Ashwagandha, also known as Winter Cherry, is a traditional Ayurvedic herb.  It has been called the Indian Ginseng because of the way it rejuvenates the nervous system and minimizes the negative effects of stress.  When taken in the morning, it gives great energy to be used throughout the busy day.  Ashwagandha can also be effectively used for sleep.  The most common cause of insomnia is not having too much energy, but actually having too little.  At the end of a stressful day, we end up feeling both wired and tired.  When taken before bed, Ashwagandha provides the body with the energy it needs to settle itself down naturally for a good night’s sleep.  Containing the tastes of sweet, bitter, and astringent, Ashwagandha helps to balance both Vata and Kapha.  There are many conditions in which Vata and Kapha are out of balance, and that are difficult to treat – but Ashwagandha, a powerful rasayana, or remedy, offers a great solution.  It can be used to treat arthritis, depression, chronic fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, hormonal imbalances, and more.  Organic India uses only organically grown Ashwagandha Root in its pure, revitalizing form.

Ashwaganda from Organic India

Bindi (or sometimes called bindu) in Sanskrit means “seed” or “point.”  It is a point where energy converges to create the potential to manifest.  In India, people often wear a red dot between the eyebrows at the sixth chakra, a very potent point on the body.  This dot symbolizes the third Eye and the wisdom that connects us to the divine.  The red bindi is made from a mixture of turmeric, iodine, camphor and other substances.  Other bindis may be made from ground sandalwood and musk.  Ash, like the ash that comes from burned incense, is often used in spiritual rituals.  The bindi is also the center point of the yantra, a geometrical diagram used to represent the connection between the physical and the divine.  Bindis are sometimes worn as ornamentation, and can be quite exquisite.

Ayurveda explains that we get much of our energy from the foods we eat.  And we can maximize the energy we receive by following a few simple guidelines.

-Eat in a relaxed atmosphere for the best digestion.  Preferably not in front of the TV, or while talking on the phone or trying to conduct business.  It’s best to sit at a table, rather than stand.  And don’t try to eat while driving. 

-Eat the freshest foods possible.  This means eating locally grown foods, and foods that are freshly cooked, rather than foods that have been canned or frozen.

-Foods that are high in energy include fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, and whole grains.  Almonds, cashews and walnuts are excellent sources of protein, and are more digestible if they are soaked or cooked before eating.

-Eat a variety of foods, to satisfy all six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent) and prevent food “boredom.”

-Avoid caffeine, which is energy draining.  Instead, choose drinks that clear toxins from the body, including pure water and herbal teas.

Lassi is a traditional Indian beverage that is often served with an ayurvedic lunch.  Lassi, made by blending yogurt with water, is very popular for its ability to enhance digestion.  Lassi can be enjoyed as a sweet drink, or as a spice-infused drink, and is balancing for all three doshas.  It is often served chilled as a refreshing treat.  To pacify Pitta, add sweet, ripe mango or rosewater, with a little bit of sugar and dardamom.  To pacify Vata and Kapha, add a little rock salt and ginger to the lassi.  Saffron lassi is a specialty in Rajasthan.  Makhaniya lassi is lassi with little bits of butter in it, made creamy like a milkshake.  In Northern India, lassi is mixed with a little turmeric powder as a remedy for gastroenteritis.  Lassi is best made fresh right before serving.  I have some basic lassi recipes up in the Coffey Kitchen.  Feel free to add your own twist to them!

We don’t necessarily need to know all the subtle qualities of each dosha in order to stay in balance.  However, having this knowledge can help us when we need to address specific conditions.  It also helps us to understand more about how nature works, and how it expresses through our doshas.  Each dosha has subtle aspects that express in unique ways to perform various functions.  These are the subtle qualities of Kapha:

-Calming.  Seated in the brain and the heart region, this aspect of kapha helps us with emotional stability.  It also improves our memory.

-Lubrication.  This is the fluid in the joints of the bones.

-Moistening.  This is the secretion of mucus in the stomach and elsewhere.

-Perception.  Seated in the mouth and tongue, this shows up as saliva that helps us taste food.  It also helps with the first stage of digestion.

