intelligence and memory. Unlike many oils, ghee doesn’t increase cholesterol. In addition, it balances all three doshas and rejuvenates all the tissues.

To incorporate ghee into your diet, make it your go-to cooking oil. For a more concentrated daily dose of ghee, take a teaspoon of ghee each morning followed by a cup of warm water on empty stomach or eat a date that has been soaked in ghee. Please make sure you are using organic grass-fed cultured ghee. A lot of the ghee you find in Indian markets is not the medicinal-grade form and will not be effective. 

Prana is best managed by eating a nutrient-dense organic diet of freshly cooked plant-based meals and practicing pranayama, a yogic breathing exercise that promotes healing and balance. Like yoga, pranayama comprises different styles. According to Ayurveda, the style you should adopt depends on your constitution. If you have a pitta constitution, you should perform left nostril breathing. For this exercise, inhale through the left nostril and exhale through the right, using the thumb and middle finger to close and open alternate nostrils. A person of kapha constitution should do right nostril breathing, inhaling through the right nostril and exhaling through the left. Vata types should perform alternate nostril breathing by exhaling out of one nostril and then inhaling with the same nostril, then switching and exhaling and inhaling with the alternate nostril. Practice the appropriate technique for 10 to 20 minutes a day.

Careful management of tejas is equally important to cultivating vitality and long life. Improper diet and lifestyle and overuse of drugs will cause an imbalance in this subtle energy, which, in turn, can cause problems with either prana or ojas. Substances that are hot, sharp, and penetrating directly enhance tejas. A great way to achieve this effect is to start every morning with a glass of warm tea made with a paste of turmeric and honey.  

Use 1/3 cup  or 80 mL premium raw honey and 2 1/2 teaspoons dried turmeric. Work the turmeric into the honey until it forms a paste. You can store this in a jar. For each cup of tea, place a heaping teaspoon of the turmeric paste in the bottom of a mug. Pour hot (not boiling) water into the mug, and stir well to dissolve the turmeric paste. Add a big squeeze of juice from a fresh lemon and a generous amount of black pepper. (Pepper is invigorating and supports the digestion of the turmeric.)

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease.

5 Easy Ayurvedic New Years Resolutions

We all have health goals that we would like to achieve in the coming year. To set ourselves up for success, we must first resolve to remain realistic about what we can change and stay focused on easy, practical approaches to improving our health and well-being. Ayurveda is a great source of simple, natural health tips that fit into your daily routine without requiring major sacrifices or massive effort, yet can totally change your life.  

1. Start your day with the right breakfast. What you eat first thing in the morning sets the stage for your entire day. Your digestion can either be boosted or totally extinguished depending on what you eat or don’t eat in the morning. Ayurveda teaches that the root cause of all disease is improper digestion. A hot whole-grain porridge, such as congee, is the ideal breakfast to kindle your digestive fire, improve nutrient absorption, and balance your metabolism. It’s easy to cook overnight in a crockpot so that when you wake up, your wholesome breakfast is ready to eat! 

2. Sip warm water with meals. You’ve heard how important it is to drink plenty of water. But maybe you haven’t heard that you should avoid iced water and drink warm water instead. Ayurveda teaches that iced or refrigerated drinks actually inhibit digestion and that warm water improves it. It is especially helpful to the digestive process to drink warm water  while you’re eating a meal—as long as you don’t overdo it. Drinking too much water during a meal dilutes the enzymes necessary to fully break down food, so sipping it is considered healthier than gulping big glassfuls. Gulping can be done in between meals! It may take a little time to get used to asking your waiter for water with no ice, or better yet, a mug of hot water with lemon, but the payoff is worth it. You will notice that you are digesting your meals much more efficiently and without suffering any gas or bloating.

3. Soothe your sinuses daily. Ayurveda teaches that it is extremely important to keep all of your internal cavities well oiled to prevent illness and support a long, healthy life. Many people can relate to having sinus problems, whether they manifest as seasonal allergies, chronic congestion, sinus infections, or headaches. Given that the mucous membranes in the sinuses are the first line of defense when air-borne impurities and irritants enter our body, we want to make sure that they stay in good working order. Dryness and inflammation of these tissues are major contributors to congestion and allergy symptoms. Neti pots are getting a lot of press these days as a great way to keep our sinuses clean. Less well known is the value of inserting a few drops of herbal oils into the nose each day to keep the sinus tissues healthy and supple. If done daily, even twice a day, you will avoid many of the colds, coughs, and headaches that keep you from enjoying consistent good health during the year.

