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. 

Digestive Tea

View fullsize

In Ayurveda, teas serve as an important means of delivering the medicinal effects of herbs and spices to the body’s tissues. This easy-to-make tea recipe consists of only three ingredients but gets right to the core of digestive issues. It helps to stimulate circulation and relieve bloating and puffiness caused by water retention. Its flushing action simultaneously cleanses the urinary tract and reduces excess water weight. The combination of potent yet soothing spices it contains stokes digestive fire, restoring vitality; purifies the blood; and brings calm and clarity to the mind.

Digestive Tea Blend

• ¼ tsp coriander seeds

• ¼ tsp cumin seeds

• ¼ tsp fennel seeds

Boil 1 ½ cups of water, add the seed mixture, and steep for at least 5 minutes or until the tea is cool enough to drink comfortably. Strain and serve. Drink throughout the day or with every meal. It’s best to avoid drinking this before bed; otherwise you’ll probably find yourself waking up to urinate.

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.

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.