As the weather cools down and the kids gear up for school, start thinking about changing up that summer diet to one that is better suited for the autumn, "vata" season. Begin favoring foods with sweet, sour, and salty tastes, think: rice, wheat products such as bulgur,...
Dry Skin Brushing massage, (Garshana in Ayurveda), assists in mobilizing and removing excess kapha from the system. Ideal for those of the kapha constitution, it is good for people of other doshas, as well. Traditionally done using dry, raw silk gloves, it may also be performed using a dry...
The Ayurvedic treatment of oil pulling, where one swishes oil around in the mouth for up to 20 minutes, has been in use for thousands of years in India. Oil pulling is one of nature’s most efficient ways to detox the body, increase energy levels,...
Papaya is a wonderful fruit that is recommended in Ayurveda for its various benefits. Called ‘Erandkarkati’ in Sanskrit, papaya has many healing qualities and is a natural source of a numerous vitamins, (especially Vitamin A), minerals and digestive enzymes. As this fruit is exposed to...
Named after one of the highest states of consciousness (Brahman or God consciousness), the herb, Brahmi (Gotu Kola), is one of the most powerful brain tonics known in the Ayurvedic system. Recognized for its healing properties in maintaining the balance of the right and left hemispheres...
Saffron is used quite widely in India. From providing a beautiful coloring to basmati rice, saffron is also used in Indian sweet dishes, as well as in worship. During meditation, it is not uncommon to find it being mixed with sandalwood paste and applied to the forehead, as this paste...
As the East Coast continues to experience a heat wave, I've been determined to stay cool by eating foods that are naturally cooling. Enter the cucumber! Considered a holy fruit in northern India, cucumbers are sattvic, calming and refreshing. Being made of over 90% water, cucumbers...
The Charaka Samhita, (ancient Ayurveda text) does not recommend using salt (specifically sodium chloride) on an everyday basis, as it increases pitta and kapha and can exacerbate diseases of the blood. Himalayan salt, on the other hand, may be consumed daily, as it is considered...
With summer gearing up, it’s time to celebrate the season. Head outdoors with friends, go hiking, plan that picnic in the park, take an outdoor yoga class. It’s a time to relax and be a flâneur. As you think about what to pack in that picnic basket,...