4. Extend the benefits of lubrication to all the tissues of the body by giving yourself a warm oil massage. In Ayurveda, this restorative practice is known as abhyanga. It’s best to apply the warm oil all over your body right before a hot bath or shower so that the oil can easily penetrate into the deeper tissues and joints. Abhyanga serves to calm the nervous system, strengthen the joints and connective tissue, and stimulate the internal organs. It’s best to choose the type of oil that is appropriate for your Ayurvedic constitution, or you can simply use raw sesame oil, which is good for all types. One of the best things about abhyanga is that by doing this healing practice several times a week, you are paying close attention to your physical body in a loving and attentive way. We all could benefit from more self-love, and self-massage is an excellent way to practice this and reap some serious health benefits as well.

5. Daily detox. If you never did anything else for your health besides taking Triphala, you’d still be better off than most people. Triphala is one of the most important Ayurvedic herbal formulas because it serves as a powerful detoxifier for the digestive tract while at the same time rejuvenating the entire body. A clean internal environment is necessary for all our bodily systems to function well. Composed of three herbs, Triphala is extremely high in vitamin C and is balancing for all constitutional types. Triphala is unique in its ability to scrape accumulated toxins out of the intestinal tract so that nutrients can be properly absorbed and waste can be regularly eliminated. It cleanses the liver and the blood and benefits the eyes as well. There is a saying in India that goes something like this: “No mother? Do not worry if you have Triphala.” Triphala provides such a breadth of nourishment and protection that it has earned this comparison to the ultimate nurturer. It’s best to take Triphala one hour before bed so that its cleansing action can occur while no food is being eaten.

After sticking with these easy Ayurvedic New Year’s resolutions for even just a few weeks, you will notice such incredible improvements in your overall health that you won’t have to worry about falling off the wagon. A new sense of well-being comes from making these small but profoundly effective changes. Adopting these practices does require some discipline, but when the benefits become obvious with so little effort, they soon become a part of your normal routine.

Congee Recipe 
How do I prepare congee?
Congee is easily prepared overnight in a crockpot. If you do not have a crockpot, the grain mixture can be simmered on the stove over very low heat. It is important to cook the congee in pots made of clay, enamel, glass, or stainless steel. Do not use pots made of aluminum or iron, as chemicals from these materials can leach into your food.

Suggested cooking ingredients for 1 serving:
1 part grain (¼ cup)
5 parts water (1 ¼ cup)

Combine the ingredients in crockpot and cook on low overnight (8 hours). You should adjust the proportions of grain to water until the consistency of the congee appeals to you. Increase serving size as desired. To maximize the health benefits while enhancing the flavor, add spices that are appropriate for your condition (see suggestions below). Your health care practitioner may suggest adding specific flavorings or nuts, fruits, vegetables, or herbs that would be most beneficial to you.

Suggested congee grain combinations:
To reduce excess water weight, try brown rice/barley, cinnamon, and ginger. To strengthen the adrenals and stimulate digestion, combine millet/buckwheat/rye, allspice, and cinnamon.

Some options:
GRAINS: rice, millet, barley, rye, oat groats, spelt, quinoa, amaranth, wheat berries
SPICES: cinnamon, bay leaf, allspice, ginger, nutmeg, cloves
NUTS/FRUITS: jujube, lyceum berries, walnuts, dried cherries, almonds, pumpkin seeds
VEGGIES: sweet potato, carrots, pumpkin, spinach, squash
FLAVORINGS: molasses, honey, maple syrup, rice milk

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. 

Wisdom in Action

According to Ayurveda, it is not only important to be moderate in your actions, but also to be wise in your actions. In this we do not bring harm to ourselves or to others through anything we think or do. These are known as the lessons of yama or ethics and niyamas or self-restraint. This include:

• Do not hurt anyone through thought or action. This is the principle of nonviolence.

• Always be truthful to yourself and others-that is, tell the "sweet" truth: do not attack with truth.

• Do not steal, this also includes acts of envy. To want what someone else has, even another's charm or grace, is a form of stealing.

• Do not judge others since you are not in their shoes. We make choices based on our experiences, and not having had the totality of anyone else's experiences, we are not in a position to judge anyone's decisions but our own.

• Be balance in all activity, including the actions of the five senses. In other words , do not overindulge any sensual appetite. Attune yourself to the body's natural intelligence, and you can easily recognize the signs of imbalance that signal excess.

The lessons of Niyama include the cultivation of purity of mind and body which is the cultivation of balance and health, of contentment and of surrender and devotion to the divine. In short the implicit of this message is to "love thyself". If we do not know how to do this for ourselves, we cannot know hoe to extend love to another. If we are always attacking ourselves with negative thoughts, we are not likely to hesitate to attack someone else. In this sense, all love truly begins and ends with the self. What we do to the Self, by virtue of the fundamental law of action. 

Ayurvedic Daily Routine

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According to Ayurveda, routine plays a very important role in health. A natural life is regulated according to the individual constitution. It is best to have daily regimen governing all daily actions such as the time one wakes up in the morning and the time one begins body purification. 

In the morning before sunrise, one should wake up, excrete waste, clean teeth, mouth, eyes, nose and throat. After its good to drink a warm glass of water to help clean the kidneys and large intestine. During sleep and in the morning is the body’s natural time of purification. It is good to hold practice that will help this. 

One should then massage the body with oil and take a bath. This will produce a sense of freshness and alertness. After bath, put on comfortable clothes for exercise and meditation. Breathing exercises are also important in the daily regimen. After exercises, rest comfortably on the back with arms and legs outstretched and breath from the lower abdomen.

Breakfast may follow exercise and meditation. Lunch should be eaten before or around noon, if possible dinner before sunset. Its is best to go to bed by ten o’ clock. This regimen follows the flow of energy within the body and in the external environment. It is necessary at all times to remain aware of the flow in order to get the maximum benefit from your daily routine. 

Daily Routine

• Awaken Before Sunrise.
• Evacuate bowels and bladder after waking.
• Bathe every day creates a sense of bodily freshness.
• Drink a warm glass of water, can add slice of lemon.
• Exercise, breathing techniques and meditation.
• Take breakfast before 8:30.
• Take a short 15 min walk after breakfast.
• Eat in silence with awareness to food.
• Eat slowly.
• Massage the gums with the finger and sesame oil.
• Sleep before 10:30pm.

Diet and Digestion

• One teaspoon of grated fresh ginger with a pinch of salt is a good appetizer.
• Drinking real buttermilk with a pinch of ginger or cumin help digestion.
• A teaspoon of ghee with rice helps digestion.
• A glass of raw, warm milk with ginger taken at bedtime is nourishing to the body and calms the mind.
• Over eating is unhealthy.
• Largest meal of the day should be at lunch.
• Drinking a lot of water immediately before or taking food adversely affects digestions.
• Prolonged fasting is unhealthy.
• Excess intake of cold drinks and food reduces resistance and creates excess mucus.
• Taking a nap after lunch will increase body weight and drowsiness.
• Eating close to the same time everyday will optimize digestion.

Physical Hygiene

• Do not repress the natural urges of the body, defecation, urination, coughing, sneezing, yawning, belching and passing gas.
• During fever do not eat and observe a ginger tea fast.
• Rubbing the soles of the feet with sesame oil before bedtime produces a calm quite sleep.
• Application of oil to the head clams the mind and induces sound sleep.
• Self oil massage promotes good circulation and reduces anxiety and pain.
• Do not sleep on belly.
• Bad breath may indicate constipation, poor digestion, and toxins in the colon.
• Body odor indicates toxins in the system.
• Laying on the back for 15mins clams the mind and relaxes the body.
• Dry hair immediately after washing to prevent sinus problems.
• After sex, milk heated with raw cashes and raw sugar promotes strength and maintains sexual energy.
• Avoid physical exertion such as yoga or running during menstruation.
• Avoid over exercise.

Mental Hygiene

• Fear and nervousness dissipates energy and aggravates Vata.
• Possessiveness, greed and attachment enhance Kapha.
• Worry weakens the heart.
• Hate and anger create toxins in the body and aggravates pitta.
• Excessive talking dissipates energy and aggravates Vata.
• Create positive thoughts and affirmations.
• Practice of meditation and breathing techniques, they balance the mind and body, increases energy and vitality

 Ayurveda comprehensively illuminates the basic laws and principles governing life on earth. To understand Ayurveda is to understand the forces that engender our well-being as well as those that lie at the root of disease. The mind, body and consciousness are harmoniously working as one. When the balance of any of these systems is disturbed all are responsible for physical and psychological pain and misery. It is now time to look into the living book, which is your body, mind and consciousness. True knowledge resides in this temple. In applying your experience in that sanctuary the knowledge is set forth here, you will find the only authentic and trustworthy demonstration of the truth Ayurveda holds. The journey is long, but we will always return to the place whence we began.