-Support.  Seated in the lungs and heart.  The basis of phlegm and other actions of kapha corresponds to the watery essence (plasma) distributed by the actions of the heart and lungs.

We don’t necessarily need to know all the subtle qualities of each dosha in order to stay in balance.  However, having this knowledge can help us when we need to address specific conditions.  It also helps us to understand more about how nature works, and how it expresses through our doshas.  Each dosha has subtle aspects that express in unique ways to perform various functions.  These are the subtle qualities of Pitta:

-Digestive Fire.  Agni is the primary aspect of pitta from which the other four are derived.  It is seated in the small intesting.  A strong digestion is necessary for the body to transform food into fuel.

-Knowledge.  Seated in the brain and heart, knowledge concerns our powers of discernment and our ability to plan and to reach goals.

-Radiance.  Seated in the skin, radiance influences the complexion and governs the processing of heat.

-Visual Perception.  Seated in the eyes, perception governs the reception of light and sight.

-Coloring.  Seated in the liver, coloring influences the blood, stomach, spleen and small intestine.  It governs the coloring of bile, blood and body waste.

We don’t necessarily need to know all the subtle qualities of each dosha in order to stay in balance.  However, having this knowledge can help us when we need to address specific conditions.  It also helps us to understand more about how nature works, and how it expresses through our doshas.  Each dosha has subtle aspects that express in unique ways to perform various functions.  These are the subtle qualities of Vata:

-Prana.  Prana is seated in the brain.  It is the primary aspect of Vata from which the other four are derived.  The word prana loosely translated from Sanskrit means to “breathe forth.”  Prana governs swallowing and inhalation, and regulates the senses, mental process, heart and consciousness.

-Upward Moving.  Udana is seated in the throat and is active in the chest.  It governs speech and exhalation.  It helps us to expand our consciousness and to relax.

-Equalizing.  Samana is seated in the small intestine.  It governs digestion, assimilation, and biochemical processes.

-Pervasive.  Vyana is seated in the heart region.  It governs circulation and movement.

-Downward moving.  Apana is seated in the colon.  It governs elimination, mentruation, childbirth, and expulsion of reproductive fluids.

Ayurveda teaches us to create and maintain health by bringing attention to our lifestyle, and three areas in particular: our food choices, sleep, and how we expend our energy.  By choosing foods that are good for us, we are demonstrating responsibility for our well-being.  A routine of regular sleep rests the mind and renews the body.  Brahmacharya is the Sanskrit word for conserving and constructively using our energy.  The goal is to direct our energy toward life-enhancing purposes, including spiritual growth.  Our energy is diminished by excesses of any kind: worry, anxiety, effort, restlessness, overwork, over socializing, etc.  And our energy is enhanced by calmness, faith, peace of mind, nourishing foods and sufficient rest.

 Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing

Another way that Ayurvedic practitioners can evaluate our doshas and diagnose our condition is with an eye examination.  It is said that the eyes are the windows of the soul, and in ayurveda, they are a kind of window to the state of our health.  When looking at the eyes, the practitioner considers the size, shape, color and contour of the eyes.  Vata eyes tend to be small with drooping eyelids and dry eyelashes.  Pitta eyes are average in size and hypersensitive to light.  Kapha eyes are large with long, thick eyelashes.  The practitioner also looks at the eyebrow, the eyelid, and the colors in the eye.  To get a good look at the iris, pupil and sclera, the practitioner may use an iridoscope, a tool with a magnifying glass and a small lightbulb.  All of the organs are represented in different places in the eye, so the practitioner looks for any marks or spots that may indicate an imbalance.

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When we go to see an ayurvedic practitioner, he or she will ask you questions to help determine your dosha.  They are also looking for your state of balance (prakruti) and your current state where there may be imbalance (vikruti).  The practitioner will also take your pulse with a three-finger technique and “listen” for each dosha.  And then, they will also want to look at your tongue.  The tongue gives us a lot of information about what is going on in the body.  A practitioner has been trained to read the tongue like a kind of map, which points to various internal organs.  They can learn about our state of health by looking at the size and shape of the tongue, its color, the tip, the amount of moisture, and if there is any coating on the tongue.  Marks on the tongue can also indicate if, and where, any problems are present.

Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis